Harvard University is the oldest and most well-known university in the United States, having been founded in 1636. The University's most well-known monument is a statue of John Harvard, the College's first patron, which stands in front of University Hall in Harvard Yard. This Ivy League university has a 375-year history not only in the United States, but also around the world. In addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard maintains 12 degree-granting schools. Since its founding in the mid-1600s, the University has evolved from nine students with a single master's degree to over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on a 5457-acre campus. Cambridge, one of metropolitan Boston's most prominent urban hubs, is organised around ancient city greens, tree-lined squares, and the sedgy banks of the Charles River. Harvard is located in the heart of Cambridge, providing direct access to the city's diverse mix of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Cambridge is a part of Boston's extensive public transportation system. You can easily reach anywhere you want to go with buses, cabs, and a subway stop right in the heart of Harvard Square. The field is within a 12-minute trip from downtown Boston.
More than 36,000 students are now enrolled at Harvard, with 6,699 in Harvard College, 13,120 as graduate and professional students, and 16,193 in Harvard Extension School. Harvard has a varied student body from over 50 states and 80 countries. With 20.4 million volumes, 180,000 serial titles, an estimated 400 million manuscript items, 10 million pictures, 124 million stored web pages, and 5.4 terabytes of born-digital archives and manuscripts, Harvard holds the world's oldest academic library. At Harvard, around 70% of students get some form of financial aid, with about 60% receiving need-based scholarships and paying an average of $12,000 each year.
Harvard University Departments
- Harvard Business School
- Soldiers Field, BOSTON, Massachusetts, United States, 02163.
- Graduate School of Design
- 48 Quincy Street, Gund Hall 422, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, United States, 02138.
- Harvard Divinity School
- 45 Francis Avenue, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, United States, 02138.
- Harvard Graduate School of Education
- 13 Appian Way, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, United States, 02138.
- John F. Kennedy School of Government
- 79 John F. Kennedy Street, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, United States, 02138.
- Harvard Law School
- 1563 Massachusetts Avenue, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, United States, 02138.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- 677 Huntington Avenue, BOSTON, Massachusetts, United States, 02115.
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- 29 Oxford Street, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, United States, 02138.
- Harvard Medical School
- 25 Shattuck Street, BOSTON, Massachusetts, United States, 02115.
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 350, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, United States, 02138.
Harvard University Courses
For overseas students, the institution provides a variety of courses, including about 22 postgraduate certificates, 89 bachelor's, 149 master's, 2 associate, and 105 doctoral degrees. Business Administration and Management, Psychology, Biological Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering, and Architecture are among the institute's most popular programmes.
| Programs | Fees Per Annum |
|---|---|
| M.Sc Data Science | $56,528 |
| M.Sc Applied Computation | $24,724 |
| M.Sc Computational Science & Engineering | $54,880 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | $73,440 |
| Master of Management [M.Mgmt] | $17,500 |
| Master of Law [L.L.M] | $65,875 |
| Master of Landscape Architecture I | $24,004 |
| Master of Public Policy [M.P.P] | $54,352 |
| Master of Liberal Arts - Finance | $17,400 |
| Master of Liberal Arts - Biotechnology | $17,400 |
| Master of Architecture I | $53,420 |
| Master of Public Administration | $54,352 |
| B.Sc Mechanical Engineering | $49,653 |
| B.A Computer Science | $49,653 |
| B.Sc Electrical Engineering | $49,653 |
Harvard University Rankings
The university is a distinguished institution that has been ranked in several rankings surveys at the following positions. The following are some of the Harvard 2021 Rankings:
- Times Higher Education: 3rd
- QS Global World Rankings: 3rd
- US News Rankings: 1st
A two-year full-time residential MBA programme is offered by the Business School. It also has a total of 129 online courses, both free and paid. Pathway programmes are available through Harvard Medical School's advanced integrated science courses (AISCs) and Harvard Law School's joint programmes.
Harvard University Campus and Accommodation
Campus
- The institute is located on a 209-acre main campus with many additional campuses that are mostly for graduates.
- Ten hospitals, five museums, two theatres, three athletic facilities, 28 libraries, 12 residential buildings, various academic and administrative buildings, and other structures may be found on the site.
- Students can participate in 42 Division I intercollegiate varsity teams for men and women, as well as intramural sports.
- All students at the institute have access to over 450 student groups.
- At least one sporting activity is taken part in by more than 80% of the students. Its students are actively involved in providing high-quality community services.
Housing Facilities/Residence
- Undergraduates can stay in one of the institute's 12 housing halls.
- A typical residence hall includes a bed, desk and chair, desk lamp, bookcase, bureau, and closet or wardrobe, as well as Wi-Fi, laundry service, common areas, kitchens with a microwave, stove, oven, kettle, and refrigerator, vending machines, cable and DVD sets in each hall, washers and dryers, and a computer lab.
- It has 12 upperclassmen homes with amenities such as libraries, lounges, recreational and functional rooms.
- Graduate students can live in four Graduate School of Arts and Science residence halls as well as other Off-Campus living halls.
