Award overview
Women in Aviation International offers the Harvard Emerging Leaders Scholarship for its Women in Leadership program. The 2027 scholarship cycle is closed. WAI's general scholarship page says the 2027 application period ended September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. This listing preserves the cycle details for applicants reviewing the current award and does not imply that applications are still being accepted.
The three-day professional development course is conducted through WAI and Harvard University's Division of Continuing Education. WAI lists an on-campus session in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and virtual program options for 2027. Session formats and schedules should be checked on WAI's current program page before making plans.
Eligibility
The Harvard award is intended for high-performing WAI members with at least seven years of career experience and an aptitude for leadership. The program page says applicants must be current members with an expiration date of June 30, 2027, or later. It also describes membership as a requirement for applying.
WAI's Harvard page and general application information show different new-member cutoff dates for the 2027 cycle. The Harvard-specific page says a new member could join by August 31, 2026, while the general application page says August 30, 2026. The scholarship deadline has passed, so an applicant cannot resolve this difference for the closed cycle by submitting late. For a future cycle, ask WAI which date applies and use the current cycle-specific directions.
The scholarship is aimed at experienced professionals seeking leadership development, rather than students seeking flight hours or a pilot certificate. The career experience threshold is seven years. Applicants should describe relevant experience and leadership capacity in the application, but WAI's page does not publish a scoring formula or promise that meeting the minimum will result in an award.
Award coverage
WAI says selected members receive funding support that includes program tuition, hotel, and meals for the three-day course. The Harvard scholarship page does not state a cash value. It says recipients are responsible for their travel costs, including airfare and ground transportation. This directory therefore does not assign a dollar amount to the award.
The page says 30 current WAI members are chosen each year for scholarship support. It also gives a separate attendance figure for online programs. Applicants should distinguish scholarship recipients from the number of people who may attend an online session. Ask WAI whether an award covers the specific session selected and which lodging and meal costs are included.
Application materials
For the 2027 cycle, WAI's Harvard page listed a professional resume, one letter of recommendation, a 500-word essay responding to the current leadership prompt, and a statement confirming commitment to the course dates. The application was part of WAI's general 2027 scholarship cycle and was submitted through WAI's online portal.
Applicants could apply for one of the listed program offerings. The specific essay prompt and course schedules may change in a later cycle, so do not reuse an old essay prompt or assume the 2027 package will be accepted for WAI2028. WAI says its next general scholarship application cycle is expected to open in summer 2027. Confirm the new eligibility dates and documents directly with the sponsor.
Questions to ask before the next cycle
Before applying, confirm the required membership expiration date, the deadline to join as a new member, the course options, the number of scholarship places, and the costs covered beyond tuition. Ask whether lodging is arranged by WAI or reimbursed, what meals are included, and whether any course materials or fees are excluded.
Also verify the latest essay question, recommendation requirements, resume length, and proof of commitment to course dates. Keep a copy of the application and any award terms. The award description is not a general reimbursement promise for other Harvard programs or professional development costs.
The source material reviewed for this listing describes the 2027 cycle only. No 2028 award amount or eligibility rules have been published in the sources cited here. Check WAI's current Harvard scholarship page, general scholarship requirements, and scholarship listings when the next cycle opens.
Because the 2027 cycle is closed, archived instructions should not be treated as a promise of future eligibility. The next published application should control membership dates, course formats, covered costs, and required materials.
Related resources include the aviation scholarship directory, flight schools, and the flight training cost estimator.