Summer Session
Q. Who is eligible to take courses in Summer Session?
Q: I am an international applicant. Do I need to get a visa to attend Summer Session?
Q: Do I have to submit a GRE score report if I want to take courses in Summer Session?
Q: Is housing available for summer students?
Q. Who is eligible to take courses in Summer Session?
A. There are several types of students who participate in Summer Session courses:
Incoming degree students: Students entering a degree program during the regular academic year may also take courses during the Summer Session. Students in a one-year degree program may begin their program in July with the Summer Session and may use those credits towards their degree.
Current degree students: Current students cannot register for Summer Session courses on OASIS and will need to complete the Summer Session application.
Non-degree students: The Summer Session is intended for health professionals in training or those who are considering a mid-career change into public health and feel the need to strengthen their skills. Participants include public health professionals, primary care practitioners, physicians engaged in the evaluation of health care delivery and management, physicians in training, and candidates for the part-time MPH program.
Q: I have already applied for admission to a HSPH degree program. Do I need to resubmit my statement of intention, CV, transcript, GRES scores, etc. in order to apply for Summer Session?
A. No. If you have already submitted this information to the Admissions Office, you do not need to resend it. In order to apply for Summer Session, you will only need to fill out the front and back of the Summer Session application. Since you have already applied for admission to an HSPH degree program, you will not be charged the $60 Summer Session fee. Please note that the deadline for Summer Session is March 1, 2008.
Q: I am a current HSPH degree student and I would like to take courses in Summer Session. What do I need to do?
A: You must register for Summer Session courses either through the Summer Session application form (also available in Kresge G-29) or if you have been accepted to the Master of Public Health, concentration in Clinical Effectiveness, you will receive a course selection form from Barbara Rosen. Students cannot register for Summer Session courses on OASIS. If you have not been a participant of the Summer Program in Clinical Effectiveness and you want to apply to a limited-enrollment course (specified by an asterisk*), please include a brief statement indicating why you are interested in taking the course. (This requirement does not include ID 251, however). Current students are exempt from the $60 Summer Session fee. Please note that the application deadline for Summer Session is March 1, 2008.
Q: I have applied to an HSPH degree program, but I haven't heard back from the admissions office yet. Should I apply for summer courses and continue to wait for a response from the admissions committee? I want to make sure I'm eligible to take summer courses in the event that I am admitted.
A: Yes, you can apply for admission to the Summer Session before you know of your admission status to a HSPH degree program. The application for Summer Session is a brief application for current degree applicants, which can be found on-line at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/summer/brochure/ As a current degree applicant, you will not be charged an additional application fee. Please note that the application deadline for Summer Session is March 1, 2008.
Q: I am an international applicant. Do I need to get a visa to attend Summer Session?
A: Yes, you will need to get a visa. Depending on your student status, various visa requirements will apply.
If you are an international student (non-US citizen, non-Permanent Resident) who is NOT an incoming degree student, the Harvard International Office advises that you should be able to enter the US with a B-1 visitor visa, under the following regulation:
Aliens shall be classified B-1 visitors for business, if otherwise eligible,
if they are traveling to the United States to…
(5) Participate in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions,
conferences, or seminars; or
(6) Undertake independent research.
The Harvard International Office believes that HSPH summer students can enter the country for the few short weeks of our summer program under number 5 (or 6) of these regulations. The HSPH Summer Session can provide a letter for confirmed summer students indicating your eligibility for the B-1 visa (once tuition payment is received in full).
If you are an international student, who has been accepted to the Summer-only MPH degree program, you should be able to enter the US with a B-1 visitor visa.
If you are an accepted degree applicant, you will receive visa certification forms and I-20 instructions. Incoming academic year degree students, who are coming for the summer, must return the visa and sponsored billing forms by May 1 (preferably sooner, if possible).
Q: Do I have to submit a GRE score report if I want to take courses in Summer Session?
A: The Summer Session strongly encourages you to submit a score report from the GRE (or an appropriate substitute; a list of these can be found in the Summer Session brochure) along with your application. Scores from such standardized tests can provide important information about your quantitative aptitude. Please note: GRE scores are required for admission to many of HSPH’s degree programs.
Q: Is housing available for summer students?
Students are responsible for locating their own housing. There are a variety of accommodation options available in the area including apartments, dorms, guest houses, bed and breakfast establishments and hotels. For advice and suggestions about summer housing in the Boston area, please contact Amy Wooldridge in the Office for Students affairs by phone: (617) 432-6650 or by email: awooldri@hsph.harvard.edu. Additional housing info can be found online at: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/student-life/housing/.