Online Fellowship Certificate in Bioethics

About the Program

Grounded in more than 30 years of experience in educating adult and professional learners in bioethics, the Online Fellowship Certificate in Bioethics is designed to expand the availability of the Center's bioethics education. Bioethics learners explore their interests through weekly seminars on current and emerging bioethical issues. There are approximately 75 pages of reading per week. Sessions are highly interactive, and learners will be expected to actively engage in detailed discussion of the bioethical principles and problems raised in the readings.

The program welcomes learners from across the nation and the globe with a variety of experiences and backgrounds, enabling participants to expand their perspectives, critique, challenge, and hold each other's thinking to the highest standards of rigor and creativity. A keystone of the experience is the strong community that learners—a diverse group of professionals from medicine, nursing, law, social work, and other academic fields—build throughout the course.

Designed Specifically for Working Professionals

The program is designed to enable working professionals to continue in their full-time jobs, although learners often succeed in requesting that their workloads be lightened over the duration of the course, so that they can participate fully in the many activities of the Center for Bioethics.

Participants will engage in a wide-ranging exploration of bioethics, beginning with its historical foundations and theoretical frameworks, gaining familiarity with theories of justice, rights-based and communitarian perspectives, deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics. The online fellowship certificate program includes feminist approaches, a discussion of meta-ethics, and the role of ethics committees in case consultation. Key topics in clinical ethics, research ethics and public health ethics include, for example, research oversight in the developing world, rationing, reproductive ethics, end-of-life care, organ allocation, and medical aid in dying. Specialized topics such as neuroethics, artificial intelligence (AI), and genomics are also covered. Additionally, the program addresses critical issues like racism, ableism, research scandals, and compassionate use of investigational medicinal products.

How to Apply for the Program

The Online Fellowship Certificate in Bioethics welcomes learners from across the nation and the globe with a variety of experiences and backgrounds, enabling participants to expand their perspectives, critique, challenge, and hold each other's thinking to the highest standards of rigor and creativity. The application requirements for the online certificate in bioethics program are listed in the online application portal, as well as below.

Program Cost and Institutional Support

The program fee is $15,495 USD. If you are seeking financial support from your sponsoring institution to participate in the online certificate program, the Center can provide an explanatory letter to applicants who would like help approaching their sponsoring institutions with such a request. To request this letter, please reach out to bioethics_certificate@hms.harvard.edu.

Required Application Materials

You must provide a completed online application containing:

• Your current curriculum vitae
• A statement of purpose describing the reasons for your interest in the online certificate in bioethics, including any particular topics or questions you are most interested in exploring. This letter must be 750 words or fewer in length and is an important opportunity for you to tell us about yourself, your interests, and your motivations in pursuing training in bioethics.
• Two (2) letters of reference
• A third letter from a supervisor or key senior staff person from the institution where you are employed. The purpose of the letter is to highlight likely opportunities you will have to contribute to bioethics back at your home institution upon completion of the program. This letter does not require that your institution will be supporting you financially. Rather, it should explain how your newfound and enhanced skills in bioethics can be deployed to help build bioethics capacity in your home organization.

Questions?

Please email bioethics_certificate@hms.harvard.edu if you have questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the application deadline?

The deadline is October 1, 2026. Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submissions are strongly encouraged.

What are the main differences between the remote and in-person fellowships?

The remote fellowship allows for a more diverse and international cohort, leading to a broader global perspective in discussions. While the in-person fellowship may tend toward a slightly more US-centric focus, the online version will emphasize international issues.

How many fellows will be in each cohort?

The online fellowship aims to have around 24 fellows per cohort, ensuring robust interaction and the effective use of online tools like breakout rooms.

I’m self-employed and don’t have a senior staff member to recommend me. What should I do regarding a letter of recommendation from my institution?

If you don’t have a supervisor, please let us know this in your statement of intent, and focus on detailing how the fellowship will enhance your professional practice.

Is this fellowship annual?

Yes, this program will run from January to June every year. 

Would this fellowship benefit someone who has completed a Master’s in Bioethics?

It is possible, but the curriculum of the Fellowship is likely to have lots of overlap with a Masters curriculum. The international focus and other unique aspects could offer additional benefits, but if you’ve completed a Master’s, please explain in your statement of intent why you wish to pursue the fellowship.

Will this fellowship include assignments or written work?

Yes, there will be weekly reading assignments (approximately 30-70 pages) and occasional short writing assignments (one or two pages).

Can any part of this fellowship count as credits toward a Master’s in Bioethics?

No, there is no mechanism currently in place to count fellowship work as credits toward a Master’s in Bioethics.

Is there a capstone project for this fellowship?

No, there is no formal capstone project. However, fellows with specific projects in mind can receive guidance to incorporate them into their fellowship experience.

How is progress assessed in this fellowship?

Progress is assessed through class participation and written assignments, and the fellowship operates on a completion or non-completion basis (similar to pass/fail). Successful fellows will receive a certificate upon completion.

Will all fellows follow the same curriculum?

Yes, all fellows will focus on the same topics and complete the same readings each week.

Can I participate in this fellowship while pursuing a PhD?

It’s possible to participate in the fellowship while doing a PhD, but you’ll need to ensure that your program supports the time commitment required.

When is the optional opportunity for a two-day in-person experience in Boston?

This is likely to take place sometime during the last week of April every year.

If I can’t make it to Boston, can I still participate in the two-day event?

Yes, you will be able to join remotely for much of the programming.

Are there any funding or scholarship opportunities for this fellowship?

While the program does not offer financial support, many fellows have been reimbursed by their employers, especially if the skills gained will benefit their institution.

Who can I contact with further questions?

Reach out to our team via email at bioethics_certificate@hms.harvard.edu and the appropriate staffer will get back to you.