Harvard Summer School Study Abroad programs seek motivated, independent students who are eager for a unique academic challenge. All programs are selective and have limited enrollment.
Who Can Apply
To apply, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have completed at least one year of college or be a first-year student
- Be in good academic standing
Students enrolled at any accredited university are welcome to apply. Harvard Summer School reserves the right to remove an applicant from consideration or later withdraw enrollment in its discretion, including without limitation in situations that may raise health, safety, behavioral, or reputational concerns or in situations that may trigger United States or other local regulatory compliance considerations. Harvard Summer School does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of any characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy.
We do not accept students in high school.
Before You Apply
- Review Programs: Familiarize yourself with your program of interest; learn about where you will study, travel, and live; and understand the academic expectations for the program.
- Carefully consider the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of your program of interest.
- Review Policies: Read the Study Abroad program policies.
- Ask Questions: Email SummerAbroad@Summer.Harvard.edu or the contact person listed on the program webpage.
- Attend the Study Abroad Fair: Harvard College students should attend the Summer Opportunities and Funding Fair on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, to talk to program faculty and learn about funding opportunities.
- Plan Ahead: Review application deadlines, decision release date, and total costs to attend a program. Admissions notifications are sent on Friday, February 19, 2027. If you are admitted to a program, you have only 3 days (by Monday, February 22, 2027) to confirm your attendance; talk to your family early about studying abroad and how you will cover the cost.
How To Apply
The online application opens in early December 2026 and the application deadline is January 28, 2027. Click the “Apply Now” button on the webpage of your program of interest to be directed to the online application. You may apply to only one Harvard Summer School Study Abroad program per year.
The online application for all programs includes:
- Basic personal information
- A statement of interest
- Your most recent transcript
- Program-specific requirements (if applicable, may include a letter of recommendation, reference, etc.)
Credit Information
Most Harvard Summer School study abroad courses count as work done in residence if they are taken for credit after your matriculation as a Harvard College degree candidate and before your graduation. Harvard College students should always consult with departments regarding application of credit toward concentrations, citations, or secondary fields. See the specific program page for information about the degree credit earned for the course. For general questions, please contact the Summer School Study Abroad Office at SummerAbroad@Summer.Harvard.edu.
Please see the General Education website for information on courses that count for General Education credit. Please note that Summer School courses only count for General Education credit if they are offered during the fall or spring term, are taught by the same Harvard faculty members who teach them during the academic year (or by a member of the same department) and have been approved for this credit.
Harvard graduate students and students at other institutions: Harvard Summer School credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Since degree requirements vary among schools, you are advised to obtain transfer credit approval from your home institutions before registering for Harvard Summer School courses.
The Pass/Fail grading mode is only available to degree-seeking Harvard College students with instructor approval. If you wish to request the Pass/Fail grading option, we recommend that you first consult the Harvard College Student Handbook for information on the number of Pass/Fail courses that can be counted toward your degree. Writing, General Education, Quantitative Reasoning with Data, foreign language, and certain concentration requirements can only be satisfied by letter-graded courses.
