Harvard University Complete Information
Apply for Graduate Courses
The Harvard University Graduate Courses Applying Process is a rigorous process that requires you to submit many documents. To apply for admission, you must complete the following steps.
Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college.
You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. You must have completed at least one semester of graduate coursework if you are currently enrolled in a program.
If you still need to earn your bachelor’s degree and wish to apply for admission into one of our graduate programs, we require that you complete at least one year (two semesters) of undergraduate coursework before applying as an entering student.
Complete the application form
Complete the graduate school personal statement.
The graduate school personal statement is an essay that describes your educational and professional goals. The statement should be 1,000 words long and written in the first person. This essay aims to provide a snapshot of who you are as a person, what makes you unique, why Harvard should accept you into its program and how they can benefit from having someone like yourself as part of their community.
The best way to approach writing your statement is by starting with rough drafts based on examples from Harvard University Graduate School or other similar schools. Once these drafts have been completed, try editing them until they feel right before going back over them again with fresh eyes, looking for errors such as spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, which may have slipped through unnoticed during earlier edits due simply because we’re too close emotionally with our work!
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Submit transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Submit transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Your transcripts must be official, scanned copies in English, and sent directly to the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
- The deadline for submitting your application materials is December 1st for Spring admission and February 1st for Fall admission.
Submit letters of recommendation from three sources
Before applying to any graduate program, you must submit a personal statement, transcripts and letters of recommendation. The Harvard University Graduate Courses Applying Process is no exception.
Personal Statement: This essay should explain why you want to attend the school and what you hope to gain from your time there. It should also include information about your previous educational experience and any leadership roles or honours that may have been awarded (such as being named valedictorian). If applicable, include any extracurricular activities or work experience related directly to the field of study for which you are applying (for example: "I was a volunteer at my local animal shelter every weekend for three years").
Transcripts: You'll need one official copy of each transcript sent directly from each institution attended, with courses listed alphabetically by department name (not course number).
Steps to apply for Harvard University Graduate Courses
Apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. You must apply as a student in one of Harvard's 12 graduate schools, which include:
- Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH)
- Once you've been admitted to the GSAS, you can select which school within GSAS you want to attend--and then begin your admission process there!
The application process will vary, depending on the school. All the schools require you to submit a personal statement and other supporting materials, such as letters of recommendation from faculty members or employers. You'll also be asked to provide transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions where you've studied and any work experience.