Admissions Information

Selection of Participants

The Program is designed for human rights activists working with grassroots NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, minority rights, LGBTQI+ rights, labor rights, indigenous peoples' rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, disability rights, and corporate social accountability.

Participants are selected on the basis of their work experience in human rights, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to pursue graduate-level studies. Full-time students, academics, or government officials will not be considered. Applicants holding full-time jobs pursuing their advocacy efforts are preferred.

Advocates must work for a grassroots NGO. Unfortunately the current US travel ban prevents us from sponsoring advocates from the 75 countries that appear on this list. Applicants from high-income countries will also not be considered except for those representing marginalized communities. (See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about this requirement). Fluency in English is required. Preference is given to those who have not previously had opportunities to travel and study internationally. A bachelor’s degree is preferred. 

Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement in English from their organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program. 

Funding

We welcome applications from qualified human rights advocates from all regions of the world. 

After ISHR conducts its stringent selection process, it makes every effort to secure funding for shortlisted Advocates to attend the program. In certain cases where ISHR cannot secure funding, shortlisted Advocates may be asked to secure the funds needed for them to be admitted to the program. 

The generosity of funders will enable us to admit qualified Advocates working on LGBT and/or disability and/or SRHR rights in Latin America and/or Africa. 

The generosity of the Packard Foundation will allow us to admit two advocates working on human rights abuses in the fisheries sector in SE Asia. 

The generosity of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University will allow us to admit one advocate from Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe.

Application

Instructions

Applicants are asked to complete the application in its entirety. The entire application including attachments must be in English. 

In order to access the application, click here to view and fill out the Google Form. After beginning an application, the applicant can either choose to save the form as a draft, or submit a completed application. If you choose to save the form as a draft, you can return to this page to complete it.  Upon submission of a completed application, a confirmation will be sent to the applicant. 

If you do not wish to apply via this form, you can fill out a PDF version of the form and send it to [email protected]. 

Columbia University aims to make all websites fully accessible to users with disabilities. If you experience difficulty using this page, please contact [email protected].

Timing

At the time of the release of this application, we are planning to offer the next HRAP on campus from September 2027 to mid-December 2027. There will also be an HRAP on campus from January 2028 to early May 2028. Please select your preferred time to attend HRAP on your application.

Please note that the aforementioned is subject to change. 

Deadline

As mentioned above under timing, this application call is for two separate HRAP programs: September to mid-December 2027 and January 2028 to early May 2028. The deadline to submit your application for either program is the same: October 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. 

Supporting Documentation

Two signed letters of recommendation in English are required. Your letters of recommendation must be from those who can attest to your work as a human rights advocate. 

Unsigned letters will not be accepted, and your entire application will be removed from consideration. Electronic signatures are accepted. The recommenders must provide their contact information (phone number and email address). It is highly recommended that they provide their work email address. You cannot submit the proof of institutional endorsement as one of the recommendation letters. 

You must also submit a signed letter from your supervisor stating that they support your HRAP application. This is your institutional letter of support. It cannot also serve as one of your two letters of recommendation. 

Your two letters of recommendation and your institutional letter of support (from your supervisor stating that they support your application) must be in English. 

If your organization has funding from an external source, it is strongly recommended that you obtain at least one letter from one of your donors. 

Your letters of recommendation weigh heavily on our consideration. Please reach out to potential recommenders in a timely fashion. Most recommenders require at least a few weeks to prepare a solid recommendation letter.

You must also upload a copy of your university diploma and/or transcript. (If you hold multiple degrees, please upload the highest one.)

Due Diligence

A stringent and thorough due diligence process is conducted to choose participants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to interview with HRAP alumni from their own countries and/or regions. Finalists will interview with ISHR’s Director of Capacity Building. 

Please also note that we will reach out to your recommenders as well as any organizations you list as partners / donors in your recommendation to obtain additional information as part of the due diligence check. 

Status Notification

All applicants will be notified of their status by late February 2027. Please be patient as the selection and funding processes are lengthy.

Technical Questions & Assistance

Due to the number of applications we receive, we are not able to answer individual application questions. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is available with answers to commonly asked questions. Please email further questions to [email protected]. Please note we will only answer questions that are not addressed in the application instructions or FAQ. We will not tell you whether you are eligible or not at this stage. You need to read the instructions and FAQ to determine if you are eligible. Answers to technical questions will be added as updates to the FAQ page. ISHR strongly recommends completing your application well in advance of the application deadline. We will not accept late applications, even in the event of technical problems on your end.