Application Instructions and Information

Online submission of the application for admission is required.

The application for admission, together with all supporting materials, becomes the property of the Graduate School. No materials, except those noted in the section on “Transcripts,” will be returned to the applicant nor forwarded to other schools or agencies. All materials related to your application will be filed by your last or family name. It will facilitate our handling of your application if you identify your family name on all correspondence with this office. This is of particular importance for names that do not follow standard English word order. If your name has changed since any of your supporting materials were issued, please inform us on your application.

Those who have filed an application to the Graduate School in a previous year should read carefully the information on "Reapplication".

Deadline and Fee Information

Application deadline December 3, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. EST

  • Business Economics
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Science, Technology, and Management

Application deadline December 8, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. EST

  • Biological Sciences in Dental Medicine*
  • Biological Sciences in Public Health*
  • Biology: Medical Sciences*
  • Biology, Molecular and Cellular*
  • Biology, Organismic and Evolutionary*
  • Biophysics*
  • Chemical Biology*
  • Chemical Physics
  • Chemistry and Chemical Biology*
  • Systems Biology*

*Participating programs in Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS)

Application deadline December 15, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. EST

  • Astronomy
  • Biostatistics
  • East Asian Languages and Civilizations
  • Engineering and Applied Sciences (preferred deadline)
  • Forestry
  • Government
  • Health Policy
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Statistics


Application deadline December 31, 2009, at  5:00 p.m. EST

  • African and African American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning
  • Celtic Languages and Literatures
  • Classics
  • Comparative Literature
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • Economics
  • Engineering and Applied Sciences (final deadline)
  • English
  • Film and Visual Studies
  • Germanic Languages and Literatures
  • History of American Civilization
  • History of Art and Architecture (Formerly Fine Arts)
  • History of Science
  • Human Evolutionary Biology
  • Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Middle Eastern Studies
  • Music
  • Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
  • Philosophy
  • Political Economy and Government
  • Regional Studies-East Asia
  • Regional Studies-Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
  • Romance Languages and Literatures
  • Sanskrit and Indian Studies
  • Slavic Languages and Literatures
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology

The application fee is $105. All applications received by the appropriate deadline with the correct application fee are guaranteed full consideration. Applications and supporting documentation received after the appropriate deadline will not be considered.

It is important that you send all supporting materials in the same envelope. Consideration of your application may be delayed if supporting materials are sent separately. The Graduate School cannot guarantee review of supporting material received after the appropriate deadline.

The only acceptable form of payment for the online application is credit card.

In special circumstances, The Graduate School will accept a paper application. Contact the Office of Admissions for detailed information and instructions.

Selecting a Department and Subject

The term “program” refers to the various departments, divisions, and committees that offer graduate degrees. See "Degree Programs" for more information.

Locate the department, division, or committee to which you wish to apply, and enter the program subject name and number on the appropriate line on the application. Indicate the degree you seek on the degree line. Note that though most programs accept applications only for study leading to the PhD, a few offer the AM degree.

Consideration by More than One Program — Occasionally, an application may be transferred by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid to a second department that may be more suitable to the applicant’s academic interest. Candidates for admission to member programs in the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS), including those within the Division of Medical Sciences (DMS), may also apply to more than one program (see following section).

The Graduate School does not recommend submission of more than one application. However, if you choose to submit multiple applications (up to a limit of two), the applications may not share any item. Each application must have its own transcripts, recommendations, financial data, test scores, etc. All supplemental materials must be scanned, uploaded, and attached to your online application.

It is Graduate School policy that an individual may submit only one application per program (please see instruction below regarding programs in the Division of Medical Sciences).

It is Graduate School policy that an individual may submit no more than three applications during the course of his or her academic career.

Applying to a Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) Program

To apply to a Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) program, students complete and return the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) admissions application by December 8, 2009. Admission is to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and registration is in one of the 12 life sciences PhD study areas within HILS.

Ordinarily, students apply to one HILS program, and we strongly recommend this targeted approach. While each program’s admission committee makes its admissions decisions independently, the committees also consider each candidate’s suitability in adjacent HILS programs as part of their evaluation process, and will transfer files accordingly. The GSAS Admission Office will notify you if this occurs.

For candidates who nonetheless wish to formally apply to more than one program, HILS will accommodate the submission of up to three applications to its member programs under a single $105 application fee. Applicants who wish to submit multiple applications must indicate their program choices on the online application form using the specific code numbers listed in the “Programs, Subjects, Degrees, and Requirements” section. Each application must be unique, containing a separate Statement of Purpose for each program applied to as well as separate copies of transcripts, recommendations, and test scores. Online submission of the application is mandatory.

Note that for application purposes, the four subject areas within the Division of Medical Sciences (Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Virology, Immunology, and Neuroscience) are separate PhD programs. Applicants may apply to a maximum of two of these four DMS subject areas, and each will be counted as a separate application to GSAS.

If you formally apply to more than one HILS member program using the online application, follow the instructions online to “Apply to more than one program.” If you have received permission to submit a paper application, complete two (or three) applications and Statements of Purpose, submit one application fee, and submit all applications in the same envelope.

Please note that it is the policy of the Graduate School that an individual may submit no more than three applications during the course of his or her academic career. This policy applies to multiple HILS applications, including those to DMS departments, whether or not they are submitted under a single admission fee. If you apply to two HILS PhD programs this admission cycle, for instance, you will be able to apply to just one Harvard PhD program in the future. If you apply to three HILS PhD programs this admission cycle, you will be unable to apply to any other Harvard PhD program in the future.

For further HILS application details and instructions, see the HILS Admission/Application website.

