Frequently Asked Questions

Degree Programs

Eligibility

Application Components and Policies

International Applicants

Financial

What degree programs does the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offer?
The School offers programs leading to the graduate degrees of Master of Public Health (MPH), Master in Health Care Management (MHCM), Master of Science (SM) in a public health discipline, and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). In addition, the School offers a two-year, part-time MPH in Epidemiology with online and residential components as well as a two-year, part-time MPH Generalist that is fully online. The MHCM is a low-residency program. The school also participates in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, which are offered under the aegis of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. PhD programs are offered in the areas of Biological Sciences in Public Health, Biostatistics, Health Policy, and Population Health Sciences.
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What are the differences between the various degrees offered?
Our MPH is generally practice oriented and is considered a professional degree program. The 80-credit, 60-credit, and 42.5-credit SM are research oriented and students must fulfill core requirements in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. The PhD is designed for students with interests in the scientific basis of public health and preventive medicine who wish to pursue academic or research careers. The DrPH is a leadership degree for those interested in leading organizations that will help people live longer, healthier lives.
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Does Harvard Chan School offer any joint degree programs?
We offer joint MD/MPH, DMD/DDS/MPH, JD/MPH, and MUP/MPH degree programs. Please click here for details. The MD/MPH program is for students with a baccalaureate degree currently enrolled in a LCME-accredited medical school in the United States. Applicants apply at the beginning of their primary clinical year. Admitted students enroll between post-primary clinical year of medical school. The DMD/DDS/MPH is for students with a baccalaureate degree currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. LCME-accredited dental school only. The JD/MPH program is for students studying at Harvard Law School (HLS) only. Applicants may apply during the first year of Harvard Law School.  The MUP/MPH is offered with the Graduate School of Design (GSD).
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Does Harvard Chan School offer any distance or online degree programs?
Yes, the School offers an MPH in Epidemiology in which one-third of the credits will be completed on campus, with the remaining two-thirds completed online and through field based experiences. Additionally, the MPH Generalist program is our fully online degree program.
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Can I take courses at other Harvard schools?
Students in most residential degree programs may enroll in courses offered by one of the other Harvard faculties, MIT, or Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy or Friedman School of Nutrition. Obtaining credit for cross-registered courses is permissible only for graduate-level courses appropriate to the student’s degree program at the Harvard Chan School and if a similar course is not available at the School.
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I only have an undergraduate degree. Am I eligible for admission to the MPH program?
Yes, applicants with a prior undergraduate degree and some work experience may apply to our MPH program. Please see our degree programs page for details.
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Does Harvard Chan School require work experience before applying?
Some departments require or prefer applicants to have relevant work experience. Applicants should refer to degree program pages for information regarding any such requirements.
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Can I take a course without enrolling in a degree program?
Harvard faculty and staff, employees of Harvard-affiliated hospitals, Harvard Chan alumni and certain other Boston-area public health professionals may register for a maximum of 10 credits per semester as non-degree affiliates of the school. TAP/Affiliates must register in person at the Harvard Chan School Registrar’s office.

Individuals who do not fall into one of the categories listed above may apply for special student status. Applicants for special student status are subject to the same admission and registration requirements, deadlines, and procedures as applicants for degree candidacy.
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How do I apply to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health?
You can apply for the DrPH, MHCM, SM, and MPH via SOPHAS. Applicants to the PhD should apply through Harvard Griffin GSAS.

For non-degree studies apply via SOPHAS Express.

Applicants who apply through SOPHAS for select fall start programs may apply to begin studies in the summer by submitting an application through SOPHAS Express for one of the non-degree programs. Please contact Admissions to determine if summer non-degree is an option for you.

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When is your application deadline? Is it flexible?
For most degree programs, applications should be submitted electronically and all application materials should be received by SOPHAS before December 01. (We encourage you to submit your application by mid-November.) The Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program has a deadline of October 15. The low-residency Master in Health Care Management (MHCM) has a priority deadline of December 01 and a final deadline of February 15. All SOPHAS deadlines are by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date. You may submit all required components of your SOPHAS application and supporting documents (recommendations, official transcripts, WES evaluations) may follow within a few days of the deadline.

See Harvard Griffin GSAS for PhD deadlines.

Click here for the SOPHAS Express summer non-degree application deadlines.

