Frequently Asked Questions
This page addresses questions regarding program eligiblity and the application process. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we ask that you read these FAQs before emailing us personally. Please email further questions to [email protected].
ISHR strongly recommends completing your application well in advance of this the application deadline. We will not be able to accept late applications, even in the event of technical problems.
Applicant Eligibility
We cannot assess your eligibility without reviewing your completed application. If you consider yourself eligible, please apply and demonstrate your eligibility in your answers to application questions.
Advocates must work full time in a paid position for a grassroots NGO.
The current US travel ban prevents us from sponsoring advocates from the 75 countries that appear on this list. If your country is one of the countries on the list, you are unfortunately ineligible at this time for a visa to attend the Program.
Applicants from high-income countries will also not be considered except for those representing marginalized communities.
Fluency in English is required. Preference is given to those who have not previously had opportunities to travel and study internationally.
The Program is designed for lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, social workers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with grassroots NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, domestic violence, minority rights, LGBT rights, labor rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, and corporate social accountability.
Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement from their organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program. Only one application per organization should be submitted. More than one application means all applications from that organization will be disqualified. It is up to the applicant to make sure he/she is the sole applicant from his/her organization.
Please note that a very strict due diligence process will be undertaken. Your entire application will be shared with HRAP alumni who work in your country. If you are shortlisted you will be asked to interview with an HRAP alumnus who works in your country.
We can only consider applications from advocates currently employed at NGOs. You must have a letter of institutional support from the organization for which you currently work.
Yes.
The current US travel ban prevents Columbia University from sponsoring advocates from the 75 countries that appear on this list. If your country is one of the countries on the list, you are unfortunately ineligible at this time for a visa to attend the Program.
The World Bank maintains a list of high income countries. More information about the list is available from the World Bank's website, which includes a downloadable spreadsheet of countries' income ranking.
Only advocates who are employed by a grassroots organization are eligible to apply. Students and university professors are not encouraged to apply.
HRAP is designed for Advocates working with marginalized communities. Please review the Program Overview, and use your judgment to determine if the program would be beneficial to your work. In your answers to applications questions, you are given the opportunity to explain how the program will be beneficial to your organization and those for whom it advocates.
Yes, you may reapply.
Program Dates
Please see the section TIMING.
No. You would need to reapply for acceptance in a future program.
Funding
Only a very limited number of full scholarships will be awarded. Other admitted applicants will be asked to cover expenses such as living expenses and stipend.
There is NOT a separate form to be considered for full funding to attend HRAP. All questions regarding funding are included in the HRAP Application. No additional documentation is necessary.
The Application
You may continue to edit to your application until the submission deadline. Please take the following steps to review or edit your completed form:
- Click here to begin your application.
- In order to save your progress and return to it later, you must login with a Gmail account.
- If you do not wish to apply via this Google form, you can fill out this PDF form and send it to [email protected].
Once you submit your application neither you nor HRAP can make further changes to your application. Be certain to review your application before submitting.
No, you cannot make any changes to your application once you submit it. Be certain to review your application before submitting. The online application system will automatically close at the deadline.
Your application will save automatically as long as you are logged in with your Google Account while filling out the form. Your draft responses are saved in the cloud for up to 30 days, allowing you to switch devices or resume later by reopening the form's link.
If you do not wish to login with a Google account it is recommended you keep a copy of your typed answers in a personal text file in case of connection loss.
Documents can be no larger than two megabytes (mb) and must be one of the formats listed on the upload page. PDF is highly preferred. If your file is too large, you may need to convert it to a different format, reduce the file size, or scan the file with different settings.
If your file is under two megabytes and not uploading, the file format may have been written incorrect. Try re-saving or re-scanning the file.
Yes, you must support a letter of institutional support in order for your application to be considered.
The letter of institutional endorsement should be from the applicant's supervisor at his/her current organization.
If you are the director of your organization, the letter of institutional support should be signed by the chair of your board.
Letters may be addressed to The Institute for the Study of Human Rights, The Human Rights Advocates Program, or "To whom it may concern."
As they are uploaded to our online system, details such as an address block are not particularly important.
Recommendation letters may be the same as from a previous year's application. However, the letter of institutional support must be current to this year's application.
While the references can be from the applicant's current organization, it is advised to seek letters from others who can attest to the applicant's work as a human rights advocate.
Please give the end date as April of the application year and mention in your description of that the relationship is ongoing.