Graduate Program Admissions

You enroll in courses toward the completion of your degree before you apply for admission. Why? Because we know that standardized test scores and previous transcripts don’t always accurately reflect our adult learners’ current academic capabilities and drive to succeed.

Admissions Process

On this page we’ll guide you through the admissions steps, including:

1. Check Your Eligibility to Enroll in Courses Toward the Degree

To pursue a graduate degree at Harvard Extension, you must meet the following criteria:

You hold a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent. View More

The undergraduate degree must be awarded by a college or university that was regionally accredited at the time of your attendance, with a degree conferral date that precedes enrollment in graduate-level courses taken at Harvard Extension School.

Students who earned bachelor’s degrees outside the U.S. should visit Verifying International Credentials to find out more information before enrolling in any Harvard Extension courses.

Students who were once admitted degree candidates should refer to Enrollment Policies for Graduate Students.

The Office of Predegree Advising & Admissions makes all final determinations about program eligibility.

Additional Eligibility Requirements For:

Alternative Admission Pathway Applicants View More

To use the Harvard Business School Online CORe (Credential of Readiness) certificate, Harvard Kennedy School Public Leadership Credential (PLC), or MITx MicroMasters Program credential as an alternative pathway to admission at Harvard Extension School, you must first submit a separate application through these schools’ websites to be accepted into their programs in order to earn the credential. Not all students are accepted.

Before enrolling in any of these schools’ programs with the intent of pursuing a degree at Harvard Extension School using the credential, confirm your Harvard Extension School degree program eligibility. Then carefully read the degree program pathway related to the credential and be sure you understand the program requirements, if and how credit transfers, the degree courses and grades you’ll need to complete for your Harvard Extension application for admission, and the expiration date of your credential toward admission.

Prior to your enrollment in any Harvard Extension School courses, the school awarding the credential must confirm with the student that the credential has been earned.

International Applicants View More

Verify international credits and degrees.

This requirement should be completed before enrolling in courses at Harvard Extension School. For more information, visit our Admission Details for International Students page.

2. Complete Degree Courses for Admission

At Harvard Extension School, your admission journey begins in the classroom. Here’s how to qualify for admission.

Register for the 4-credit prerequisite graduate-level course(s) that your field of study requires for admission. View More

See the Degree Requirements page for your field of study to find the stipulated degree course(s) required for admission.

Meet the grade requirements for admission. View More

B or higher
Earn at least a grade of B in each of the degree courses required for admission.

Two-attempt limit on the proseminar
You are ineligible to apply if you fail to earn the minimum grade of B or higher in two registration attempts of the proseminar, if one is required for your field of study. If you repeat the proseminar, both grades will apply to your cumulative GPA unless the course has expired, as outlined below. A withdrawal (WD) is considered a registration attempt. See Enrollment Policies for Graduate Students for information about how repeat courses affect your GPA.

3.0 GPA
Earn the required cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 (equivalent to a grade of B) or higher from all Harvard courses. If you haven’t earned at least a B in all of your Harvard courses, use our GPA Estimator tool to determine your GPA. See Academic Standing for information on grade-point average calculation for the graduate degree program.

Be timely! Apply when you are completing your last required course for admission and within two years of earning your proseminar grade (if required). View More

Submitting an application promptly near the conclusion of your course(s) stipulated for admission is essential not only for your successful admission but also for degree program completion.

Moreover, degree requirements, including admission courses, can change from year to year and courses expire (as explained below), which may result in your losing degree credit if you postpone submitting your application.

As a result, students who do not apply for admission to the program in a timely manner are assessed an additional $300 delayed application fee.

Also, apply within two years of earning your proseminar grade. If the proseminar grade is older than two years at the time of application, you must retake the course and register for a section with a different instructor, if possible.

Refer to When to Apply for the dates between which you are able to begin an application. You cannot start an application outside these dates.

Course Expiration Policy for Admission

Courses over five years old at the point of admission will not count toward the degree. Potential degree candidates must plan accordingly and submit their applications to comply with this five-year course expiration policy, or they risk losing degree credit for completed course work. Additionally, admission eligibility will be jeopardized if, at the point of application to the program, the five-year degree completion policy cannot be satisfied.

3. Gather Your Supplementary Materials

Although you may apply only during certain times of the year, you can—and should—prepare your supplementary materials early so that you don’t miss a deadline.

Prepare for your online application. View More

Before the application opens, you can get a head start on it by following these preparatory steps: