What are the application deadlines?

Fall term and entire academic year: March 1

Spring term only: October 1

Do I need to take the TOEFL?

As the full-course program is rigorous and demanding, international students should be fluent in English. Evidence of proficiency in English is required and should be submitted with the application. Students should plan to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL) and arrange to have their scores sent directly to the Special Student/Visiting Fellow Office. The Special Student code number is 3478. Please take this number when you register for the exam. Applicants who have completed at least one year's worth of work in a regular academic program at an English-speaking college or university may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement. Please consult with the Special Student/Visiting Fellow Office if this applies to your particular situation.

How many courses am I required to take each term?

International Special Students are required to maintain full-time student status or four half-courses per term.

Does Harvard sponsor my visa?

Students who are not United States citizens must be sponsored on a student visa. Visa arrangements cannot be made until the applicant has been admitted and the necessary financial certification has been provided to the Special Student/Visiting Fellow Office by the applicant. Additional information about visa regulations can be obtained from the Harvard International Office .

How do I provide financial certification for the Harvard sponsored visa?

To certify grants from outside Harvard, the Special Students and Visiting Fellows Office must receive an official letter, in English, from the funding institution, giving the exact amount of the award in U.S. dollars, the date of the award, and any restrictions on the use of the money.

To certify personal funds, you must submit a letter from your bank certifying the amount of funds in your account. The amount of funds must be sufficient to cover tuition, fees and living expenses for the semester or academic year. The bank letter must be an original letter translated to English and the currency must be converted to US dollars. The second step in certification requires that, once you arrive in the US, you must open an account with a US Bank in Cambridge or Boston and transfer the required funds to this account. You must then obtain a letter from the bank certifying that you have done this and present this letter to the Special Students and Visiting Fellows Office prior to Registration.

Additional information regarding financial certification will be provided to International Visiting Fellows upon acceptance.

A listing of several Boston area banks includes:

Bank of America
1414 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
ph: 800.841.4000
www.bankofamerica.com

CambridgeTrust Company
1336 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
ph: 617-876-5500
www.cambridgetrust.com

Cambridge Savings Bank
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02138
ph: 617-864-8700
www.cambridgesavings.com

Additional information regarding financial certification will be provided to international Special Students upon acceptance.

Does Harvard offer scholarships or financial aid to Special Students?

Harvard does not provide funding to non-degree students. International Special Students are encouraged to seek outside sources of financial aid such as scholarships, bank loans, and government grants from their home country.

Does Harvard offer a host student program?

The GSAS Host Student Program pairs incoming students with advanced graduate students for informal advice about the Graduate School. Several Host Student events are planned at the beginning of each academic year.