No specific degree or professional background is required to apply to the fellowship. We welcome experienced professionals from a wide range of disciplines, including healthcare, research, public health, policy, education, the arts, journalism, engineering, business, and community leadership. The most competitive applicants will have completed the highest level of training or education they intend to pursue in their field and demonstrate a commitment to advancing brain health equity. There is no minimum education requirement to apply for the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program. However, a bachelor’s degree is required to enroll as a student at UCSF and be eligible for the UCSF-issued Certificate in Equity in Brain Health. To learn more about the diversity of professional and educational backgrounds represented in the program, explore the bios of the 2026 UCSF cohort.

Official transcripts are not required as part of the fellowship application. After interviews, applicants recommended for admission to the program will be asked to complete a UCSF Division of Graduate Education and Post-Doctoral Affairs (GEPA) application and submit their transcripts at that time. A bachelor’s degree is required to be eligible for the UCSF-issued Certificate in Equity in Brain Health.

No. Applicants are not required to submit an English language proficiency certificate. However, all coursework and fellowship activities are conducted in English, so strong written and spoken English skills are essential.

No. Applicants may apply to only one fellowship site during each application cycle. Review both programs carefully and choose the site that best aligns with your professional goals, availability, and preferred learning format.

Applicants must submit two letters of support that demonstrate leadership potential and a long-term commitment to advancing brain health in their communities. At least one letter should come from a current or former employer, institution, organization, or professional collaborator.

After you submit your online application, you will receive an automated email confirming receipt.

No. Late applications cannot be accepted. Please submit your application well before the deadline to allow enough time for letters of support to be received.

No. Deferrals are not available. If you are unable to participate in the fellowship year for which you applied, you are welcome to apply again in a future application cycle.

The UCSF program follows a global hybrid model. Fellows participate in interactive online learning throughout the year, attend three required international in-person learning intensives, and spend time at UCSF for a residential learning experience that includes clinical observation, research engagement, and community-building activities.

The fellowship is designed for working professionals and is completed in a hybrid format, combining online and in-person learning over the course of one year. During the remote portion of the fellowship, fellows participate in weekly live online class sessions, independent learning, regular mentor meetings, and the development of a pilot project proposal. 

The in-person component includes three required 10-day international learning intensives, as well as a 3–12-month residential learning experience at UCSF. During their time at UCSF, fellows participate in clinical observation, research engagement, and educational activities at the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center.

The amount of time fellows spend at UCSF varies according to individual learning goals, professional responsibilities, visa policies for a J-1 visa in your country, and personal circumstances. All fellows participate in a residential learning experience that includes clinical observation, research engagement, and educational activities at the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center. Fellows who wish to earn the UCSF-issued Certificate in Equity in Brain Health must spend three consecutive months at UCSF. There is no preferred length of stay for the selection process; applicants should select a duration that aligns with their learning goals and what they hope to accomplish during their time at UCSF.

Approximately four months total. This includes spending three consecutive months in San Francisco (February to May) and the three learning intensives (September, January, May).  

Fellows receive a stipend to cover living expenses during their residential learning experience at UCSF. Fellows that spend 12 months in SF are eligible for student housing accommodations. 

The fellowship does not provide a cost-of-living stipend while fellows are based in their home communities. However, required program travel, accommodations, and learning materials are covered by the program. 

Yes. UCSF will sponsor a J-1 visa for international fellows. Click here to find the latest information about a country’s J-1 visa status for the US. If you have any specific questions regarding your visa eligibility, please contact [email protected].

Yes. Fellows may choose to relocate with family members during their time at UCSF at their own expense. Fellows are responsible for arranging any required visas and accommodations.

Graduates join a lifelong global community of Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health and the broader Atlantic Fellows network. Fellows continue to collaborate, learn, mentor one another, and advance brain health equity through an international community of leaders.

The global hybrid format allows experienced professionals to participate in the fellowship while remaining connected to their home institutions and communities. It combines online learning, international in-person learning intensives, and a residential learning experience at UCSF.

Yes. Fellows build lasting relationships through three required international learning intensives, the residential learning experience at UCSF, and the GBHI Annual Conference.