Your Harvard Summer School Experience
Harvard Summer School offers more than 400 courses for adult and college students, in more than 60 different subject areas. Our courses are offered in a variety of flexible formats, so you can find the option that works best with your busy schedule.
In our classrooms — no matter in person or online — you’ll find:
- Harvard faculty and industry experts dedicated to helping you expand your skills and sparking intellectual curiosity
- A rigorous, inclusive learning environment filled with rich interactions
- An intensive curriculum designed to be completed in a shorter summer session than a fall or spring semester
- An international network of peers like you—driven, curious, and committed to growth
- Access to Harvard’s renowned libraries, museums, and computer labs
Harvard Summer School is open to anyone seeking to use their summer to learn something new!
-
Harvard Extension School Students
Make progress toward a certificate or degree: taking a single course over the summer can help you accelerate your path to a credential.
-
Harvard College Students
Many summer courses count toward your degree if taken for credit after matriculating at Harvard College.
-
Adult & Visiting College Students
Upskill to advance your career. Complete a prerequisite. Or simply expand your knowledge. You’ll find the class you need at Harvard Summer School.
-
International Students
Harvard Summer School sponsors F-1 student visas for international students enrolling full time for credit in courses on campus.
The professors offered valuable tips and encouragement throughout my courses. I was not used to having professors who knew every student’s name and backgrounds, but the professors I had at Harvard truly made an effort to get to know all of us.
2013 and 2014 Summer School student
Choose Your Course
You can study more than 60 different subject areas at Harvard Summer School, and in the format that best fits your busy schedule.
Interested in studying at the Harvard campus? Enroll in one of our many on campus courses or choose an online course with one intensive on-campus weekend.
Seeking an online or even a self-paced course? Formats include:
On Campus
When you search “On Campus,” you’ll find:
- On Campus only courses that meet live in a classroom on the Harvard campus.
- Online Synchronous with a Required On-Campus Weekend, which have class meetings over Zoom plus a required weekend on campus.
- Flexible attendance courses that offer the option to participate on campus. These courses may also give you the option to participate online synchronously or asynchronously. Please see the meeting information for details about which options are available in your course.
- Labs & Section Meetings: For any course type, there may be separate labs or section and review meetings. The days and times of those are either listed in the descriptions, on the website, on the syllabus, or announced by the teaching staff once class begins.
Online Synchronous
Online synchronous participation happens over Zoom so you can see, hear and speak with your classmates.
When you search “Online Synchronous,” you’ll find:
- Live attendance web conference courses, held entirely live over Zoom.
- Online Synchronous with a Required On-Campus Weekend, which have class meetings in Zoom plus a required weekend on campus.
- Flexible attendance courses that offer the option to participate synchronously online. These courses may give you the option to watch class recordings and participate asynchronously online. You may also be able to attend on campus. Please see the meeting information for details about which options are available in your course.
- Labs & Section Meetings: For any course type, there may be separate labs or section and review meetings. The days and times of those are either listed in the descriptions, on the website, on the syllabus, or announced by the teaching staff once class begins.
Online Asynchronous
In online asynchronous courses, you are not required to attend class at a particular time. Instead you can complete the course work on your own schedule each week.
When you search, “Online Asynchronous,” you’ll find:
- Online courses that give you materials to work through each week with discussion boards or live section meetings for support.
- Flexible attendance courses that offer the option to participate asynchronously. These courses may also give you the option to participate synchronously online or on campus. Please see the meeting information for details about which options are available in your course.
- Labs & Section Meetings: For any course type, there may be separate labs or section and review meetings. The days and times of those are either listed in the descriptions, on the website, on the syllabus, or announced by the teaching staff once class begins.
For a uniquely Harvard experience, explore one of our specially-designed Summer Seminars or Career Pathways.
To find the course that’s right for you, browse our comprehensive 2023 course catalog or preview select topics here:
Arts, Writing, and the Humanities
Business & Economics
Computer Science, Math, and Engineering
Foreign Languages and Literatures
Sciences
Study of Societies, Past and Present
Cost & Aid
Tuition for adult and college students courses (both credit and non-credit) at Harvard Summer School in 2024 is:
- 4-credit course: $3,700
- 8-credit course: $7,400
Students who take on-campus courses are also responsible for all travel costs, and if living on campus, room and meal plan fees.
See Tuition, Fees, and Payment for Adult and College Students for complete 2024 tuition information.
FAQs
Can High School Seniors take Summer School at Harvard?
High school seniors can only take courses at Harvard Summer School if they are accepted into the Secondary School Program for High School Students. To qualify for this program, you must submit a completed application by the appropriate deadline and be accepted into the program.
However, admitted Secondary School Program students are eligible to take most of the same courses offered to adult and college students.
How do I sign up for Summer School at Harvard?
Once you’ve decided to take a course at Harvard Summer School, the next step is to register for your selected class.
Once your pre-registration is complete, you can add your course or courses to your shopping cart and submit your registration in the DCE Course Search and Registration platform.
Please be aware that some courses require that you complete eligibility assessments and submit additional documentation before you can register.
For more information on how to register, as well as helpful on-demand webinars, visit Course Registration.
When are the deadlines for signing up for Summer School Courses?
It is very important to pay attention to all registration, payment, and other deadlines as you begin the registration process, as all deadlines are strict and late registration is not permitted.
Registration for 2024 Harvard Summer School courses for adult and college students will begin in mid-February. We encourage you to choose your course in advance and sign up early, as many of our most popular courses do fill up before registration closes.
Join our mailing list to be the first to know about deadlines and other helpful information.
Why Take a Course at Harvard Summer School?
Summer is a great time to learn a new skill, get ahead in college credits, or simply explore a topic that fascinates you.
With over 400 courses to choose from, in a variety of flexible formats to fit your schedule, we know that you’ll find the right course for you at Harvard Summer School.
We look forward to getting to know you on campus or online over the summer!