- Off-campus housing information, such as Harvard's 60 Off-Campus houses and other external rent information, is provided by the university. Single, Studio, one-Bedroom, two-Bedroom, three-Bedroom, four-Bedroom, and suite apartments are available.
- On demand, reservations and special accommodations are made for disabled applicants.
- Gender-inclusive living alternatives and accommodations are also available for LGBTQ students.
Harvard University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Requirements, Deadlines, Application Process
The annual event of Harvard University admission is offered in two intakes: early application and regular decision (November 1 and January 1, respectively). Admissions for 2021 are officially closed, with final decisions expected by April 6. Harvard is one of the best institutions in the United States, with an early-round admission rate of 7.4%, which may drop to 4 to 5% for the final round.
With 57,000 candidates for the class of 2025, Harvard admissions for the years 2021-2022 reached a new high of 42 percent.Extracurriculars, Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and Interviews were the secondary factors that determined early round admissions for students desiring to be a part of the United States' educational system.In light of COVID-19, test results at Harvard have been temporarily waived.
Harvard University Admission: International Students
Harvard analyses all of its applicants in the same way, regardless of nationality. The Harvard University entrance standards for international students to study in the United States, as well as other pertinent information, are listed here.
Where to apply?
Application portal: Coalition Application, Common Application, and Universal College Application.
Application fee: 75 USD
How to study at Harvard University?
After you've decided on an application portal, submit your application to Harvard by attaching the materials listed below.
- Official transcripts (all educational institutes attended): Only WES-evaluated English translations must be supplied.
- TOEFL (minimum score of 80) and IELTS (minimum score of 7) are required for applicants at the undergraduate level (min 6.5). Graduate requirements vary per programme and are addressed in the sections above.
- Required standardised exam scores for undergrads and graduates are the SAT/ACT (1460/32) and GMAT/GRE (730/292), respectively.
- At least three letters of recommendation from teachers or superiors you have worked directly under who can suitably emphasise your strengths and weaknesses for Harvard to judge.
- Statement of Purpose: A strong, well-written essay can boost a candidate's profile significantly. Make sure your statement does not contain any lies or appear mechanical.
- Resume (if applicable): To highlight your professional experience and activities in the community. This is a significant aspect in Harvard's admissions process.
Harvard University Undergraduate Admission
Harvard College, which is part of the University, offers a variety of undergraduate programmes. It is dedicated to liberal arts and sciences and offers students more than 46 undergraduate majors in a variety of subjects.
How to Apply – Apply through the Common Application, Universal College Application, and the Coalition Application.
Application Fee – 75 USD
Basic Requirements - High school transcripts, final school report, midyear school report, English language test scores, resume, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation.
Below is a list of course-specific detailed information about Harvard's best undergraduate programmes.
| Admission Requirements | Tuition Fee (USD, per year) | Application Deadline | English language Requirements | SAT/ACT Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Liberal Arts | 14,720 | December 1 | TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7 | - |
| Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BSc) | 47,730 | December 15 | TOEFL: 80; IELTS: 6.5 | ACT: 32; SAT: 1460 |
| Bachelor of Arts- Applied Mathematics (BA) | 47,730 | December 15 | TOEFL: 80; IELTS: 6.5 | ACT: 32; SAT: 1460 |
| Bachelor of Science- Mechanical Engineering (BSc) | 47,730 | December 15 | TOEFL: 80; IELTS: 6.5 | ACT: 32; SAT: 1460 |
Harvard University Graduate Admission
More than 134 graduate degree programmes and 32 professional degree programmes are available at the institute. Graduate degrees are offered by 10 colleges, each with its own admission process, criteria, and deadlines.
What can you study at Harvard University?
While the general application requirements for undergraduate and graduate admissions are similar, comprehensive and course-specific requirements for the institute's top courses are listed below.
| Admission Requirements | MBA | Masters of Biomedical Informatics | Masters (MSc) Data Science | Masters of Computer Science | Masters in Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (USD) | 73,440 | 53,844 | 58,880 | 58,880 | 51,990 |
| Application Portal | HBS application portal | HMS application portal | GSAS application portal | GSAS application portal | GSE application portal |
| Application Deadline | January 5 | January 3 | December 15 | December 15 | December 15 |
| Admission Decision by | March 30 | Early March | Mid-February | Mid-February | - |
| Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| GRE/GMAT | GMAT: 730/GRE: 292 | Not required | GRE: 292 | GRE: 292 | GRE: 292 |
| Resume | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Letters of Recommendation | 3 | 3 | Required | Required | 3 |
| Interview | By invite | - | - | - | - |
| Statement of Purpose | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Additional Requirements | Work Experience | - | Writing Sample | Writing Sample, Supplemental Data Form | - |
Harvard University English Language Requirements
For Undergraduate admissions
Although taking an English language competency test is not required at the university, candidates are encouraged to submit their scores with their application to give their application more weight. TOEFL and IELTS scores are typically 80 and 6.5, respectively.
For Graduate admissions
Language requirements differ significantly from programme to programme; nevertheless, most programmes accept the following scores:-
| English Language Proficiency Test | Scores |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 80 minimum |
| IELTS | 7.5 minimum |
