Harvard College is the “original” Harvard, founded in 1636 as the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Harvard College offers a four-year undergraduate, liberal arts program for students seeking their first degree. There are about 6,500 undergraduates at the College, with nearly equal numbers of men and women. In addition to Harvard College, Harvard University includes ten graduate and professional schools, all of which offer programs for students who already hold their first degrees and seek advanced training in their fields through master's or doctoral programs. All ten graduate and professional schools maintain their own admissions offices and teaching faculties, and they are run independently of Harvard College. For information about Harvard's post-graduate programs, please contact these schools' admissions offices directly.

What is a "liberal arts" education?

In our liberal arts program, students are broadly educated in the social sciences, the natural sciences and the humanities, as well as trained in a particular academic field of specialization called a concentration. Students take one course in each of the eight areas of the General Education Program, which is designed to broaden each student's intellectual perspective, while selecting a field of concentration from more than forty academic departments. Students will usually take about half of their courses in their concentration, one-quarter in the General Education Program, and one-quarter student-chosen electives. The only specific course that is required for all students is a one-semester writing course, although each department has certain courses that a student must take to earn a degree in that field. Programs are, therefore, quite individualized for each student. Whatever a student's curricular choices, every undergraduate learns to read, write, and think critically — skills important to any endeavor. For detailed information, consult the course catalog at www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu.

Can an undergraduate concentrate in business, journalism, law or medicine?

While students can take classes related to these fields, Harvard's academic programs are not "pre-professional" in the sense that they provide vocational training. Many Harvard graduates plan to continue their education in professional or graduate schools, often in these fields. Please note that both medicine and law are postgraduate programs in the United States. Candidates who are not U.S. citizens but wish to continue their education in a professional program, particularly in an American medical school, are advised to consult specific graduate and professional programs in advance to understand those schools' admissions and financial aid policies concerning international students.

What should I know about Harvard's science and engineering programs?

Science and engineering have long been priorities at Harvard. There are more than two dozen state-of-the-art facilities for science research at Harvard, and new computer science and chemistry laboratories opened in 2008. Moreover, forty-one of our former and current science faculty members have won Nobel Prizes. About half of recent entering students intend to major in the natural sciences, engineering, computer science or mathematics. Read more about engineering and applied science at www.seas.harvard.edu.

How easy is it for students to change their field of study?

About a third of undergraduates change fields after declaring their concentrations. Students simply change concentrations in consultation with departmental advisers. Learn more about the breadth of Harvard's academic programs.

How successful are Harvard students in gaining admission to graduate schools or finding employment after graduation?

Our graduates enjoy an extraordinarily high rate of success receiving job offers and admission to graduate and professional schools. Resident tutors in each of the twelve residential Houses assist students applying to graduate schools and fellowship programs. The Office of Career Services offers all undergraduates a range of job and internship counseling and placement. Foreign citizens should be aware that some special policies pertain should they seek employment in the U.S. after graduation.

Does attending Harvard College affect a student's chances of admission to Harvard University's graduate programs in business, medicine or law?

It is important to note again that these graduate programs are separate from and independent of Harvard College, and they each make their own admissions decisions. Yet, Harvard College is almost always the best-represented undergraduate institution at Harvard's graduate schools. In some programs, however, and, particularly at Harvard Medical School, non-citizens may have a smaller representation.

Can students fulfill academic requirements with previous coursework?

Students cannot receive credit for coursework completed before matriculation, but Harvard offers an Advanced Standing Program to entering students who meet certain standards on the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations or who have earned the full International Baccalaureate Diploma with a grade of 7 on at least three Higher Level examinations. Admitted students with strong results on internationally recognized examinations, such as the GCE A-levels, Abitur or French Baccalaureate, may submit their credentials to the Advanced Standing adviser for individual evaluation upon matriculation. Visit the Advising Programs Office website for more information about Advanced Standing.

What percentage of faculty members teach undergraduates?

Virtually 100 percent.

