Students may apply for non-resident status in three categories:

Traveling scholar (PDF)
For students away from the Boston area who are engaged primarily in their degree work.

Leave of absence (PDF)
For degree candidates whose time will be devoted primarily to activities other than degree work. It is not advisable for students to take more than one year of leave. In unusual situations where additional leave may be required, the department should contact Rise Shepsle, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, (617-495-1814, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to discuss the situation.

Studying at Another Harvard School (PDF)
For students who will be registered and studying full-time at another Harvard school.

Other Forms

Change in Non-Resident Status (PDF)

Cancellation of Non-Resident Status (PDF)  

*Please note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required for viewing of the application. You may download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web site .

 

Approval Process

    Before deciding on non-resident status, students should discuss their plans with their advisor and then complete the appropriate application. Applications must be approved by the student's advisor, the departmental director of graduate studies, and the Dean's Office. International students considering non-resident status need to contact the Harvard International Office and obtain approval before changing their status. GSAS students who have loans and are going on leave should speak to their financial aid officer about the repayment of loans. Those students applying for Leave of Absence or Study at another Harvard School are encouraged to contact their department regarding possible effect of their leave on departmental G-year and progress toward degree.

 

Submission

    Applications can be downloaded from this page (see above). Students should submit completed forms including all departmental signatures to the Dean's Office, GSAS, Holyoke Center 3rd floor. Students should be aware that any unpaid termbill balance from the previous term, and current term charges other than tuition, HUHS, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, would delay the approval of their non-resident application.
    The address on the application should be a mailing address for the period a student is to be away, and is the address to which termbills will be sent. Students who will be traveling may want to use a local or permanent address from which mail can be forwarded if necessary.
    Applications for non-resident status are due in department offices by August 1 for the fall term or academic year and by January 1 for the spring term. After those dates the late registration fees apply. The student will be charged $50 plus $5 for each week that the application is late.

Tuition

    The tuition requirements for the PhD are two years of full tuition and two years of reduced tuition. Students applying for non-resident status may request to delay payment of the required full or reduced tuition, and instead pay the active file fee or the facilities fee, ordinarily for a total of no more than two years prior to completion of the tuition requirements. Students delaying payment of tuition should be aware that the required tuition, at the rates current at the time of payment, must be paid prior to the receipt of the degree. If a student owes required tuition and plans to graduate the year the student is a non-resident or the next year, the student may be asked to pay that tuition while in non-resident status. Please contact your financial aid officer regarding your grant and choosing an appropriate tuition option.

    Students who will be on leave to enroll in another Harvard school may choose to delay the payment of tuition. If they choose to do so, they will be charged the required GSAS tuition at the rates current at the time of payment prior to their receiving their degree. Tuition is not shared between the schools.

Health Coverage

    A student registered as a Traveling Scholar will be charged for the Harvard Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and University Health Services (UHS) coverage. If a Traveling Scholar does not want BCBS and/or UHS coverage, he or she must fill out a waiver form online for each by September 30 for the fall or February 28 for the spring, or the fees will remain on the term bill. Visit www.huhs.harvard.edu/waiver for information.
    A student who goes on Leave of Absence before October 1 (fall) or March 1 (spring) will not have Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) or UHS insurance coverage. If the student wishes to purchase the insurance, he/she must contact UHS Member Services within 30 days of the approved application (617-495-2008 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). A student who goes on leave after these dates will retain the health insurance coverage in which he/she originally enrolled that term. Visit www.huhs.harvard.edu for information.

International Students

    Immigration regulations require F-1 or J-1 visa holders to maintain full-time status while in the United States. F-1 or J-1 students who are considering applying for a leave of absence must speak to an advisor in the Harvard International Office (Holyoke Center 858, 617-495-2789) before submitting an application form. All international students must have their non-resident applications approved by the International Office.

Additional Information

If a student is currently in non-resident status and would like to continue in that status next term or next year, a new non-resident application needs to be completed.

Once a non-resident application has been approved, a traveling scholar may request a formal letter of introduction from the Dean's Office in Holyoke Center. This letter, known as a "dazzler," may assist the student in gaining access to research facilities and libraries abroad.

For more information, please contact the Dean's Office at 617-495-1814 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it