Application and Program Timelines
The Commonwealth Bradford Fellowship application cycle will open on October 9, 2025, and close on January 22, 2026, at 3pm. The next Commonwealth Bradford Fellows will be engaged in their Kennedy School of Government MPA program from September 2026 - May 2027. The Fellowship includes a requisite summer program in July/August 2026 before the start of the academic year. Completion of the summer program is a requirement for entry to the full program.
In addition to full tuition and fees for the academic year, Fellowship recipients will receive their full salary while attending the MPA program, including the summer program. Fellowship recipients are personally responsible for the cost of books and supplies.
| Key Application Dates | |
|---|---|
| October 23, 2025. 11am - 12pm | Program Application Information Session. Hosted by the Human Resources Division (HRD), and Harvard Kennedy School. |
| December 1, 2025. 12pm | Harvard Kennedy School Admission application closing date. (All candidates must submit their completed applications to the Harvard Kennedy School as a condition of Bradford Fellowship eligibility.) |
| January 22, 2026. 3pm | The Commonwealth's Bradford Fellowship application closing date. (Must be complete, no deadline extensions will be granted. Incomplete applications or those submitted past deadline will result in disqualification.) |
| February 11, 2026. | Bradford Fellowship virtual interviews. Semi-finalist candidates who have been selected, in consultation with the Harvard Kennedy School, to proceed to the next round of the Fellowship application process, must also interview with a Commonwealth selection committee. Candidates will be notified only if they are selected to be interviewed and will be scheduled for a specific interview date and time. Please note that re-scheduling options are not available. |
| TBD March 2026. | Applicants notified of Harvard Kennedy School’s admission decisions. |
| TBD March 2026. | Candidates notified of Bradford Fellowship Program decisions. |
| TBD April 2026. | Selected Fellows attend an online Bradford Fellowship orientation with the Human Resources Division, (HRD). |
| TBD April 2026. | Managers of selected Fellows attend online Bradford Fellowship orientation with the Human Resources Division, (HRD). |
| Key Harvard Kennedy School Program Dates | |
|---|---|
| July 7 - August 6, 2026 | Mid-Career MPA Summer Program |
| September 2, 2026 | Fall semester begins |
| December 18, 2026 | Fall semester ends |
| January 4 - 15, 2027 | January session (Optional) |
| January 25, 2027 | Spring semester begins |
| March 13 - 21, 2027 | Spring break |
| May 14, 2027 | Spring semester ends |
| May 27, 2027 | Commencement Day |
Source: Multi-Year Academic Calendar | Harvard Kennedy School
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible to apply for the Bradford Fellowship, a Commonwealth manager must;
- Be an employee in good standing;
- Have graduated from an undergraduate institution;
- Be accepted for admission by Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, for its Mid-Career MPA Program;
- Upon application, occupy a full time employee position, be paid from the AA subsidiary, have at least seven years of full-time service within the Commonwealth's Executive Department, be in an active status, classified as management levels MV - MXII within the Executive Department, or be a member of the Massachusetts State Police Department classified as a Lieutenant or above;
- Be recommended by leadership, the appointing authority, and supervisor in their current organization;
- Possess a strong commitment to continued public service upon completion of the program;
- Communicate, collaborate and work with their organization, to determine a mutually agreed upon return-to-work strategy and plan with their leadership, upon the completion of their degree;
- Be willing to sign an agreement to serve in Massachusetts state government at the Commonwealth in the same or higher level management grade for a minimum of two years following graduation, or, to repay the salary received while attending the program if they default on this agreement;
- Not have applied for the Bradford Fellowship more than three (3) times;
- Upon application, must have completed the 2025-26 Required Statewide training requirements in MassAchieve, and any related performance management and evaluation requirements in MassPerform.
Please Note:
- Applicants who hold a graduate degree must specifically address what an MPA would offer them that their current graduate degree does not, in reaching their management career goals in public service.