Is it possible to talk with and get to know professors?

Yes. In addition to weekly office hours, students often spend time with their professors before and after class. There are also many occasions when professors take meals in Harvard's twelve residential dining halls; attend gatherings in the residences of House Masters, who are themselves Harvard faculty members; and participate in other programs and special events.

Are there required freshman classes?

Harvard requires all freshmen to take Expository Writing, a one-semester course. Otherwise, freshmen may enroll in any Harvard College courses in which they are interested and for which they are prepared.

Must students register for classes before they begin?

No. Students enjoy a week-long "shopping" period at the start of each semester during which they visit classes and compare curricular choices before registering for classes.

How many classes does Harvard offer?

Nearly 3,500. For a complete copy of the course catalog, consult www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu.

How large are classes?

Some introductory courses as well as several other popular courses have large enrollments. Yet, the median class size at Harvard is 12. Of the nearly 1,300 courses offered last fall, for example, more than 1,000 of them enrolled twenty or fewer students.

What is Harvard's graduation rate?

Harvard graduates over 97 percent of its students, among the highest rates at American colleges and universities. Everyone admitted to Harvard has the ability to complete all academic requirements successfully.

Advising and Other Academic Opportunities

What advising and support services are available for Harvard undergraduates?

Woven into Harvard's first-year and upper class residences are a variety of academic and other advising resources that make the residential experience at Harvard distinctive. First-year students benefit from the guidance that resident proctors provide about living in Cambridge and studying at the College. Each House also has its own staff of advisers called resident tutors who are similar to first-year proctors but with expertise in particular academic and professional fields. The College offers extensive advising resources of other kinds. When students need extra help in coursework, they can turn to the Bureau of Study Counsel. The Office of Career Services offers career counseling. The University maintains its own outstanding health services. The Undergraduate Financial Aid Office helps students with financial aid issues, and the Student Employment Office helps place students in jobs on and off campus. Finally, the International Office serves exclusively the special needs of international students.

Does Harvard provide services for students with disabilities?

Yes. The Accessible Education Office (AEO) assists students with any impairment limiting their ability to walk, see, hear, speak, learn or write. Based on each student's successful strategies, the Center collaborates with faculty and staff to ensure individualized accommodation. Accessible housing and transportation are also available. Read more about the AEO here.

Are there research opportunities for undergraduates?

Yes, and something for everybody. Many students find research projects through individual inquiries with departments and professors as well as through the Harvard Undergraduate Research Program and the Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The Faculty Aide Program links professors to undergraduates interested in becoming research assistants. Read more about these programs on the Student Employment Office website.

Are there exchange programs with other Greater Boston colleges?

Harvard students may cross-register in courses offered at MIT, which is a ten-minute trip from Harvard Yard. Students may also enroll in graduate level courses at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as well as at many of Harvard's professional schools.

What sort of study abroad programs are available to Harvard students?

Harvard students study abroad in classroom, laboratory and field-based immersion programs throughout the world. In addition to greatly expanded study abroad opportunities, other international experiences such as public service internships and employment are offered. Generous funding is available for all students both during the school year and the summer. For more information about study abroad, visit the Office of International Programs website.

Residential Life

Is on-campus housing guaranteed?

Harvard guarantees housing for all four years. First-year students live in one of the seventeen dormitories in or adjacent to historic Harvard Yard. Self-selected groups of students are assigned to one of twelve residential Houses for the final three years of undergraduate study. About 350 to 500 students live in a House, each of which includes its own dining hall, library, advising staff, and many other resources. Read more about first-year dormitories and Harvard's Houses.

Must students live on campus?

Students must live in Harvard housing their first year at the College. A very small percentage of students choose to live off-campus as upperclassmen. Most students and alumni consider the House system one of the hallmarks of their Harvard experiences. Considering the diversity of student backgrounds, interests and talents, Harvard's residential program enhances the degree to which students learn from one another.

What will my room look like?

