Students seeking admission to a graduate degree program must apply formally to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. We encourage prospective students to submit an online application here. For those who prefer to mail in a paper application form, they can be requested here.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

We invite applications for admission from students who have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution (details). First year graduate studies begin in mid-September.

Completed applications and all supporting documentation include:

• Application form including biographical and academic information, an abstract of courses, and a statement of purpose;
• A financial aid application;
• Three (or four) letters of recommendation from faculty or others qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study;
• Official university/college transcripts;
• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Harvard's Institution Code is 3451. Students are strongly encouraged to take the GRE subject exam as well;
• An updated resume;
• An application fee of $90.

The deadline for receipt of the application is 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5), December 7, 2007. More specific information about the application process is outlined in the Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Application Instructions and Information (http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/prospective_students/application_instructions_and_information.php).

For Foreign Applicants

Applicants from foreign countries are held to the same admission standards as students from the United States. Students whose native language is not English, and who do not hold a degree from an institution at which English is the language of instruction, must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). A minimum score of 550 on the written TOEFL, a 213 on the computer-based exam, or an 80 on the internet-based test is required for admission.

Recruitment Visits

Applications will be reviewed by the admissions committee in January and invited applicants will be notified of recruitment visits which are scheduled in February. These visits provide a great opportunity to tour the Department and meet with faculty and current graduate students. It also allows you to spend time on campus and experience first-hand what the Boston/Cambridge area has to offer.

Financial Support

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for non-Harvard fellowships or scholarships from sources such as the National Science Foundation and The Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Provided that satisfactory progress is maintained, all students admitted to the program are fully supported throughout their graduate careers. This includes full tuition and fees, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. Foreign applicants may be eligible for funding from Harvard-related sources based in their home country as well. Foreign applicants should contact the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences prior to applying to inquire what funding sources might be available to them. Students are expected to complete their graduate work to obtain the degree within five years. Financial support is usually not provided after the sixth year.

Additional Information

Our Graduate Program team will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have.  Please call (617) 384-7507 or email gradworld@mcb.harvard.edu.

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