Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health 2027–2028: UCSF Global Hybrid Fellowship
Applications are open for the 2027–2028 UCSF Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health cohort. Fellows receive a stipend for living expenses during their UCSF residential learning period; required program travel, accommodations, and learning materials are covered.
This captured cycle appears closed. Use this page for historical guidance unless the official source has reopened the program.
Captured cycle: This page is retained for historical guidance. Confirm whether the program has reopened before planning an application.
Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health 2027–2028: UCSF Global Hybrid Fellowship
The Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) is accepting applications for the 2027–2028 Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health cohort at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The fellowship brings experienced professionals together to advance brain health equity and reduce the impact of dementia. Its application page lists November 2, 2026 as the deadline. The Trinity College Dublin site for this cohort closed on September 18, 2026, so the currently available application described here is the UCSF global hybrid program.
GBHI is based at Trinity College Dublin and UCSF and runs the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program across these two sites. They share a broad mission, but the fellowships offer distinct learning formats. UCSF combines online learning with international workshops and a residential learning experience in San Francisco. Applicants select one site per cycle; they cannot submit applications to both. People deciding whether to apply should consider the UCSF time and travel commitments alongside their professional and community responsibilities.
Key details
| Item | Current UCSF cohort information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health, 2027–2028 cohort |
| Program operator | Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), with the UCSF site delivered at the University of California, San Francisco |
| Application status | Open for the UCSF site |
| Deadline | November 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. GMT (3:59 p.m. PST) |
| Fellowship format | One-year global hybrid program for working professionals |
| In-person commitments | Three required 10-day international learning intensives and a UCSF residential learning experience lasting between three and 12 months |
| Financial support | Stipend for living expenses during the UCSF residential period; required program travel, accommodations, and learning materials are covered |
| Separate project funding | Competitive Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders of up to $25,000; these are not an automatic fellowship payment |
| Trinity site | Closed for this cohort on September 18, 2026 |
| Application page | GBHI at UCSF: Apply |
What the fellowship provides
The fellowship is a year of interdisciplinary learning, professional development, and mentorship focused on brain health, dementia, and equity. The curriculum draws on clinical, scientific, public health, and humanities perspectives. GBHI grounds learning in the lived experiences of people with dementia and includes case-based and experiential work in clinical and community settings. Fellows build skills in communication, research design, leadership, and advocacy, with the aim of helping them act on brain health challenges in their own professional and community settings.
The UCSF format is designed for working professionals and combines remote study with in-person experiences. During the remote portion, fellows take part in weekly live online classes, independent learning, regular meetings with mentors, and development of a pilot project proposal. The in-person component includes three required 10-day international learning intensives. Fellows also complete a residential learning experience at UCSF lasting between three and 12 months. During their time in San Francisco, fellows participate in clinical observation, research engagement, and educational activities at the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center.
The length of the UCSF stay can vary with a fellow’s learning goals, professional responsibilities, visa circumstances, and personal situation. Applicants seeking the UCSF-issued Certificate in Equity in Brain Health must spend three consecutive months at UCSF. The site FAQ says there is no preferred length of stay for selection; applicants should choose a duration that fits what they hope to learn and accomplish. This is a substantial commitment that involves time away from usual work and home routines, especially during the residential period and international intensives. Applicants should assess those logistics before applying and review the program’s current FAQs for visa and travel considerations.
Financial support and project awards
GBHI’s UCSF FAQ describes a stipend to cover living expenses during the residential learning experience at UCSF. It does not provide a cost-of-living stipend while fellows are based in their home communities. Required program travel, accommodations, and learning materials are covered by the program. Fellows who spend 12 months in San Francisco are eligible for student housing accommodations. These details mean applicants should not treat the fellowship as a full salary or assume that living expenses at home are funded throughout the year. The official page does not list a standard stipend amount, so applicants should use the admissions contact for questions about their own circumstances.
GBHI also offers competitive Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders, with awards of up to $25,000 to support projects in fellows’ home communities. Pilot funding is a separate, competitive opportunity rather than guaranteed money included with admission. Mentors can help fellows develop project ideas and applications, but applicants should not include the maximum award as certain income when planning their participation.
Who is eligible
The UCSF site welcomes experienced professionals from varied fields who are committed to advancing brain health equity and reducing the impact of dementia. The official page names areas such as medicine, nursing, neuroscience, psychology, public health, engineering, policymaking, journalism, entrepreneurship, the arts, education, and community leadership. The program does not require a specific professional background or degree simply to apply. Competitive applicants have completed the highest level of training or education they intend to pursue in their field, have a record of professional achievement and leadership, and can describe a collaborative approach to meaningful change in their communities.
Applicants must be able to participate throughout the year-long global hybrid fellowship. That includes weekly online learning, the international in-person workshops, the residential learning experience at UCSF, and required international travel. Applicants should also be comfortable working across disciplines and cultures, contributing their expertise to a diverse cohort, and learning from the experiences of others. Coursework and fellowship activities are conducted in English. The FAQ says an English proficiency certificate is not required, while strong written and spoken English skills are essential for participation.
There is no minimum education requirement to apply. A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll as a student at UCSF and to be eligible for the UCSF-issued Certificate in Equity in Brain Health. Official transcripts are not part of the initial fellowship application. Applicants recommended after interviews may later be asked to complete a UCSF graduate education application and submit transcripts. Since these distinctions can matter to applicants with varied educational histories, read the FAQ carefully and contact GBHI if a particular credential question affects your plans.
