Welcome MPH-45 Health Policy students! We are so pleased that you will be joining us in August 2024. This informational page is designed to help you transition into this program. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to Jen Moltoni (jmoltoni@hsph.harvard.edu) or or Doug Scaffidi (dscaffidi@hsph.harvard.edu).

The MPH Program Office, housed in the Office of Education, is also happy to help. They can be reached at mph@hsph.harvard.edu.

Feel free to also explore the items in the menu (located on the left hand side of this page), under the For Students tab.

Important Dates

Virtual Admitted Student Visit Week: March 11 – 22, 2024

Admitted students will be contacted by the Admissions Office with details of the virtual opportunities that will be happening as part of this event. For more information, please visit: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/admitted-students/

Fall Session Course Registration Opens: August 15, 2024 at 11 a.m. ET

Your username and password information for your Harvard Chan School portal will be sent to prior to this date, and your faculty advisor information will be updated in your portal. Please feel free to communicate with your academic advisor regarding your course selection prior to the Add/Drop Deadline for Fall 2024.

HPM Course Registration Information and Helpful Links

Course information, MPH Curriculum Guide links, and many other helpful items related to course registration. Questions about cross-registration, independent studies and course waivers can all be answered here.

Fall Orientation: August 28-30, 2024

Who should attend? All new fall students (SM, MPH, PhD and any other degree seeking students) beginning their program in August 2024 should attend this Orientation.

Attendance is required.

All new students are required to attend all scheduled days of orientation programming. Information will be presented during Orientation that is essential to your success at the School.

For more information about Orientation, please visit: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/orientation/

Fall 2023 Courses Begin: September 3, 2024

This is the official start of full Fall and Fall 1 terms.

MPH-45 HM Cohort Meetings – Please Mark Your Calendars

Each MPH cohort within the Department of Health Policy and Management has separate group meetings with their Field of Study Directors within both the Fall and Spring Semesters. We have planned these meetings to coincide with important deadlines. These meetings are designed to give students an opportunity to ask questions, raise common issues, and to visit with the Department of Health Policy and Management’s Academic Program staff and field of study leaders. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

The meeting dates for your cohort in Summer and Fall 2024 will be posted here when available. Please follow the link and update your calendar: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/health-policy-and-management/mph-hm-and-hp-student-cohort-meeting-schedule/

Practicum Information

Starting in the Fall of your program at the Harvard Chan School, you will enroll in a required practicum course. This course will help guide you in finding a field practice experience, to be done during the summer. The Practice Office has put together a wide array of helpful materials regarding your practicum, and can be found online at: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/public-health-practice-resources/for-students/mph-practicum-information/practicum-guidelines/

Information from The Office of Student Affairs

OSA’s mission is to enrich and support the student experience at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health through a wide range of educational, cultural and social programming and resources. Among other things, OSA assists students with disabilities, works closely with the Student Association and student organizations, manages Orientation and Commencement, and serves as an information source for students. Please visit their website to learn more about the support services available to you as a Harvard Chan student.

HOUSING

For helpful information about housing resources in the Boston area, visit the housing website.

Looking to connect with other Harvard Chan students who are searching for housing? Try the following resources:

Harvard Housing Off Campus – Private market apartments, Harvard University Housing sublets, and roommate search
Harvard University Housing, Sublets & Roommates Facebook Group and Harvard Grad Market Facebook Group – Public groups not managed or monitored by the Office for Student Affairs, recommended by students

If you are funding living expenses through loans, expect to live with roommates in the private market. Please visit the Office of Financial Service’s student budget page to determine loan eligibility and the estimated rent based on a shared two-bedroom apartment.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

The School is committed to providing appropriate services on a case-by-case basis to students with documented learning, physical, and other disabilities who are enrolled in full or part-time degree-granting or special programs. To request accommodations, visit the Disability Services website and complete the online request form.

Harvard ID, Harvard Key, and Email

You have already received your Harvard University ID (HUID) and claimed your HarvardKey in order to log into the my.harvard Portal. The Helpdesk will email you to set up your Harvard email roughly a month prior to your start date. In the meantime, you will receive communication to your personal email address. Your Harvard email will be your primary means of receiving School and University communications once you have set it up.

Connect with Harvard Chan on Social Media

Engage with other students and stay up-to-date on what’s happening at Harvard Chan by liking us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Determine Your Commute to Campus

Depending on where you live there are a few ways to get to campus:

Biking

Find more information about bike cages and registration.

MASCO Shuttles

Free shuttles throughout the Longwood Medical Area and to Cambridge with your Harvard ID. Information about routes is available on the MASCO website. The M2 shuttle is popular for Harvard Chan students who live in Cambridge.

Public Transportation (MBTA)

In collaboration with the MBTA, we offer eligible degree-seeking students during the academic year (fall and spring semesters) a 50% subsidized discount through the MBTA Semester Pass Program. Students may also purchase passes or Charlie Cards directly through the MBTA. Plan your commute in advance using the MBTA Trip Planner.

Please note that there is no parking for students available on campus.

For International Students

All full-time international students will require a student visa (I-20 or DS2019 for Canadian students). Instructions to request a visa can be found on the visa page of this website.