Admitted Secondary School Program Students

Stay Notified: Please add SSP@Summer.Harvard.edu to your email contact list to ensure that you receive important updates. Be sure to check your spam and junk folders so that you do not miss important information from our staff.

Review Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

Please see the full Secondary School Program Calendar for all important deadlines.

Materials	Dates and Deadlines
Residential requirements and payment deadline Residential students must be registered in an eligible course load (8-credits for 7-Week and 4-credits for 4-Week) and paid in full by this date. Payment includes the program fee, room & meal plan, and tuition. If you do not, you risk being dropped from the residential program.	Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Commuting and Online payment deadline Commuting and Online students must be registered in course(s) by this date to make the full payment. Payment includes the program fee and tuition. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. If admitted after this date, full payment is due immediately upon registering for your course(s). Registration with immediate full payment remains open through June 15, or June 1 for on-campus courses.	Monday, May 11, 2026
Submit immunization documents You may be dropped from courses, even after classes begin, if you do not upload your documentation.	Submit proof to HUHS within 3 weeks of registering
Submit medical history and consent form	Submit proof to HUHS within 3 weeks of registering
Course changes deadline Course changes require SSP staff approval after June 21 (7-Week) and July 12 (4-Week).	7-Week: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 4-Week: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Before Your Arrival

Comply with Vaccination & Medical Requirements

All Secondary School Program students are required to provide documentation to Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) that they are fully vaccinated against certain communicable diseases. Students who are unable to provide this proof risk being unable to participate in on-campus activities/courses for Summer 2026. Please refer to the HUHS Immunization Form for more information about this requirement.

Attend Orientation

Plan Your Arrival to Campus

We are excited to welcome you to campus! Review the tips below then check the check-in information for your program and modality.

• Travel to campus should be scheduled so that you can check in during regular check-in hours on Opening Weekend. Early arrival and check-in are not permitted. Check local advisories for potential delays and road closures. 
• See Directions for information on getting to campus. 
• View the Campus Map to find Opening Weekend locations. 
• Bring your H-ticket and government-issued photo ID. Location for check-in will be noted on your H-Ticket. 
• After you arrive, see the Accessibility Services Office if you have requested accommodations for a disability or have questions about services. 

Received a Form I-20 from the Harvard Summer School? Check in with the Harvard International Office (HIO)

You must check in with the Harvard International Office (HIO) if you received a Form I-20 from the Harvard Summer School. Consult the instructions provided to you by HIO with your electronic Form I-20 on how to prepare for entering the U.S., and review emailed instructions from HIO on how to register your arrival in the U.S. remotely or in person. 

• To register your arrival in person with HIO, bring your passport, printed Form I-20, F-1 visa, a copy of your I-94 arrival record, and H-ticket to check-in, if you were unable to do so remotely. Check-in location will be noted on your H-Ticket. 
• You must register your arrival with HIO either remotely or in person before you can pick up your Harvard ID card. 

Prepare for Your Classes

The Secondary School Program is an exceptional opportunity for intellectual growth. Follow the steps below to ensure a smooth start to your Harvard experience:

• Ensure you arrive on time for your check-in and first class meetings. 
• Find your classroom by viewing My Courses in MyDCE. Check for classroom changes right before classes begin. 
• Course syllabi may be viewed in your course website in Canvas. You must log in using your HarvardKey. 
• Taking an online course? Review technology guidelines for taking an online course. 
• See which textbooks you need by checking course syllabi or websites (linked in course descriptions) or use the Harvard COOP textbook search. 
• Note the deadlines for course and credit status changes, drops, and withdrawals. 

Activities Beyond the Classroom

The Summer School and the Secondary School Program offer a rich array of free virtual and in-person activities and events for all students.

Athletics. There are many ways to remain active around campus: Work out at Harvard gyms, participate in a basketball or soccer tournament, or join Weld Boathouse and row on the Charles River.

Music. Students may participate in a variety of musical opportunities, which in previous years has included the Harvard Summer Pops Band and the Harvard Summer Chorus.

Culture. Harvard museums and libraries are world famous and close at hand. Dance, music, and theater flourish in and around Cambridge, and the city of Boston itself has many world-class cultural, historic, and scientific institutions. Some highlights include:

• Harvard Art Museums
• Arnold Arboretum
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
• Harvard Museum of Natural History
• Museum of Science
• Peabody Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology
• Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

Excursions. On weekends, the Summer School sponsors day-long outings, including boat tours and whale watches, trips to Cape Cod and area beaches, trail hikes with sweeping vistas of Boston, and visits to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in western Massachusetts.

Additionally, the Secondary School Program organizes several of its own activities, and these have included:

• College Admissions Programming (a series of events to help prepare you to apply to college)
  • Ask questions of current college students and experienced advisors
  • Join a Virtual Admissions Panel to hear from representatives across a variety of colleges and universities
  • Prepare to write your college application essay
  • Gain an understanding of how to apply for financial aid
  • Learn about the Harvard admissions process from a Harvard Admissions officer
• Dances
• Talent Show (try-out near the end of the summer)

What To Do If Your Travel is Delayed

Your travel to campus should be scheduled so that you can check-in and arrive during your designated check-in time. We understand, however, that delays en route may be unavoidable. In Massachusetts, people not yet 18 years of age are prohibited by law from checking into a hotel unaccompanied by an adult. Therefore, if you arrive after check-in closes, you should still proceed to Harvard Yard, where staff will be available to assist you. If you anticipate a delay, you should contact SSP@Summer.Harvard.Edu with your updated arrival time.

Additional Resources

Accessibility Services: If you have a need for academic, residential, or dietary accommodation due to a disabling condition, please be sure to complete the registration process with the Accessibility Services Office by Tuesday, April 7 (for housing and meal plan accommodations) and/or Monday, May 11 (for academic accommodations).

This video provides information on the Accessibility Services request process.

Student Policies and Regulations: The Harvard Summer School Policies and Regulations web pages include academic policies and rules of conduct that apply to resident and nonresident Summer School students. It also describes resources available at Harvard and opportunities available in the Greater Boston area that will help make your summer a rewarding one. Please read our policies carefully and refer to them throughout the summer.

Specific SSP Information: In order to promote the well-being of students, and to provide a safe and peaceful environment for learning, social activities, and personal growth, Harvard Secondary School Program has additional policies for all students. These include curfew, guests, and the “do the smart thing” alcohol and other drugs policy.

Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan (Residential Students Only): A Harvard Summer School accident and sickness insurance plan is included in your program fee as secondary coverage to your own health insurance plan. Read how and when you can use this coverage.

Meals (Residential Students Only): SSP residential students receive a meal plan and enjoy a comprehensive dining program. Your meal plan allows you to eat with peers in your designated dining hall and enjoy menus that reflect the international character of the Summer School. Please see our dining services page if you would like additional information.