English Proficiency

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants whose native language is other than English and who do not hold the equivalent of a US Bachelor degree from an institution at which English is the language of instruction must submit scores from the Internet based test (IBT) of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08541. When requesting official score reports, indicate the receiving institution as Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Code 3451. If an “Applicant’s Score Confirmation Report” is available, scan and upload a copy, attaching it to your online application. However, the official institutional score report sent by ETS to GSAS is still required. A minimum score of 80 on the Internet based test (IBT) on the TOEFL is required for consideration by the Graduate School; some individual departments may require a higher score. Applicants who took the TOEFL more than two years ago must repeat the test. No test other than the TOEFL IBT will be acceptable as proof of English proficiency. Additionally, GSAS will use students’ scores on the speaking section of the TOEFL IBT to determine the oral proficiency of admitted students. It is therefore highly recommended that applicants take the TOEFL IBT whenever possible.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit three letters of recommendation from faculty or others qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. The letters must be received by the appropriate deadline of December 3, 8, or 15, or 31, 2009. The Graduate School requires your recommenders use the online recommendation process. At least one letter should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student unless you have been out of school for more than five years. Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work. Indicate on the recommendation form whether you are waiving your right to see the letter of recommendation.

If your recommenders are unable to use the online version, they should seal their letters and sign across the seal. Recommenders may send letters directly to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, although doing so might delay the completion of your admission file. If the application deadline is approaching, and you are awaiting letters of recommendation, do not delay submitting your application. Delayed letters should be submitted as soon as they are available. GSAS, however, can only guarantee full consideration of applications for which letters are received by the appropriate deadline of December 3, 8, 15, or 31, 2009. The letter of recommendation form can be downloaded here (PDF).

Graduate Record Examination

The Graduate School requires that applicants present scores of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Scores from either the computer-based or the traditional paper administration are acceptable. You must take the GRE in sufficient time for score reports to reach us by the application deadline. Many programs also require one of the GRE Subject Tests; requirements are noted in the list of “Programs, Subjects, Degrees, and Requirements.”

Make arrangements to register for the tests well before administration dates. Scores should be reported to Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Code 3451. For further information write: Graduate Record Examination, ETS, Box 955, Princeton, NJ 08541.

GRE scores are valid for five years only. Applicants who have not taken the GRE in the last five years and intend to submit scores should take the examinations again. If you have personal score reports available from tests taken within the last five years, scan, upload, and attach to your application. However, be sure also to have official institutional score reports sent directly from ETS; only official scores are acceptable.

Transcripts

The Graduate School requires that one official university/college transcript from each university/college attended—bearing the seal of the institution and signature of the registrar or appropriate official—must be submitted in support of your application. The Graduate School also requires that you upload a copy of your transcript with your online application. If for some reason it is necessary that transcripts be mailed by the institution directly to the Graduate School, make sure that they are sent to the correct Office of Admissions address. An official transcript showing the conferral of the undergraduate degree is required to register in the Graduate School.

Foreign transcripts—records of all courses, seminars, and examinations, including grades, scores, grading scales, and conferrals of degrees—must be in English. If records are not available in English, original records must be submitted with certified English translations. All translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. Irreplaceable foreign documents will be returned if accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope large enough to hold the documents.

Students from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Bangladesh may not apply for admission until results of their master’s degree examinations are available.

The University reserves the right to request additional academic documents.

Abstract of Courses

Although this form may duplicate information available on your transcript(s), it is essential that the admissions committee has available an orderly summary of your courses. The Division of Medical Sciences does not require that you complete this part of the application.

Other Requirements

All applicants are strongly urged to upload a résumé or curriculum vitae with their completed application. Please see Program Details for additional requirements of your department.

Papers and Manuscripts

Follow instructions on the online application to upload a paper, manuscript, publication, or other materials in support of your application. Since the Graduate School cannot return these materials, applicants are urged to make and keep copies. All papers and manuscripts will be destroyed after admissions decisions are made.

Mailing Application Materials

If you have received permission to submit the paper application, all materials related to your application (i.e., application for admission, application fee, transcript(s), recommendations, etc.) should be mailed in one envelope to:

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Harvard University
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 9129
Cambridge, MA 02238-9129

If you are submitting application materials (transcripts, letters of recommendations, etc.) supplementary to an online application, the mailing address is the same as the above.

Application materials sent via an express mail service should be addressed to:

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Harvard University
Office of Admissions
Holyoke Center, 3rd Floor
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

Do not mail any application materials directlyto the department to which you are applying, except for specific requests detailed in “Program Details”.

Original transcripts for applicants to the Division of Medical Sciences should be sent to:

Division of Medical Sciences-TMEC 435
Harvard Medical School
260 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

Please note: The Graduate School does not return any portion of the admission application and supporting documents with the possible exception of certain foreign transcripts.

The Graduate School cannot acknowledge receipt of material received after the appropriate deadline.

Questions?

If you have questions about your application, or if problems arise when completing it, you may call for assistance. We are unable to accept collect calls.

There are two telephone numbers available for your use: one for questions that pertain to your application for admission and all supporting documents, and another for questions that pertain to your application for financial aid. Please be sure to use the appropriate number for your question.

The telephone numbers and hours of operation as well as e-mail addresses are:

Questions on the application for admission: (617) 496-6100
(Please call between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Questions on the application for financial aid: (617) 495-5396
(Please call between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.)

Questions for the Minority Recruitment and Student
Programming Officer: (617) 495-5315
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you write, be sure to include “Graduate School of Arts and Sciences” or “GSAS” in the address.

Please note: Harvard University is closed December 24, 2009, through January 1, 2010.


Current and former students applying for intra-faculty transfers, readmission, or readmission for degree should contact the Office of Student Affairs at (617)495-1814 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions about these types of admission.
Please visit Intra-Faculty Transfers or Readmission for more information.

 
 
SEO by Artio