Bloomberg Harvard Summer Fellowships
About the Fellowship
Graduate students from across Harvard are competitively selected for an opportunity to spend the summer embedded in local government. They meaningfully contribute to improving government services and present their deliverables and recommendations to mayors, senior leaders, and other key stakeholders in the domestic and international cities.
The multidisciplinary cohort of fellows learns how to apply the tools of data-driven decision-making, human-centered design techniques, and cross-sector collaboration to help city leaders drive government performance and address pressing social problems.
Fellowships Include:
Affordable Housing
Climate Action
Data-driven Decision-making
Government & Technology
Inclusive Governance
Engaging Employees, Strengthening Community, and Building Trust through Improved Communications
Tracy, California
Public Leadership
Public Safety
Public Space
Public Transit
Urban Planning
Hear from Summer Fellows
My fellowship experience in the Milwaukee mayor’s office allowed me to envision a way to broaden the scope of the impact I want to have as an elected official in the future.Aundrey Page
HGSE E.d.L.D.
2023 Summer Fellow
I entered the Kennedy School with a passion for local government and the Initiative has given me the space to explore this passion further while continuing my studies. This experience allowed me to learn new tools and perspectives that I am excited to apply to my work after graduation.Alice Duncan-Graves
HKS MPP 2024
2023 Summer Fellow
This summer confirmed that city government would be a great fit for me after graduate school.Alan Neider
HBS MBA 2024
2023 Summer Fellow
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bloomberg Harvard Summer Fellowship?
The Bloomberg Harvard Summer Fellowship aims to inspire careers in local government through paid, 10-week summer experiences. Summer Fellows provide cities with critical, short-term capacity by deploying a variety of skill sets to make progress on priority challenges.
Where do Summer Fellows work?
Summer Fellows work in select cities from the current Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative cohort. Cities are determined and shared with candidates in the application along with their corresponding project scopes. One fellow is selected for each of the Summer Fellowship cities.
What kind of projects do Summer Fellows work on?
Summer Fellows work on projects in a variety of focus areas (some examples are listed below).
- Civic Engagement
- Climate Actions
- Economic Development
- Government & Technology
- Neighborhood Reinvestment
Who is eligible to become a Summer Fellow?
Current Harvard graduate students (including soon-to-be graduates) are eligible for the Bloomberg Harvard Summer Fellowship program. Students from across all Harvard graduate and professional schools are encouraged to apply.
International students are eligible to apply but may need to check with the Harvard International Office to discuss specific visa requirements.
What does the application process include?
The Summer Fellowship application prompts candidates to rank their top 3 cities/projects. Furthermore, the application will require applicants to explain their interest in the selections made, demonstrate their overall critical and analytical thinking skills, and present their experiences applicable to the project or project area. Finalists will be invited to interview with select cities.
When does the fellowship take place?
While specific start and end dates are determined by each fellow in conversation with their city supervisor, the summer fellowship takes place over a 10-week period between late May and mid-August.
What support do Summer Fellows receive?
Summer Fellows receive support from several individuals throughout their experience. Each fellow is assigned a faculty advisor, staff champion, and cohort buddy. These individuals provide different levels of support for fellows to successfully complete their work. Additionally, the Bloomberg Harvard Summer Fellowship program provides a cohort model that encourages community building.
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