Most freshman dorms have suites for three to six students. Suites contain from two to four bedrooms and a common room. A few have their own baths, though most share a bathroom with other suites. The FDO assigns students to suites rather than to particular bedrooms, and in almost any suite students should expect to share a bedroom for at least part of the year. Some dorms contain doubles, usually one fairly large room with a shared bath.

Where will I take my meals?

First-year students all eat together in the historic Annenberg Hall, which is reserved as a freshman only eating space during the midday and evening meals. During sophomore through senior year, students typically eat in the dining hall located within his or her House, although students can choose to eat at other House dining halls as well.

Are there extracurricular opportunities available for students?

Yes! There are more than 400 student-run organizations at Harvard, among them dozens of publications, five orchestras, an extensive community service program, over forty intercollegiate athletic teams and a broad assortment of other activities - artistic, musical, political and social. There is never a shortage of things to do at Harvard. Harvard College encourages and supports extracurricular opportunities as these provide important settings for personal growth and friendships. Visit the Office of Student Life website for more information about extracurriculars at the College.

What campus security measures in place at Harvard?

The University sponsors a comprehensive public safety program that includes a full campus police force, a walking escort service, a campus-wide shuttle service, emergency phones, lighted pathways and a computer-card key system operating in all freshman and most other residences. Read Harvard's "Playing It Safe" handbook at the Harvard University Police Department website.

Admissions

Are there quotas for international applicants?

There are no quotas or limits for international students. All students are considered in the same pool for all places in the incoming class, regardless of citizenship or the school they attend. A student's chances for admission and financial aid are not affected by citizenship or by the location of the school that the student attends.

Are a student's chances for admission lessened if there are other applicants from his or her school or community?

No. There are no quotas for individual schools, communities, states or countries. A student's application is compared rigorously with others from around the globe.

Does Harvard admit students to enter in the spring semester?

No. All students begin study in August to benefit from special programs designed for freshmen.

Eligibilty

If a student’s curriculum requires more than the 12-year U.S. curriculum, may he or she apply after their twelfth year?

We strongly recommend that students complete whichever curriculum they have been following. Applicants who have completed only a year of GCE A-levels or International Baccalaureate study, for instance, are at a tremendous disadvantage in our applicant pool.

May a student with a bachelor's degree apply to Harvard College?

No student with a bachelor's degree or other first university degree from any other university, whether American or foreign, is eligible for admission to Harvard College. Students interested in continuing their studies beyond the bachelor's degree might wish to consider one of the ten Harvard University graduate schools. The Harvard College Admissions Office is independent of these schools and their admissions policies.

Criteria and Rigor

What admissions criteria does Harvard use?

There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal initiative. We rely on teachers, counselors, headmasters and alumni to share information with us about an applicant's strength of character, his or her ability to overcome adversity and other personal qualities, all of which play a part in the Admissions Committee's decisions.

Must a student have certain grades or marks to be considered for admission?

The Admissions Committee recognizes that schools vary by size, academic program and grading policies, so we do not have rigid grade requirements. We also do not automatically admit students even if they have the highest grades or marks available. We do seek students who achieve at a high level, and most admitted students rank in the top 10-15 percent of their graduating classes.

How important are extracurricular activities in admissions decisions?

Each case is different. Some students distinguish themselves for admission due to their unusual academic promise through experience or achievements in study or research. Other students present compelling cases because they are more "well rounded," having contributed in many different ways to their schools or communities. Still other successful applicants are "well lopsided" with demonstrated excellence in one particular endeavor. Some students bring perspectives formed by unusual personal circumstances or experiences. Like all colleges, we seek to admit the most interesting, able and diverse class possible.

Are there secondary school course requirements for admission?

There is no single academic path we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous secondary school curriculum available to them.

Does Harvard consider non-required test results, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Abitur or GCE A-levels?

Yes. We value predicted A-level and IB results along with any information that helps us form a complete picture of an applicant's academic interests and strengths. However, results from these examinations cannot substitute for our required admissions testing. All applicants must submit the results of the SAT or the ACT (with writing) as well as two SAT Subject Tests.