- Those who meet the criteria above and are currently employed in the following secretariats are eligible: Executive Office for Administration & Finance, Executive Office of Economic Development, Executive Office of Education, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Executive Office of Health & Human Services, Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities, Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, Executive Office of Technology Services & Security, Executive Office of Veterans’ Services, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Degree Requirements
Harvard Kennedy School requires to graduate students must:
- Earn at least 32 credits.
- Finish with a GPA of B or better.
- Matriculate as a full-time, in-residence student and take 12-20 credits per semester.
- Satisfy the distribution requirements by completing at least one 4-credit course (or two 2 credit modules) with a grade of B- or better in each of the following three areas from a pre-approved list:
- Economics and Quantitative Analysis
- Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences
- Public Ethics and Political Institutions
Program Expectations
- Fellow must remain in good standing with the Harvard Kennedy School throughout their enrollment.
- Fellow must provide proof of graduation/successful completion of program.
- If a fellow must withdraw/drop out/suspend participation in their program, they will return to full-time work status. If they would like to continue their studies they must reapply to the Fellowship process.
- In the event of involuntary removal from their position, the fellow is not required to complete their Continued Service Agreement (CSA) time or repay expenses/salary.
- In the event of voluntary departure from service, additional language is provided in the application form outlining the CSA repayment process and amount.
Exclusions
The following categories of Commonwealth of Massachusetts employees are not eligible to participate in the Bradford Fellowship program:
- Contract employees
- Employees classified as below level MV
- Employees in non-management (bargaining unit) positions
- Employees classified below Lieutenant
- Employees in positions classified at level MV who occupy a qualifying position in an "acting" capacity
- Employees appointed directly by the Governor; whose salary, by statutory requirement, is set by the Governor
- Employees of the Office of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Attorney General and State Treasurer
- Employees of public institutions of Higher Education
- Employees of the Legislative and Judicial branches
- Employees of Massachusetts public authorities or other quasi-public agencies
- Employees of county government organizations
- Employees of Commonwealth Independent agencies, or commissions
How to Apply
Application to the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government mid-career MPA program is required to apply for the Bradford Fellowship. The Harvard Kennedy School catalogues and admission application materials are available at: Harvard Kennedy School mid-career MPA program.
Step 1 - Submit your online application to the Harvard Kennedy School's Admissions Office. Completed applications for admission must be submitted online directly to the Admissions Office at the Harvard Kennedy School by December 1, 2025 at 12PM. Please be sure mark the HKS application as "Bradford Applicant” in the "sponsorship" section.
Please note that your admission application will not be sent or forwarded to HRD or the Commonwealth. There is a separate, additional application process you will need to take to apply for the Bradford Fellowship.
Step 2 - Submit your Commonwealth Bradford Fellowship Online Application. Your Commonwealth Bradford Fellowship application must be submitted online in final, completed form, including all required leadership and management approvals by 22 January, 2026 at 3PM through the Human Resources Division's online application portal.
Note: Bradford Fellowship candidates must have submitted their application for admission to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Mid-Career MPA Program, in order to qualify to apply for the Bradford Fellowship.
Next Steps
In addition to completing the Bradford Fellowship Program online application, all applicants must ensure the complete submission of all of their required supervisor recommendations and leadership approvals by 22 January, 2026 at 3PM.
- In the online application, input the names and emails of your supervisor and the appropriate agency or secretariat leadership (examples include agency/secretariat, HR Director, Agency Head, Secretary, etc.)
- The Human Resources Division's application portal will send an email to your listed supervisor with a link to your recommendation form.
- The Human Resources Division's application portal will also send an approval email request to your agency leadership.
Please note: supervisor recommendations and leadership approvals can take some time to complete and receive back, make sure to give yourself and others ample time in advance to respond. We suggest that you complete the recommendation and approval information in our online portal as soon as applications are open. You can submit the form for the approvals ahead of time, and an email will be sent to you with a link to get back into your application to complete it.