Joseph Hodges Choate Memorial Fellowship - Choate Fellowship

What the Choate Fellowship gives you

You will be awarded a fully funded academic year at Harvard University in the United States. Harvard will cover your full tuition fees and health insurance, as well as a living allowance of at least 34,000 USD (approximately 29,000 EUR). You will study for one year as a ‘Special Student’. This means that you will take courses for postgraduate students and undergraduates from all disciplines at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, but will not be working towards a degree at Harvard University. You will use the scholarship to cover your costs for accommodation, meals, transatlantic flights and any US income tax payable on the scholarship. The scholarship is valid for one academic year and cannot be extended. The University of Cambridge nominates candidates, and Harvard awards the scholarship. Two scholarships are awarded each year.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You must be a British citizen.
• University: You should be a student at the University of Cambridge. In practice, applicants from other universities are almost never put forward, as there are enough applicants from Cambridge every year.
• Your stage: You must either have completed a Bachelor’s degree at Cambridge no more than one year ago, or you must currently be a student at the University of Cambridge and have started your degree no more than four years ago.
• Field of study: Any field of study is acceptable. Preference will be given to applicants who wish to study in a department within Harvard University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
• Grades: As a rule, you will have, or are expected to achieve, a ‘First Class’ degree, and you will have demonstrated consistently excellent academic performance.
• Personal qualities: Strength of character and leadership potential in your field also play a part.

How to apply

Applications are made via a single online form, which is also used for the associated Henry and Procter scholarships and will go live on 1 November 2025. Please submit your application, including a description of your planned course of study at Harvard, by 3 January 2026. Please ensure that two letters of reference are submitted by 10 January 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to London for an interview in February.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are very narrow: it is aimed at British nationals who are either still enrolled as undergraduate students at Cambridge or have only recently graduated from Cambridge with a ‘First Class’ degree, and only two places are awarded each year. Whilst this means the pool of eligible applicants remains small, it is of a very high calibre, so that the actual competition takes place amongst the very best Cambridge students rather than within a broad field of applicants. If you clearly meet the requirements regarding your studies at Cambridge and your ‘First-Class’ degree, and can demonstrate sustained academic excellence, your prospects are good.