How familiar is the Admissions Committee with secondary schools? Their rigor? What marks mean in a particular school or educational system?

We have worked hard for many years to learn about schools around the world. Our careful study of different schools, curricula and educational systems is also augmented from information we receive directly from schools, extensive personal communication with school personnel and the interview reports we receive from our alumni, who meet thousands of applicants to the College each year. We can always learn more, so we welcome information students think might be helpful to the Admissions Committee in understanding their accomplishments in their school communities.

Does Harvard rank secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad?

No. While we understand there are differences in the overall strengths of secondary schools, we are most interested in how well applicants have taken advantage of available resources.

Admissions Process

Does Harvard offer application fee waivers?

Yes! If paying the application fee would cause a hardship for your family, please request a fee waiver. You or your guidance counselor may write a short letter asking us to waive your fee. Please use the following e-mail address: intlfeewaiver@fas.harvard.edu to submit your application fee waiver request.

Which teachers should write recommendations?

Teachers who know the applicant well and who have taught him or her in academic subjects (preferably in the final two years of secondary school) most often provide the most valuable testimony. Whenever possible, teachers should tell us about a candidate's significant non-academic interests and personal qualities as well as academic potential.

Should students send supplementary recommendations?

While we can make careful evaluations with only the required recommendations, we are happy to read helpful letters from people directly familiar with an applicant’s life outside the classroom. Such letters are not necessary, however. Please do not submit copies of incidental awards and certificates.

Who reads applications?

Most applications are read by two or more members of the Admissions Committee and are considered very carefully in a series of committee meetings that lasts several months.

Is there a personal interview?

We encourage international applicants to have an admission interview when and where possible. Our interviewers abroad are normally graduates of the College who offer their assistance on a volunteer basis. In many countries, applicants must initiate contact with an interviewer. In some countries, applicants will be contacted by an interviewer. In still other countries, we may not have interviewers or the number of applicants may be too great for all to be interviewed. While we try to make interviewers as widely available as possible, it will not always be possible for a student to have an interview. The absence of an interview will not adversely affect your candidacy.

May admitted students defer their matriculation at Harvard?

Yes. Admitted students can take a one-year deferral to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work or spend time in another meaningful way, provided they do not enroll in a degree-granting program at another college or university. Deferrals for two-year obligatory military service are permitted.

Is there a wait list?

Yes. Our wait list includes the strongest applicants whom the Committee was not able to admit but might still wish to consider for admission if spots in the entering class open later. The wait list is not ranked. In some years, we have admitted no one from the wait list; in others, we have admitted more than 200 candidates.

What should students know about visas?

Admitted students will be provided with information about applying for a student visa.

Required Admissions Testing

What standardized tests does Harvard require?

We value predicted A-level and IB results along with any information that helps us form a complete picture of an applicant's academic interests and strengths. However, results from these examinations cannot substitute for our required admissions testing. All applicants must submit the results of the SAT or ACT (with writing) as well as two SAT Subject Tests. Students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics to meet this requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English should not use a Subject Test in their first language to meet one of the two Subject Tests requirement. For information about the SATs, consult www.collegeboard.org; for the ACT www.act.org.

Must students sitting for GCE A-levels or other international credentials submit SAT or ACT scores?

Yes. We realize students educated abroad may be unfamiliar with these examination formats or may have followed a different syllabus, but all applicants must submit the results of the SAT or ACT (with writing) and two SAT Subject Tests.

Are there minimum required SAT, ACT or Subject Testscores?

Harvard does not have required minimum scores; however, the majority of students admitted to the College score between 650 to 800 on each section of the SAT as well as on the SAT Subject Tests. We regard test results as helpful indicators of academic ability and achievement when considered thoughtfully among many other factors. The Admissions Committee understands that international students may not be as familiar with the SAT and ACT formats as American citizens. Nevertheless, international students who distinguish themselves for admission often present the Committee with exceptionally strong standardized testing by any measure.

