The Harvard Center for International Development (CID) supports students at all levels of their academic careers to deepen their knowledge of international development and work to build a thriving world for all.

All Harvard students have the opportunity to engage directly with experts in international development, from CID's faculty affiliates, to visiting practitioners and government leaders. Students can participate in seminars, research projects, internships, hands-on programs, and special events offered by CID.
 

Hear from CID Students

In-Classroom Opportunities

 

CID Student Seminars

As part of our five-year strategy to Build, Convene, and Deploy (BCD) talent for a better world, the CID at Harvard University expands students' understanding of important issues in international development.

 

Master’s Degree in International Development

This economics-centered program combines rigorous training in analytical and quantitative methods with a strong emphasis on policy and practice.

 

Executive Education

CID-affiliated faculty teach many Executive Education Programs at Harvard Kennedy School and disseminate their research findings to expose leaders to cutting-edge solutions to some of the most challenging development problems. 


Internship Opportunities & Experiential Learning

 

CID Global Internship Program

This program provides development opportunities to expand students’ horizons, gain practical training and experience, and explore potential international development career pathways following graduation. 

 

Growth Lab Summer Internships

The Growth Lab Summer Internship offers hands-on experience working on real projects. Interns work on teams that blend research with policy work, testing theories and seeing the impact on economic development. 


Community Engagement

 

CID Student Ambassadors

CID's Student Ambassador Program offers Harvard graduate and undergraduate students an opportunity to contribute to and embody CID’s mission of building a thriving world for all. 

 

CID Speaker Series and Events 

Throughout the academic year we host the flagship CID Speaker Series, where academics and practitioners speak on a wide range of international development perspectives and issues. 

 

CID PhD Affiliates

CID PhD Affiliates are invited to participate in events throughout the year, explore opportunities for research and teaching collaborations, and have their work amplified through various forums.  

Research and Funding Opportunities

CID awards modest travel stipends on a competitive basis to Harvard students who travel over J-Term for research related to a larger capstone in international development. The travel stipends can be used to cover related expenses, including but not limited to: transportation, lodging, food, and travel documents. All applicants’ proposals must follow current university travel policies. All awardees must complete all pre-departure requirements noted on the Harvard Global Support Services website. The Center reserves the right to revoke funding if travel is no longer permitted to your requested country due to health and safety concerns. Because of this, we encourage all awardees to purchase travel insurance or a ticket through an airline with flexible cancellation policies, especially when travelling to countries with elevated risk ratings. 

Criteria and Eligibility

  • Funding is open to any Harvard student, with priority given to students working on a capstone project or dissertation

  • This year, travel must be related to gender and international development

  • Stipends will be awarded up to $2,000 each

  • While there is no minimum travel duration requirement, preference is given to applicants who can provide a well-organized itinerary/schedule that demonstrates how their travel is necessary to complete components of their research 

Application Deadline - applications closed 

  • Applications closed on October 15, 2025 at 3pm. Applicants will be notified of decisions in early November

Additional Requirements 

Funding recipients will be expected to:

  • Submit to CID 1 blog entry highlighting the experience. Blogs should be approximately 1,000 words.

  • Submit to CID 5-8 high-quality photos or short videos documenting their fieldwork

  • Be available to speak to other students about their experience

Please reach out to Crystal Kirabo if you have any questions. 

 

The Harvard CID Student Research Scholar Program matches undergraduate and graduate Harvard students with research projects led by CID’s faculty and PhD student affiliates. It is an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience working on a research project in international development and make connections with faculty across the University. The program is designed to allow students to apply their existing skillset to a real-world project but will not provide training in the required skills. 

How does the program work?

Students join the CID student research scholar database by completing an application with their skills and interests. CID will reference this database to match CID faculty and PhD affiliate research project work with students who possess interest in the given area/region and the requisite skills for the project. An initial match usually leads to an interview between the student and the project lead, who makes the final employment decision. 

Hired Student Research Scholar positions are paid. Positions require a 5-20 hour/week commitment based on requirements from the project lead.  Matches will not be made immediately and will occur on a rolling basis. Not all students will be matched.

CID Faculty and PhD Students are looking for Research Scholars with the following skills:

  • Survey design 
  • Econometrics (RCTs and/or quasi-experimental methods)
  • Literature review writing 
  • Programming languages such as R, C/C++, or Python
  • Statistical survey software such as Stata or Qualtrics 
  • Technical writing

Applications for AY25-26 are now open: APPLY HERE

 

Student Perspectives from the CID Voices Blog

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