Established in the year 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution in the US. Named after benefactor John Harvard, it is regarded as one of the most prestigious in the world.
Harvard, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a private Ivy League university composed of 10 academic faculties. The oldest is the undergraduate Harvard College, followed by the Schools of Medicine, Divinity, Law, Dental Medicine, Arts & Science, Business, Extension (Liberal Arts & Professional Courses), Design, Education, Public Health, Government, and Engineering & Applied Sciences.
All in all, these schools offer a total of 50 undergraduate, 134 graduate, and 32 professional degrees.
o date, Harvard has produced 8 US presidents, 79 Nobel laureates, and a handful of living billionaires. Given its prestige and impressive alumni roster, it is not surprising that Harvard has the world’s largest endowment at $41.9 billion. In this article, we will be looking at Harvard University scholarships for international students.
International Students at Harvard University
Harvard has a total student population of 21,261. A quarter of this – 25% – is represented by foreign enrollees.
Serving the university’s international community is the Harvard International Office. It offers assistance regarding student, scholar, and student visa services. At the same time, it also helps these students’ dependents get their needed visas.
At this office, both international students and faculty members can get everything they need – from application forms to certifications of English proficiency.
Tuition Fee for International Students
Undergraduate students admitted to Harvard College will need to pay a tuition of $56,000. This does not include other miscellaneous expenses, which contains the following expenses:
- $20,000 for Room & Board
- $3,500 for Books & Personal Expenses
- $3,200 for Travelling Expenses
The tuition fee for Master’s and Ph.D. students starts at $51,000 for the first 2 years of study, and this full-tuition amount reduces to $13,000 during the third and fourth years of study.
Miscellaneous fees for graduate students include a Facilities Fee of $4,000 on the fifth year of study, an Active File Fee of $300, and a Mandatory Health Insurance of $1,250.
International Admissions Guide
Here’s a guide on how to apply to Harvard as an international student.
Application Fee
The Harvard College application fee costs $75. It may be paid online through the Common, Coalition, or Universal application system.
A US Bank cheque may be used to pay this fee as well, and for financially needy studies, the university offers a fee waiver to foreign undergraduate students who may not afford the cost.
Application to the Harvard Graduate School, on the other hand, is more expensive since it cost $105 just to submit your graduate application. Although non-refundable, eligible students – just like undergraduates – may request a fee waiver.
Admissions Requirements at Harvard University for International Students
Undergraduate applicants who are interested in going to Harvard need to submit the following application materials:
- Completed Application Form (Common App & Other)
- High School Records. & Transcripts (Translated to English if Given in Local Language)
- Mid-year School Report, Teacher Evaluations, and Final School Reports
- Standardized Test Results (SAT or ACT)
- Proof of English Proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL) if Applicable
- Supplemental Materials (Additional Documents, Articles, Images, or Videos)
International interviews may also be conducted as needed, but the call for an interview may vary from year to year.
If you are interested in applying to Harvard University Graduate School, you will need to submit the following:
- Accomplished Application Form
- Certificate of Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent
- Transcript of Academic Records
- Standardized Test Results (GRE or GMAT) if Applicable
- Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Writing Sample if Needed
Application Procedure
For undergraduate students, you will need to submit the Common Application (or other application available) as well as submit relevant financial forms required by the university. Please look at the How to Apply Page of Harvard University for relevant information.
For graduate students, you will need to submit an application to relevant graduate schools. You will need to find a graduate school that you want to apply to, actually find the website, and apply. For example, for arts and sciences, you can apply using this link.
Rankings
Harvard University is recognized as the 3rd best school on the planet by the World University Rankings. Although this is the case, it is listed as the top 1 university – both in the US and the world reputation rankings.
Harvard tops all universities in the fields of Life Science, Engineering, and Technology. It ranks 2nd in Clinical & Health Science and 4th in the Social Sciences, and this university is also ranked 5th and 6th for Physical Science and Arts & Humanities respectively.
Top Universities also ranks Harvard 3rd in the world. On a per subject basis, it’s ranked first in most fields – such as Life Sciences & Medicine, Accounting & Finance, Biological Science, Business & Management, Environmental Science, History, Law & Legal Studies, and Modern Languages.
US News, on the other hand, ranks Harvard lower nationally at number 2. The outlet, however, recognizes it as the top value school in the US.
Acceptance Rate
According to the Harvard admission statistics, the university has recently accepted 2,015 students out of 40,246 applicants. This puts the university’s acceptance rate at a mere 5%. International students make up 11.8% of this 5% of the accepted applicants.
The majority of these students will be specializing in the fields of Social Science, Biology, and Humanities.
Harvard University Scholarships for International Students
Undergraduate Scholarships
1. Financial Aid
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: 100% of Demonstrated Need
Qualified foreign students may apply for Harvard financial aid, which shoulders 100% of the applicant’s demonstrated need.
The university picks out eligible students by establishing parent contributions and factoring in employment or student awards. What’s left of these will be covered by a grant-based scholarship that needs no repayment.
For Faculty of Arts & Science students, for example, this Harvard University scholarship may be covered by the $150 million endowments given by alumnus Ken Griffin.
. Outside Awards
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Varies
Outside awards are often funded by schools, civil organizations, parental employers, and corporations, to name a few.
As these funds are intended for educational purposes, they need to be reported to the university. This will then be incorporated into the total amount of financial aid the student will receive.
Outside awards may help replace term-time job expectations or an equal amount of the student’s Harvard University scholarship.
If you are interested, check out the Best Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students!
Graduate Scholarships
1. Financial Support for Ph.D. Students
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full Tuition and Living Stipend
Certain departments, such as the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, provide full financial support to its full-time resident doctorate students. Apart from covering tuition, this Harvard University scholarship for international students includes basic living expenses and health insurance for a minimum of 5 years.
This support also includes stipends, traineeships, teaching fellowships, and research assistantships, to name a few.
Notice of financial support is given at the time of admission. This needs to be reactivated every Spring as the continuation of the award depends on the progress of the student.
2. Research Assistantships/Teaching Assistantships
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full Tuition and Living Stipend
Select Master’s and Ph.D. students can receive funding in form of research assistantships and teaching assistantships. These cover full tuition as well as a living stipend, so it is a great way for international students to study without having to worry about finances.
3. Saul Zaentz Fellowships
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Partial Tuition Coverage
The Saul Zaentz fellowship is given to exceptional full-time students who wish to take a Master’s or Doctorate in Early Childhood Education at the Graduate School.
Recipients of this Harvard University scholarship are evaluated according to work experience (3-5 years, paid or voluntary basis) – whether as a practitioner, policymaker, government employee, or researcher.
Saul Zaentz Fellows are also expected to participate in mentoring or co-curricular activities.
Although this fellowship is a merit-based award, preference is given to applicants who demonstrate dire financial need.
Graduate scholarships are also available according to nationality. See this link for more details.
If you are interested, check out Best Master and Ph.D. Scholarships for International Students!
I hope that this article on Harvard University scholarships for international students was helpful. If you are interested, visit the USA Scholarships Page!
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