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What are the general application requirements?
In order for your application to be considered complete, you must submit the following through SOPHAS:

  1. Statement of Purpose and Objectives
  2. Test scores (Click here for current policy for 2024 starting programs.)
  3. 3 Letters of Reference
  4. CV/Resume (Note that applicants should also complete the Experiences and Achievements sections of the SOPHAS application.)
  5. Official transcripts/mark sheets from all post-secondary institutions (non-US credentials must be evaluated by World Education Services)
  6. Completed SOPHAS application

Please see the Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions site for details on the PhD application.

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Where do I send my application materials?
All applications should be submitted electronically through SOPHAS. You can submit your application materials to the following address:
SOPHAS
P.O. Box 9111
Watertown, MA 02471-9111

Please see the Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions site for details on the PhD application.
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What are the GRE & TOEFL designation codes for Harvard Chan School?
Click here for current policy for 2024 starting programs.

Applicants should report their GRE general test and TOEFL scores to ETS designation code 3456.  We do not have any departmental codes.

Please see the Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions site for details on the PhD application.
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What test scores are required and what are the minimum test score requirements?

Click here for current policy for 2024 starting programs. The below describes the typical test policy:

Harvard Chan School applicants are required to submit official GRE test scores. Because of the preferences of the admissions committees, we recommend that the GRE scores submitted are from an exam taken in the last five years. There is no minimum GRE score requirement.

The TOEFL, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test is required for all applicants who have not received a degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction. The Harvard Chan School prefers a 104+ on the TOEFL IBT and our minimum score requirement is 100 with sub-section scores of 25 or higher on the IBT. We do not accept the My Best score. We require a 7.5 minimum on IELTS Academic. For the Duolingo English Test, we require a minimum score of 140.

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Are other test scores accepted in lieu of the GRE?

Click here for current policy for 2024 starting programs.

DAT: Applicants may submit the DAT if they have been awarded a degree from (or are currently enrolled in) a graduate-level dental degree program at an accredited dental school in the United States.
GMAT: Applicants with an MBA or DBA or who are currently enrolled in an MBA or DBA program at an accredited graduate school of management or business in the US or Canada may submit GMAT scores in lieu of the GRE. All applicants to the MPH in Health Management or Health Policy may submit GMAT scores. Send scores directly to the School with designation code HRLJ673.
LSAT: Updated 10/26/2018: Health Policy applicants with a JD or who are enrolled in a graduate-level law degree program at an accredited law school in the US or Canada may submit LSAT scores in lieu of the GRE. JD/MPH applicants who are currently in their first year at Harvard Law School may also submit LSAT scores in lieu of the GRE. Have scores forwarded to you in a sealed envelope. You should send this unopened envelope directly to the Harvard Chan School Admissions Office.
MCAT: Applicants with an MD or DO or who are enrolled in an MD or DO degree program at an accredited medical school in the United States or Canada may submit MCAT scores in lieu of the GRE. The USMLE is not accepted by Harvard Chan School as a substitute for the GRE. Applicants may designate SOPHAS as a recipient of MCAT scores.
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Are there interviews as part of the application selection process?
Some degree programs may include interviews as part of the application process.
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Are deferrals granted?
In general, deferrals will not be granted except for extremely rare circumstances. Note some departments do not grant deferrals.

How can I apply for a SOPHAS application fee waiver?
SOPHAS applicants interested in application fee waivers should visit the SOPHAS Fees and Fee Waivers help page.

Do you offer SOPHAS Coupon Codes?
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is pleased to offer a limited number of SOPHAS Coupon Codes in order to help applicants who do not receive a SOPHAS Application Fee Waiver. The SOPHAS Coupon Codes are available on a first come, first served basis to prospective students who qualify. To be eligible, prospective students must be a US citizen, US permanent resident, Asylee, DACA, Refugee, TPS, or Undocumented resident in the United States. Applicants who receive SOPHAS Coupon Codes must submit their SOPHAS application by November 15, 2023.

Prospective students interested in requesting a SOPHAS Coupon Code from the Harvard Chan School should complete and submit the SOPHAS Coupon Code Request Form.

I am an international student. Are there different test score requirements?
The TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test is required for all applicants who have not received a degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction.
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Can international medical graduates submit the results from the USMLE?
No, international applicants who have not taken the MCAT as a requirement for admission to a medical school may not submit results from the USMLE. Those applicants must submit GRE scores (Click here for current policy updated for 2024 starting programs.)
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Are there special considerations for international applicants taking the GRE?
Click here for current policy for 2024 starting programs.
Many international test centers no longer offer the computer-based test. Applicants in affected countries should plan to take the paper-based test no later than October. This will allow the GRE scores to be reported by the December 01 application deadline. Please visit the GRE Test Centers webpage for more information and a listing of the test centers.
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Can Harvard provide a student visa if I am taking an ESL course prior to enrolling?

