The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Columbia University‘s Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) is accepting applications for its Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 cohorts. Founded in 1989, HRAP brings grassroots human rights leaders to New York City for graduate-level coursework, skills workshops, mentoring, and networking with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners.
More than 350 advocates from nearly 100 countries have completed HRAP since it began. The current call covers two separate on-campus programmes; you choose your preferred term on the application.
Key facts
- Host: Institute for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University, New York, United States
- Programme: Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP)
- Level: Capacity-building fellowship (graduate-level coursework; not a degree programme)
- Fall 2027 cohort: September 2027 to mid-December 2027 (subject to change)
- Spring 2028 cohort: January 2028 to early May 2028 (subject to change)
- Application deadline: 15 October 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time (same deadline for both cohorts)
- Status notification: All applicants notified by late February 2027
- Official apply page: HRAP admissions information
What HRAP offers
HRAP is built around four pillars: graduate-level coursework, skills-building workshops, networking (including a Washington, D.C. trip), and faculty mentoring. Advocates use Columbia University and New York City’s NGO and international organization community to strengthen advocacy skills and organizational capacity, then return home to apply what they learned.
Funding
ISHR runs a competitive selection process and then works to secure funding for shortlisted advocates. According to the official admissions guidance:
- Only a limited number of full scholarships are awarded
- There is no separate scholarship form; funding questions are part of the HRAP application
- In some cases, shortlisted advocates may be asked to secure funds needed to attend
- Targeted donor support is available for certain focus areas (for example, LGBT, disability, and sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy in Latin America and/or Africa; fisheries-related human rights abuses in Southeast Asia; and one advocate from Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe via the Harriman Institute)
Do not assume automatic full funding. Confirm your funding outlook through the official application and, if shortlisted, through ISHR’s follow-up process.
Who can apply
HRAP is designed for human rights activists employed by grassroots NGOs. Typical profiles include lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, social workers, community organizers, and other advocates working on issues such as sexual and gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBTQI+ rights, labor rights, indigenous peoples’ rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, disability rights, and corporate accountability.
Official eligibility highlights:
- You must currently work full time in a paid position for a grassroots NGO (plans to join an NGO later are not enough)
- Full-time students, academics, and government officials are not considered
- English fluency is required; a bachelor’s degree is preferred
- You must submit institutional endorsement in English and commit to returning to your organization after the programme
- Only one application per organization is allowed; multiple applications from the same organization lead to disqualification
- Applicants from high-income countries (World Bank list) are generally not considered, except those representing marginalized communities
- Advocates from countries on the current U.S. travel ban list cannot be sponsored and should not apply
- Preference goes to applicants who have not previously had international travel and study opportunities
Fields of study and focus
HRAP is a human rights capacity-building fellowship rather than a named degree. Participants take graduate-level coursework related to human rights practice while building skills for advocacy in their thematic fields.
How to apply
Complete the full application in English before the deadline. You can use the official Google Form linked from the admissions page, or email the PDF version to [email protected].
Required supporting materials include:
- Two signed recommendation letters in English from people who can attest to your human rights advocacy (electronic signatures accepted)
- A separate signed institutional letter of support from your supervisor (this cannot replace a recommendation letter)
- A copy of your university diploma and/or transcript (highest degree if you hold more than one)
Shortlisted applicants interview with HRAP alumni from their country or region; finalists interview with ISHR’s Director of Capacity Building. ISHR also contacts recommenders and listed partners or donors as part of due diligence.
FAQ
Is HRAP fully funded?
Not automatically. ISHR awards a limited number of full scholarships and tries to secure funding for shortlisted advocates. Some admitted applicants may need to cover living costs or other expenses. Funding questions sit inside the main HRAP application; there is no separate scholarship form.
Can students or professors apply?
No. Only advocates employed by a grassroots organization are eligible. Full-time students and university professors are not encouraged to apply.
Which nationalities are eligible?
HRAP welcomes grassroots advocates from most regions. Applicants from high-income countries are generally excluded unless they represent marginalized communities. People from countries on the current U.S. travel ban list cannot receive Columbia sponsorship and should not apply. Always check the official admissions page and FAQ before starting your form.
Can I postpone if accepted?
No. If you cannot attend the cohort you were offered, you must reapply for a future programme.
Where do I find official instructions?
Use the HRAP admissions information page, the HRAP FAQ, and the programme overview. For questions not covered there, email [email protected].