How to apply
Start with the official UCSF application overview, where GBHI provides the application link, required materials, eligibility information, and important dates. The page links to the online form. A complete application includes:
- The online application.
- A résumé or curriculum vitae.
- Two letters of support demonstrating leadership potential and a long-term commitment to advancing brain health in the applicant’s community.
At least one support letter should come from a current or former employer, institution, organization, or professional collaborator who can discuss the applicant’s experience and leadership potential. The application also asks applicants to identify a regional mentor who can support their leadership development during and after the fellowship. The mentor can help connect the learning experience to local priorities, partnerships, and opportunities for impact.
All application materials must be submitted in English. The application is considered complete only once all required materials have arrived. Contact letter writers early and give them enough time to prepare specific letters and submit them before the deadline. After an online submission, applicants receive an automated email confirming receipt. GBHI states that late applications cannot be accepted, so applicants should not plan around a grace period or submit at the last moment. Selected applicants are invited to interview; interviews are by invitation, and applicants are notified of their status by email. Official transcripts may be requested later from applicants recommended after interview.
Dates and selection process
The UCSF application opened on July 1, 2026 and closes on November 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. GMT. GBHI lists invitations to interview for January 2027 and final decisions for February 2027. The fellowship begins in late August 2027. These dates are published on the official UCSF application page and should be checked there again before submission in case GBHI posts an update.
The other site, Trinity College Dublin, had a separate deadline of September 18, 2026. GBHI states that applications for the 2027–2028 fellowship at Trinity are now closed. That passed Trinity date does not close the UCSF route: UCSF applications remain open until the later site-specific deadline stated above. Applicants should choose UCSF only if its global hybrid format fits their needs, and should not treat the Trinity deadline as applicable to the UCSF form.
Choosing whether the UCSF format fits
The fellowship’s flexibility comes with defined attendance requirements. Weekly live online classes and independent work call for a dependable schedule. The three international intensives require advance travel planning, and the residential UCSF period can last between three and 12 months. The program’s FAQ describes these commitments as compatible with working professionals, but applicants should still discuss leave, workload, travel, caregiving, and finances with the people or institutions affected by those arrangements.
The residential experience includes clinical observation and research and educational activities at the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center. Applicants can consider the length of stay that best supports their learning aims; those seeking the UCSF certificate need a three-consecutive-month period in San Francisco. The page notes that J-1 visas are sponsored for international fellows, while individual visa and travel eligibility should be confirmed with the admissions team and relevant official guidance.
A strong application will make a clear connection between the applicant’s past work and a practical vision for advancing brain health equity. Applicants from outside clinical or research fields can explain how their work in policy, journalism, engineering, education, arts, entrepreneurship, or community leadership can contribute. Specific examples of collaboration and leadership help show how an applicant will participate in the cohort and apply the fellowship learning locally.
Preparing a focused application
Before drafting, identify a brain health or dementia issue that matters in the communities where you work. Describe who is affected, what makes the problem inequitable, and how your experience could contribute to change. Connect the proposed direction to the fellowship’s interdisciplinary learning and the practical realities of the UCSF program. The application should help reviewers understand both the contribution the applicant can make and what the applicant needs to learn.
Choose support writers who have worked closely enough with you to describe your leadership, judgment, and commitment with examples. At least one must fit GBHI’s stated relationship categories: a current or former employer, institution, organization, or professional collaborator. Provide them with the deadline and a concise description of the fellowship so they can speak to the fit. Identify a potential regional mentor thoughtfully, considering who can help translate fellowship learning into local relationships and action.
Use the online form and official instructions as the definitive checklist. Do not assume that an essay, reference, transcript, or other item is required unless the current UCSF materials request it. The published complete-application list includes the online application, CV or résumé, and two support letters; later transcript requests apply to applicants who advance after interviews. Leave time to check that every required item has been received and that the confirmation email arrives after submission.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a paid fellowship? GBHI’s UCSF FAQ specifies a stipend for living expenses during the residential UCSF period. It says there is no cost-of-living stipend while fellows remain in their home communities. Required program travel, accommodations, and learning materials are covered. The page does not publish a set stipend amount.
Are the pilot awards part of the stipend? No. Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders are competitive awards of up to $25,000 for projects in fellows’ home communities. They are a distinct funding opportunity and are not guaranteed with admission.
Can an applicant apply to both locations? No. Applicants may choose only one site in an application cycle. The Trinity site is closed for this cohort; the UCSF application remains open through November 2, 2026.
Is a degree required? No specific degree is required to apply, and there is no minimum education requirement for the fellowship application. A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll as a UCSF student and qualify for the UCSF-issued certificate. The FAQ explains when transcripts may be requested.
Can an applicant submit after the deadline? No. The UCSF FAQ says late applications cannot be accepted. All application items, including both letters, must be received for the application to be complete.
Official application and contact
Read the current eligibility, materials, and schedule on the GBHI at UCSF application page, then use its application link to submit. For questions not answered in the page or its FAQ, GBHI lists the admissions email as [email protected]. Applicants should verify their intended site and make sure the complete application reaches GBHI before November 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. GMT. The cohort offers a year of interdisciplinary development and a global network for professionals committed to improving brain health and reducing the impact of dementia, while asking for serious engagement in online learning, travel, and residential study.