Which SAT Subject Tests should students take?

Applicants must take two SAT Subject Tests and may choose any two subjects, using the following guidelines:

The English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is not acceptable.
Students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics to meet this requirement.
Candidates whose first language is not English should not use a Subject Test in their first language to meet one of the two Subject Tests required.
Applicants may wish to convey the breadth of their academic interests by taking tests in a variety of subjects.

What if English is not a student's first language?

A strong knowledge of English is essential for successful study at Harvard, including the ability to understand and express thoughts quickly and clearly. We require the results of the SAT or ACT (with writing) and two SAT Subject Tests for all candidates. The SAT English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is not acceptable. Students are not required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless the SAT exams are not available in their current location. Candidates whose native language is not English should not take the SAT Subject Test in their native language to fulfill one of their two required tests.

Does Harvard consider scores from previous administrations of the SAT or ACT?

Yes.

If a student takes the required tests more than once, which results does Harvard consider?

We consider a student's best test scores, but it is generally our experience that taking tests more than twice does not improve scores significantly.

What if students cannot take the SAT or ACT in their country?

These standardized tests are now given in almost all countries. We realize that students might have to travel some distance or might have to plan for testing long in advance, but these test results are required tools in our analysis of applications. In our competitive applicant pool, students lacking these test results are usually denied admission. Foreign students in one of the very few countries where the SAT is not available (for example, China) may submit alternative testing such as the Graduate Record Examination. For more information about the GRE, consult www.gre.org. Students in such countries should also take the TOEFL.

Financial Aid

Does Harvard offer financial aid?

Yes. Over 70 percent of Harvard students receive some form of financial aid. Our policy of need-based financial aid is designed to meet 100 percent of a family's demonstrated need. Our recent low and middle income initiatives have made our aid program even more generous by eliminating the parent contribution for families with incomes below $65,000, reducing the parent contribution for families with incomes between $65,000 and $150,000, and eliminating student loans. These enhancements enable all students to participate fully in the extracurricular life of the college. Our financial aid policies apply equally to international students and to U.S. citizens.

Does applying for financial aid affect a student's chances for admission?

No. Admission to Harvard is need-blind, by which we mean that a lack of financial resources and need for financial aid are not impediments to admission. Applying for financial aid does not jeopardize a student’s chances for admission, and foreign students have the same access to financial aid funding as do U.S. citizens.

Is it easy to qualify for financial aid?

Financial aid is more widely available than most families expect. Ffamilies with incomes under $65,000 are not expected to contribute to college costs. Families with incomes over $150,000 may still qualify for need-based financial aid, as we consider carefully each family’s individual circumstances, and not income alone, in determining need.

What if a family's financial situation changes while their student is attending Harvard?

We adjust individual financial aid packages to accommodate significant changes in a family's financial situation. Students apply for financial assistance each year, and we will meet a student’s demonstrated need for all four years.

Does Harvard award merit scholarships?

No. Harvard is firmly committed to allocating resources to sustain our policies of need-blind admissions and need-based financial aid. Our unusually talented student populations — chosen in a very competitive admissions process — would, in any case, complicate the equitable distribution of merit-based awards. However, students last year brought with them to Harvard about $13 million in scholarships from outside resources, thus enhancing their own financial flexibility during their college years.

Does Harvard require international students to work if they qualify for financial aid?

All students, international or American, who demonstrate financial need will be offered a job as part of their financial aid award, which they can typically meet with a job requiring about 12 hours per week. U.S. immigration regulations require foreign nationals to work on-campus, and they restrict the amount of time a foreign student can spend working while attending college. Jobs are plentiful and are often interesting and relevant to academic interests.

Is it easy to find a job?

