How do I apply for financial aid at HGSE?

You may download the HGSE Financial Aid Application for International Students as well as other forms and publications from our Forms & Publications page or contact the Financial Aid Office and request that materials be mailed. Please be sure to pay special attention to all deadlines and the instructions provided.

May I apply for a tuition waiver?

Tuition waivers are not available at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Grants & Scholarships

International students are eligible to be considered for both need-based and merit-based HGSE aid.
A limited amount of need-based grant assistance is available to Master's students; the maximum grant awarded is $6,000 per year. For doctoral students, need-based grant assistance during years one through three of study ranges up to the cost of full tuition plus health insurance fees.

The are a small number of merit-based awards granted to Master's students in the amount of $5,000. For doctoral students the are a number of merit-based entering awards which cover tuition and fees plus a small stipend for the first year only and a smaller number of Presidential Fellowships which are awarded and cover tuition and fees for the first four years of study plus three years of stipend.

All HGSE applicants and students may apply for any of the University wide Restricted Scholarships for which they may be eligible. Again, you can download a copy of the Restricted Scholarship application from this website or contact the Financial Aid Office and request that one be mailed.

International students may refer to our Fellowship Office for general information about possible 'outside' sources of support and may also want to refer to the list of Funding Sources for International Students available through this website.

Loans

International students are not eligible for U.S. federal student loans. However, international students may borrow up to $10,000 through the Harvard Educational Loan Program (HELP loan) which is offered through CitiBank. To borrow through another private loan program or an amount greater than $10,000 international students will generally be required to have a creditworthy co-signer/co-borrower who is a U.S. citizen. Please refer to our loan page for further information about these and other loan programs.

Work

International students are generally restricted from working in this country, but may be able to work on the Harvard campus, depending on visa status. Applicants should refer to the Havard International Office for questions about work eligibility.

For information about on-campus job opportunities students should refer to the Student Employment Office website. Please keep in mind that due to U.S. Federal Work-Study positions -- which subsidize employer costs but are available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents -- it is often difficult for international students to find unsubsidized campus jobs.

HGSE also has Research Assistantships or Teaching Fellowships for which international students may be eligible to apply during the course of their program. For more information about these positions and their eligibility requirements you may refer to the Office of Academic Services website or contact them directly at 617-495-3957.

Upon admission to HGSE, students are mailed a packet which includes detailed information from the HGSE Financial Aid Office, Office of Student Affairs, and the Housing Office.

How can I calculate the funds I will need to obtain a student visa (for myself/ for myself and family members)?

For the academic year 2003-3004

• A single student must certify:
  $47,803 for the cost of attendance (tution and fees and living expenses) plus the cost of a return airfare in guaranteed, available funds (through an agency sponsor such as IIE, and/or personal funds) to obtain a student visa through Harvard for studies at HGSE.

• A student with one dependent (spouse/or child) must certify:
  $47,803 for self plus $7,438 for health fees and living expenses for their one dependent, plus the cost of return airfare in guaranteed, available funds (see above).

• A student with 2 or more dependents (spouse/or child) must certify:
  $47,803 for self plus $12,784 for health fees and living expenses for 2 dependents (add another $3,000 per additional dependent), plus the cost of return airfare in guaranteed, available funds (see above).

When do I receive information about applying for my student visa?

The HGSE Admissions Office mails information about visa requirements with the notice of admission.