Home / Opportunities / Wallace Fellowship 2027/28, I Tatti — The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies (funded by the Lila Wallace–Reader's Digest Fund)
Italy · Villa I Tatti, Harvard University Center for…
Wallace Fellowship 2027/28, I Tatti — The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies (funded by the Lila Wallace–Reader's Digest Fund)
A 4- or 6-month residential fellowship (fall: September–December; or winter–spring: January–June) at Harvard's Renaissance-studies villa outside Florence for scholars researching how the Italian Renaissance has been received, transformed, and reimagined in the modern era (19th–21st centuries). Up to four fellowships are awarded per year. Applications for the 2027/28 cycle are OPEN NOW, closing November 16, 2026 (midnight Cambridge, MA time); two recommendation letters are due November 21, 2026.
Why it is notable: It sits in a blind spot for scholarship aggregators — it is Harvard but it is neither a degree nor a standard "postdoc": it is discipline-narrow (Renaissance historiography/impact, including museum/collecting history and digital-adjacent projects), open to scholars of ALL nations with special consideration for candidates without regular access to Italian research materials, and it pays a real monthly grant plus housing. The theme deliberately excludes standard Renaissance research (covered by the separate year-long I Tatti Fellowship, whose deadline already passed) — so the applicant pool is smaller and self-selecting.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Fully funded. USD 5,200/month grant + one-time relocation supplement up to USD 1,800
rent-free apartment (utilities charged) when available, otherwise a housing subsidy
This scholarship is offered for PhD and Postdoc programs.
Who can apply
scholars of all nations; PhD in hand AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION (scan of certificate uploaded); may NOT be working on a second PhD; project must address the historiography or impact of the Renaissance on any field (art/architecture, landscape architecture, history, literature, material culture, music, philosophy, religion, science) or Renaissance survival in modern art, architecture, literature, music, philosophy/political thought, or museum/collecting history; most of the research must be doable in Florence; scholars who have not previously held an I Tatti appointment (Graduate Fellows excepted).
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
conversant in English + familiarity with Italian; applications may be written in English OR Italian; recommendation letters in English or Italian.
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
scholars of all nations; PhD in hand AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION (scan of certificate uploaded); may NOT be working on a second PhD; project must address the…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
conversant in English + familiarity with Italian; applications may be written in English OR Italian; recommendation letters in English or Italian.
02
Qualification
scholars of all nations; PhD in hand AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION (scan of certificate uploaded); may NOT be working on a second PhD; project must address the historiography or impact of the Renaissance
03
Documents
electronic application (project description per portal fields — exact word limit not stated on the fellowship page; confirm before publishing); scan of PhD certificate; two online recommendation lette
Document checklist
01electronic application (project description per portal fields — exact word limit not stated on the fellowship page
02confirm before publishing)
03scan of PhD certificate
04two online recommendation letters (due Nov 21, 2026).
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: The fellow is responsible for obtaining the visa, permesso di soggiorno (residence permit), and health coverage before travel (verified on the official page).
Application Procedure
5 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Confirm your project fits the Wallace theme
(modern-era reception/impact of the Renaissance — NOT a standard Renaissance research project, which belongs to the year-long I Tatti Fellowship track) and is doable mostly with Florence/I Tatti resources.
→
02
Choose ONE I Tatti fellowship type per
academic year — you cannot apply to Wallace plus another I Tatti fellowship in the same cycle.
→
03
Prepare the application in English or Italian
including a scan of your PhD certificate; state your term preference (fall September–December vs. winter–spring January–June).
↓
05
Register your two recommenders early via the
portal's reference tab — recommendations (English or Italian) must be submitted online by November 21, 2026; inform referees of the project's nature and deadline.
←
04
Submit electronically via the I Tatti application
portal by midnight (Cambridge, MA time) on November 16, 2026.
Application milestones
16 Nov 2026
Application deadline
21 Nov 2026
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official Villa I Tatti, Harvard University Center for… platform.
16 Nov 2026 — , 23:59 (midnight) Cambridge, MA time (Eastern). Recommendation letters: 21 Nov 2026. Both verified on the…
Who can apply?
scholars of all nations; PhD in hand AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION (scan of certificate uploaded); may NOT be working on a second PhD; project must address the historiography or impact of the Renaissance on any field (art/architecture, landscape architecture, history, literature, material culture, music, philosophy, religion, science) or Renaissance survival in modern art, architecture, literature, music, philosophy/political thought, or museum/collecting history; most of the research must be doable in Florence; scholars who have not previously held an I Tatti appointment (Graduate Fellows excepted).
What does the scholarship cover?
Fully funded. USD 5,200/month grant + one-time relocation supplement up to USD 1,800; rent-free apartment (utilities charged) when available, otherwise a housing subsidy; Biblioteca Berenson 7-day access, dedicated library desk/carrel, weekday lunches with fellows
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Italy · Villa I Tatti, Harvard University Center for…