Our Students
Fletcher's doctoral students bring unique perspectives, a wealth of professional experience, and a diversity of interests to the program. What they share is a commitment to pursuing critical current issues through an interdisciplinary approach. They form a supportive learning network dedicated to academic excellence, adding to the diversity and energy of the Fletcher student community.
Students
Fieldwork
Each year, PhD candidates engage in fieldwork throughout the world to support their dissertation research agenda. Students often take advantage of their summers to conduct research and the PhD program offers some summer research funding for this purpose.
Awards & Fellowships
Fletcher’s doctoral students have regularly received competitive awards and fellowships, including:
- Social Science Research Council, International Dissertation Research Fellowship
- Jennings Randolph Fellowship, United States Institute of Peace
- Pre-Doctoral/Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
- Doctoral Fellowship, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
- Pre-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Brookings
- Eisenhower-Roberts Doctoral Fellowship
- Morris Abrams Award in International Relations
- Vasey Fellowship, Pacific Forum CSIS
- Graduate Research Fellowship, Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School
- Smith Richardson Strategy and Policy Fellowship and Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
Getting Involved at Fletcher
PhD students participate fully in the life of the Fletcher School, regularly interacting with students in all of the School's degree programs. Within the PhD community, students play a leadership role, ensuring that program offerings meet their needs and interests.
PhD Colloquium
The PhD Research Colloquium is an opportunity for PhD candidates to share and discuss their ongoing research and receive supportive critiques from peers and Fletcher professors. The colloquium also offers sessions on comprehensive exams, proposal writing, the dissertation process, professional development, and PhD life. All current students are encouraged to attend and to take advantage of this opportunity to stay connected, network, and gain insight into the substantive tasks of completing the dissertation. A member of the faculty attends the colloquium, though students take the lead in coordinating many of the activities. Non-resident students are encouraged to join remotely.
Student Leadership
All Fletcher students are encouraged to play a role in governance of the School, whether on the PhD Committee, the policy-making group for the program, on the school-wide Student Council, or on Fletcher’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
PhD Committee Student Representatives
Two students are elected each year to represent their peers on the Committee on the PhD Program, which meets several times each semester to consider issues critical to the success of the program and its students. The PhD Committee also includes the PhD Program Director, the PhD Program Academic Director, and other members of the faculty and staff.
PhD Student Group
The PhD Student Group is one of the many groups at Fletcher that receive funding through the Student Council. The group's activities may be social or academic, including a periodic PhD Research Forum that offers students the opportunity to discuss their research with members of the wider Fletcher community.