Harvard University

Do I need to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores to apply to Harvard College as an undergraduate?Undergrad

No. Harvard College does not require any English proficiency test from any applicant, domestic or international, and scores cannot be used to satisfy the standardized testing requirement. You may still submit IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo scores voluntarily if you think they strengthen your application, but a strong application otherwise (grades, recommendations, essays) matters far more.

Which Harvard schools do require IELTS or TOEFL, and what scores do they expect?Grad

Requirements vary by school. The Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences generally requires a minimum TOEFL overall score of 95 (or IELTS 7.0), with a separate Speaking sub-score minimum; the Graduate School of Education prefers TOEFL 104+ with section scores of at least 26; Harvard Business School discourages MBA applicants scoring below IELTS 7.5, TOEFL 109, or PTE 75. Always check your specific program's page, since these thresholds change and differ by degree.

Is Harvard's financial aid really available to international students on the same terms as US students?

Yes, for undergraduates. Harvard College is need-blind in admissions and meets 100% of demonstrated need for every admitted student regardless of citizenship, and roughly 70% of international undergraduates receive aid. Graduate and professional schools set their own aid policies: GSAS guarantees full funding to essentially all admitted PhD students (not strictly need-based), while professional master's programs like the MBA and MPP offer more limited, partly merit-based aid that rarely covers full cost of attendance for international students.

What SAT or ACT score do I realistically need to be competitive at Harvard?Undergrad

The middle 50% of the recently enrolled class scored 1510-1580 on the SAT and 34-36 on the ACT, but Harvard's acceptance rate is around 4%, so even applicants at the top of that range are usually rejected. Test scores establish a baseline; essays, recommendations, and demonstrated achievement outside the classroom carry comparable or greater weight in a holistic review process.

Can I get conditional admission to Harvard if my English test score is below the requirement?

No. Harvard does not offer conditional admission or an English-language bridge program at any school. If a graduate program you're applying to sets a minimum English test score, you generally need to meet it (or qualify for an explicit waiver, such as an English-medium bachelor's degree) at the time you apply.

How long are TOEFL/IELTS scores valid for a Harvard application?Grad

Most Harvard schools that require English test scores treat them as valid for two years from the test date. If you're applying to a graduate program with a specific intake, check the school's page for the exact cutoff date, since some programs (e.g. GSAS) publish a hard 'tested no earlier than' date each cycle.

What is Harvard's application fee, and is a waiver available?Undergrad

The Harvard College first-year application fee is $85; graduate schools set their own fees (GSAS charges $105, Harvard Kennedy School $100). A fee waiver is available at every school to any applicant for whom the fee would be a financial hardship, and requesting one does not disadvantage your application in any way.

How many international students does Harvard actually enroll?

As of fall 2025, roughly 8,000 international students were enrolled across Harvard's undergraduate and graduate programs — about 26-28% of the total student body, and the highest recorded share in over two decades, with the growth concentrated mostly in graduate programs.

Do all Harvard graduate and professional schools require the GRE or GMAT?Grad

No, it depends entirely on the school and program. Most GSAS PhD programs do not require the GRE at all (a small number do), Harvard Kennedy School requires GRE or GMAT for the MPP, MPA, and MPA/ID programs but not for the Mid-Career MPA, and Harvard Business School expects GMAT or GRE for the MBA, with an average GMAT around 740 among admits. Always confirm the specific program's testing policy before applying.

What is the acceptance rate for Harvard's PhD programs?Grad

Harvard does not publish one official university-wide PhD acceptance rate. Across the Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, unofficial estimates put the overall PhD acceptance rate at roughly 3%, though this varies enormously by department — highly subscribed fields like economics, political science, and clinical psychology are typically even more selective, largely because admission is tied to available faculty supervision and funding.

Is a Harvard PhD fully funded, including for international students?Grad

Yes, for GSAS PhD students specifically: Harvard guarantees a funding package covering tuition, health fees, and a living stipend for a minimum of five years, funded through fellowships, teaching fellowships, and research assistantships, and this applies equally to international and domestic students. Terminal master's and professional-school programs (e.g. the MBA, MPP, Ed.M.) are not automatically funded this way and generally require students to secure their own financing, fellowships, or loans.