Please note that Harvard University cannot provide F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship until and unless English language proficiency requirements are met.  If you are admitted to one of our programs and you choose to take ESL courses in the United States immediately before that academic program begins, you must obtain student visa sponsorship from the ESL school first.  Then, once you have completed your ESL program, you will work with the ESL school to transfer your SEVIS record and visa status to Harvard University.
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What are the requirements for foreign transcripts?
SOPHAS Applicants who will be submitting documentation from post-secondary institutions outside of the United States and/or English-language institutions in Canada need to have their documents evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Please note that evaluations from WES will allow our reviewers to better understand the educational system in which you studied, which may be beneficial for your application review.

Please see the Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions site for details on the PhD application.
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I am an international applicant who has been admitted to a degree with on-campus components. Will I need a visa to attend?
If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S., you can apply for either an F-1 or a J-1 visa through the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health by filling out our Financial Certification for International Students form. You must prove that you have the finances available to cover tuition, fees and living expenses for your first academic year. We will then issue you an I-20 or DS-2019 which you will take to the embassy in order to apply for a visa. The fully-remote Master of Public Health Generalist program is not eligible for a visa. The low-residency Master in Health Care Management program is eligible for a J-1 visa provided the requirements for J-1 visa sponsorship are met.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU PLAN TO ARRIVE IN THE U.S. USING A B-1/B-2 VISITOR VISA OR ESTA IN LIEU OF AN F-1 VISA.

The VWP and the B-1/B-2 visa do not permit full-time or part-time study. To enter the U.S. using either the VWP or the B-1/B-2 visa, the purpose of your trip must be tourism.  If you intend to pursue full-time or part-time study at the Harvard Chan School, entering the U.S. using the VWP or the B-1/B-2 visa is not appropriate.  Attempting to enter the U.S. using the VWP or a B-1/B-2 visa for the purpose of studying is a violation of U.S. visa regulations and you may be denied entry to the U.S.  This is true for both non-degree and degree students.

Please also note that there is no visa status expressly dedicated to part-time study in the U.S.  The Harvard International Office (HIO) recommends the following enrollment and visa options:

  • Enrolling full-time to qualify for an I-20 and F-1 status; or
  • Enrolling part-time because you are in the U.S. and are maintaining an immigration status for part-time study incident to that status (such as H-1B, TN, J-1, etc.)

PhD applicants should contact Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions for more information on the visa process.
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What is your tuition?
A complete breakdown of our tuition and fees is available from our Student Billing page. Since the Tuition and Fee information is for a specific academic-year, we have also put together information on the total cost of our degree programs in the form of a Qualtrics survey.
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How will I finance my education at Harvard Chan School?
Students finance their education through a combination of grants/scholarships, loans, external aid, sponsorship, and personal funds.

PhD applicants should contact Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions for more information.
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How do I apply for financial aid?
Please see our page on Funding Sources and How to Apply to view instructions on how to apply for Harvard Chan Grants/Scholarships.

PhD applicants should contact Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions for more information.
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How to I prevent Admissions emails from going to spam/junk?

When beginning the SOPHAS application process, it’s important to ensure that emails from the Admissions Office don’t end up in your spam folder. Important notifications or requests could be missed if the admissions emails are filtered as junk.

When beginning the application process for Harvard Chan, be sure to add admissions@hsph.harvard.edu and donotreply@webadmit.org to your contact list or safe senders list. This will help ensure any important emails from the Harvard Chan Admissions Office regarding your application don’t end up in your spam folder.

Here are a few suggestions to help ensure our emails don’t end up in your spam or junk folders:

  1. Add us to your contacts list. Marking our emails as coming from a trusted contact helps email providers recognize that our messages are wanted, not spam.
  2. Create a filter for our domain. Filters allow you to set custom rules, like always marking emails from our domain as “not spam.” This helps email providers prioritize our messages in your main inbox where you’re most likely to see them.
  3. Check your spam folder occasionally. Even with whitelisting, the occasional message may get misfiled. Check your spam folder every few days in case a time-sensitive email has ended up there by mistake.

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