GSAS has implemented a new program to allow international students to take full advantage of the education that Harvard University affords them. In September 2007 all new international PhD students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) will be required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in the English language sufficient to participate successfully in all the various activities that comprise a graduate education, including classwork, research, and teaching.

GSAS will require that all incoming PhD students who are non-native speakers of English and have not received their undergraduate degree from an English-speaking institution will have their English proficiency tested by the staff of the Institute of English Language (IEL). Incoming students will be tested for their proficiency in speaking, listening comprehension, writing, and reading. The diagnostic instruments to be used in ascertaining students’ level of proficiency will be the Harvard English Language Placement test (HELP) and the Harvard Speaking and Writing Test (HSWT).

·    Students who take part in the English Language Program during the month of August will be tested at the end of the program in late August. All other students will be tested on Wednesday, September 5, 2007. Information will be posted on the GSAS website about the time and location of the testing.
·    Students who receive a score of 80 or above on the HELP and 5 or above on the HSWT will be deemed proficient in English.  Anyone deemed proficient will take the Classroom Communication Assessment, administered by the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at some point during his/her first year. This assessment will allow international students to demonstrate their listening and speaking skills in an interactive classroom setting. The assessment is a single session approximately 20 minutes in duration.
·    Students who receive a score between 70 and 79 on the HELP and less than 5 on the HSWT will be required to take a fall-term course and a January session course at the IEL and will be eligible to be tested again in January. If they pass the tests, they will be deemed proficient in English. If they do not pass the tests, they will need to take another IEL course during the spring term.
·    Students who receive a score below 70 on the HELP and less than 5 on the HSWT will be required to take IEL courses in the fall term, the January session, and the spring term, and will not normally be eligible to be tested again until May of their first year. If they pass the tests in May, they will be deemed proficient in English. If they do not pass the tests, they will be required to take an IEL course during the summer and will not be eligible to be tested again until the end of this course.
·    Students will not be allowed to serve as Teaching Fellows until they are deemed proficient in English.

We believe that these tests will prove beneficial in identifying students who need assistance with their English language skills and will allow them to receive the help that they need early on. For questions regarding this policy, please contact the Student Affairs Office, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 617-495-1814.