Fully Funded Fellowship Programs for Women Leaders 2027: 3 Open Applications Closing 15 November 2026

Kashan Ajmeri October 21, 2026


Introduction and Background

If you are searching for fully funded fellowship programs for women leaders 2027, this is the guide to bookmark. Three of the most respected fellowships for women leaders in the world — one for global health leadership at Harvard, one for women PhD researchers in aerospace at Zonta International, and one for early-career women scientists in Berlin — all have their 2027 application windows open right now, and all three close on the same day: 15 November 2026.

Harvard does not publish a fixed living-stipend amount for LEAD — the fellowship covers visa fees, flights and housing for the six-week US residency plus a living stipend, but no amount is stated. Deadline 15 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST. Zonta Amelia Earhart: US$12,000 to up to 30 fellows; full application by 15 November 2026. Falling Walls Female Science Talents (Intensive Track): 1 October–15 November 2026, deadline 15 November 2026, 23:59 CET; 20 participants, Feb 2027–Jan 2028. Because all three share one deadline, treat early November as your real deadline: recommendation letters and portal uploads take time, and last-minute server slowdowns are common.

1. Harvard LEAD Fellowship 2027-28 for Promoting Women in Global Health

The Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health is a one-year leadership development fellowship offered by the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It is designed to advance leadership skills among experienced global health professionals from low- and middle-income countries, with mentorship and coaching at its center.

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday, 15 November 2026.

Benefits: This is a personalized, fully funded fellowship. The 12-month virtual curriculum is paired with a six-week in-person experience in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in April 2028, and the fellowship covers visa fees, flights, and housing for the US stay, plus a living stipend. Throughout the year, fellows receive one-on-one leadership coaching, mentorship, an executive education course, speaking opportunities, and private leadership masterclasses led by Harvard faculty. To date, the program has welcomed 26 fellows from 21 countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold a minimum of a Master's degree in a relevant field and work full-time in global health with at least 10 years of professional experience beyond their education (student work does not count). You must take a leave of absence from your home institution for the six-week in-person period in April 2028, be eligible for a J-1 visa, and show substantial leadership experience and further leadership potential. Candidates may not have participated in any full-time fellowship of four months or longer in the two years before the fellowship. Self-nominations are welcome from all continents, regions, disciplines, sectors, and gender identities.

How to apply: Applications are open now on the official Harvard Global Health Institute page, with an "APPLY NOW" link to the application portal. Application materials include a CV/resume and a Letter of Intent of no more than 1.5 pages describing your professional journey in global health and how the fellowship would be transformative for your organization and your country.

Program dates: 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028 (12 months; virtual curriculum plus six-week in-person experience in Cambridge, MA, April 2028). Selected applicants are notified in spring 2027.

2. Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship 2027

Established in 1938 in honor of famed aviator and Zontian Amelia Earhart, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship supports women pursuing PhD/doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. Run by Zonta International, it is one of the oldest and most respected awards for women in STEM leadership — since the program's inception, Zonta has awarded 1,824 Amelia Earhart Fellowships totaling more than US$12.5 million to 1,395 women from 81 countries. Past fellows have become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers, professors, and even the US Secretary of the Air Force.

Deadline: 15 November 2026 (the 2027 application must be submitted in full by this date).

Benefits: Up to 30 fellows each receive a US$12,000 Amelia Earhart Fellowship to support advanced studies at any university or college offering accredited postgraduate courses and degrees in these fields. The award can be used for tuition, books, fees, and living expenses including room, board, and travel. One of the 30 fellows is designated the Sharon Langenbeck Amelia Earhart Fellow, honoring the program's 90th anniversary during the 2026-2028 biennium.

Eligibility: Open to women of any nationality who are registered in a full-time PhD/doctoral program conducting research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences, who have completed at least one year of that program or hold a Master's degree in an aerospace-applied field at the time of application. Applicants must not graduate from their doctoral program before April 2028. Post-doctoral research programs are not eligible. Previous Amelia Earhart Fellows may not renew for a second year, and Zonta International members, employees, and committee members are not eligible.

How to apply: Apply through the official Zonta International AwardSpring portal, linked from the program page with an "Apply Now" button. The application includes biographical information, three recommendations from university professors or supervisors, academic transcripts and certificates, a research proposal or description of current research, and a curriculum vitae. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee reviews all applications and notifies applicants of their status by the end of April.

3. Falling Walls Foundation Female Science Talents Intensive Track 2027

The Falling Walls Foundation's Female Science Talents Intensive Track is a one-year career program for 20 exceptionally talented early-career women in science from all disciplines. Through skill-enhancement workshops, mentoring, and participation in high-level events in Berlin, participants build an international network, gain visibility for their research, and explore new pathways toward leadership. Women from the Global South are especially encouraged to apply.

Deadline: 15 November 2026, 23:59 CET (the application period runs 1 October to 15 November 2026 via the Falling Walls Global Call).

Benefits: The program is fully funded. Selected participants travel to Berlin twice — 4 days in May and 6 days in November, including the International Spring Gathering and the International Fall Gathering at the Falling Walls Science Summit 2027 — with travel costs including accommodation fully covered for both events. The program also offers online and in-person workshops on science entrepreneurship, science communication, and leadership, career talks, peer exchange with a diverse international cohort, and networking with women leaders in academia, business, and politics through partners including the Bayer Foundation, Elsevier Foundation, Volkswagen Foundation, EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg, and the German Research Foundation.

Eligibility: Open to PhD students in the final stages of their research and postdoctoral researchers who completed their PhD in 2021 or later, from all academic disciplines and universities or research institutions worldwide. Applicants with equivalent qualifications (medical degrees or other advanced professional scientific training) are also welcome. Candidates must be fluent in English and able to communicate their research and career goals to a wider audience. The program welcomes submissions from cis and trans women, as well as genderqueer and non-binary people.

How to apply: Applications are submitted through the Falling Walls online application platform. The form asks for five short written answers (300 characters each): about yourself, your research, your career goals and vision, how the program can support your objectives, and how you can contribute to the program. You also upload a tabular curriculum vitae and a video introduction (MP4, maximum 2 minutes).

Program dates: February 2027 to January 2028 (12 months). During the year, participants join online events once or twice a month (approximately 60 minutes per session) plus the two Berlin trips.

Fully Funded Fellowship Programs for Women Leaders 2027: Deadline Summary

FellowshipDeadlineFunding highlight
Harvard LEAD Fellowship 2027-2815 Nov 2026, 11:59 p.m. ESTFully funded: visa, flights, housing + living stipend
Zonta Amelia Earhart Fellowship 202715 Nov 2026US$12,000 (up to 30 fellows)
Falling Walls Female Science Talents 202715 Nov 2026, 23:59 CETFully funded: 2 Berlin trips + workshops

All three close on the same day, so prioritize the one that best matches your profile and apply as early as you can — portals slow down and recommenders need lead time.

Official Links

Always confirm the deadline and eligibility on the official program page before applying, since details can be updated for each cycle. None of these programs charges an application fee — if anyone asks you for money to apply, it is a scam.

Conclusion

These three fully funded fellowship programs for women leaders 2027 offer rare, career-defining opportunities: a fully funded leadership year with Harvard's global health faculty, US$12,000 toward a PhD in aerospace and space sciences from Zonta International, and a fully funded year of mentorship and high-level Berlin gatherings from the Falling Walls Foundation. The shared 15 November 2026 deadline makes this a one-day-decision month — pick the fellowship that fits your stage, line up your recommendations this week, and submit well before the deadline.

Kashan Ajmeri

Posted by Kashan Ajmeri

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