Introduction to Financial Aid to New Students

The Graduate School offers a comprehensive program of financial support, including grants and fellowships from internal and external sources, traineeships, teaching fellowships, research assistantships, other academic employment opportunities, and several types of loans.

For PhD students, Harvard guarantees a minimum of five years of support, including two years of grant support and two years of teaching fellowships to cover living expenses plus four years of tuition and fees as well as a final-year dissertation completion fellowship.

Financial Aid

The financial aid program provides an adequate living stipend and tuition, in order to make graduate school possible for academically qualified applicants.

Awards may include grants for living expenses, tuition, and fees, along with teaching fellowships or research assistantships. International applicants should seek information at their universities about Fulbright grants and other grants and loans provided by their home governments.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

The Statement of Financial Resources should be completed (as applicable; see the online application for particular program requirements) whether or not you are applying for financial aid. International applicants are advised that US visa requirements state that sufficient funds must be available to support the student and all accompanying dependents.

Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS)

Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships, funded by Title VI of the Higher Education Act and available to US citizens and permanent residents, support graduate training in modern foreign languages for those who wish to combine world area studies with an academic discipline. Eligible world areas are: East Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. The FLAS application is available on our website and should be submitted separately with academic transcripts and a letter of recommendation to: FLAS Coordinator, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Holyoke Center 350, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138. The application deadline is December 31, 2011.

Teaching Fellowships and Research Assistantships

Teaching Fellowships and Research Assistantships are ordinarily available to second- year students in the natural sciences and to third and fourth-year students in the humanities and social sciences. Teaching requirements and opportunities vary widely from department to department.

Non-Harvard Awards

All admitted PhD candidates are awarded full financial support, typically for the first four years of study as well as the completion year. All applicants for admission are encouraged to apply for fellowship support from organizations outside the University. Many GSAS students have achieved distinction as recipients of competitive non- Harvard awards, including the National Science Foundation, Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, the Soros Foundation, the Fulbright Program, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowship Program. Please consult the GSAS Graduate Guide to Grants for a sample list of opportunities. These awards are sponsored by both public and private agencies and often provide multi-year support that is more generous than that offered by the University. If awarded an external fellowship, students are expected to accept it and inform the Graduate School. The GSAS Financial Aid Office will determine the coordination of the outside award with the Harvard fellowship.

Grant Reference Books

The Graduate School revises and updates the Graduate Guide to Grants, which lists possible sources of support for graduate students. Advice on writing winning proposals can be found in Scholarly Pursuits on the GSAS Fellowships Office page.

Most libraries and career planning offices include useful publications, such as Grants for Graduate Students. In addition, faculty advisors are often helpful in suggesting funding sources appropriate to an applicant’s particular field of study. We suggest that you plan ahead as many fellowship application deadlines are in the early fall.

Selected Non-University Sources

National Science Foundation Fellowships

The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers graduate fellowships through a national competition each year. Awards are made for study leading to master’s or doctoral degrees in the mathematical, physical, biological, and social sciences, and in the history and philosophy of science. Eligibility is limited to individuals who are US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents at the time of application. Contact: (866) 673-4737 from the US and Canada; (202) 331-3542 from international locations.

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships

Minority applicants in the humanities and social sciences should seek information here: Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships, National Research Council, 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 334-2872; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . nationalacademies.org/fellowships.

GEM

The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM) covers tuition and stipend, plus a summer internship at a participating company. Contact: The national GEM Consortium, 1430 Duke street, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 562-3646; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Jacob K. Javits Fellowships

The Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program sponsors an annual national competition for students undertaking study at the doctoral level in selected fields of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Eligibility is limited to individuals who are US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents at the time of application. Contact: US Department of Education, OPE, Teacher and Student Development Programs Service, Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program, 1990 K Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-8524; (202) 502-7542; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowships

The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG) is intended for students at or near the beginning of graduate study for doctoral degrees in mathematical, physical, biological, and engineering sciences. It is open to US citizens and nationals of the United States. Contact: National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program, American Society for Engineering Education, 1818 N Street NW #600, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 331-3516; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

National Physical Science Consortium Fellowships

The National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC) awards fellowships to US citizens for graduate study at participating NPSC institutions. Contact: NPSC, USC_RAN, 3716 S. Hope, Suite 348, Los Angeles, CA 90007-4344; (800) 854-6772; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Loans

Students are eligible to apply for various federal loan programs. The GSAS Financial Aid Office can help direct you to an appropriate loan program.