There are always many jobs available at Harvard, and we guarantee on-campus employment for students whose financial aid packages include term-time work provisions. Employment opportunities range from dining hall duties to work in the University's libraries, laboratories and offices. Students have also earned money on campus as bartenders, teaching assistants, sportswriters, computer programmers, lifeguards and research assistants, to cite a few examples. Working eight to twelve hours on average per week, most students find that they can work, excel academically, and participate in a range of extracurricular activities. Read more at our Student Employment Office website.

Will Harvard provide travel expenses for international students who receive financial aid?

All students who are on financial aid have a travel allowance included in their financial aid award that covers the cost of travel to and from Cambridge. Overseas students are advised to seek information from the nearest U.S. Cultural Affairs Office about travel grants and other financial assistance available to qualified students from various foundations and from the U.S. government.

More Information

International Applicants Frequently Asked Questions

Academics at Harvard College

Advising and Other Academic Opportunities

Residential Life

Admissions

Admissions Process

Required Admissions Testing

Financial Aid

Academics at Harvard College

What is the difference between Harvard College and Harvard University?

What is a "liberal arts" education?

Can an undergraduate concentrate in business, journalism, law or medicine?

What should I know about Harvard's science and engineering programs?

How easy is it for students to change their field of study?

How successful are Harvard students in gaining admission to graduate schools or finding employment after graduation?

Does attending Harvard College affect a student's chances of admission to Harvard University's graduate programs in business, medicine or law?

Can students fulfill academic requirements with previous coursework?

What percentage of faculty members teach undergraduates?

Is it possible to talk with and get to know professors?

Are there required freshman classes?

Must students register for classes before they begin?

How many classes does Harvard offer?

How large are classes?

What is Harvard's graduation rate?

Advising and Other Academic Opportunities

What advising and support services are available for Harvard undergraduates?

Does Harvard provide services for students with disabilities?

Are there research opportunities for undergraduates?

Are there exchange programs with other Greater Boston colleges?

What sort of study abroad programs are available to Harvard students?

Residential Life

Is on-campus housing guaranteed?

Must students live on campus?

What will my room look like?

Where will I take my meals?

Are there extracurricular opportunities available for students?

What campus security measures in place at Harvard?

Admissions

Are there quotas for international applicants?

Are a student's chances for admission lessened if there are other applicants from his or her school or community?

Does Harvard admit students to enter in the spring semester?

Eligibilty

If a student’s curriculum requires more than the 12-year U.S. curriculum, may he or she apply after their twelfth year?

May a student with a bachelor's degree apply to Harvard College?

Criteria and Rigor

What admissions criteria does Harvard use?

Must a student have certain grades or marks to be considered for admission?

How important are extracurricular activities in admissions decisions?

Are there secondary school course requirements for admission?

Does Harvard consider non-required test results, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Abitur or GCE A-levels?

How familiar is the Admissions Committee with secondary schools? Their rigor? What marks mean in a particular school or educational system?

Does Harvard rank secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad?

Admissions Process

Does Harvard offer application fee waivers?

Which teachers should write recommendations?

Should students send supplementary recommendations?

Who reads applications?

Is there a personal interview?

May admitted students defer their matriculation at Harvard?

Is there a wait list?

What should students know about visas?

Required Admissions Testing

What standardized tests does Harvard require?

Must students sitting for GCE A-levels or other international credentials submit SAT or ACT scores?

Are there minimum required SAT, ACT or Subject Testscores?

Which SAT Subject Tests should students take?

What if English is not a student's first language?

Does Harvard consider scores from previous administrations of the SAT or ACT?

If a student takes the required tests more than once, which results does Harvard consider?

What if students cannot take the SAT or ACT in their country?

Financial Aid

Does Harvard offer financial aid?

Does applying for financial aid affect a student's chances for admission?

Is it easy to qualify for financial aid?

What if a family's financial situation changes while their student is attending Harvard?

Does Harvard award merit scholarships?

Does Harvard require international students to work if they qualify for financial aid?

Is it easy to find a job?

Will Harvard provide travel expenses for international students who receive financial aid?

International Applicants
Frequently Asked Questions