Advising Programs Office of Harvard College
1414 Massachusetts Avenue, Floor 3R
617-496-0218
advising.college.harvard.edu
advising@fas.harvard.edu
The Advising Programs Office (APO) cultivates quality academic advising for all Harvard College undergraduate students. The APO promotes the intellectual and personal transformation of students across the four years by encouraging exploration, planning, reflection and informed decision-making about curricular and co-curricular choices and opportunities.
The APO leads the pre-concentration advising network, inclusive of faculty, administrative and residential staff, and graduate and upper-level students by providing them education, training, resources, and support to ensure students receive robust and equitable academic advising. The APO collaborates with colleagues in academic departments, partners in the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Dean of Students Office, and other constituents to ensure that students are well prepared and empowered to access the full scope of Harvard College’s liberal arts and sciences education.
The APO offers resources and webinars for incoming students over the summer prior to matriculation, and the office works with the following adviser roles:
Board of First-Year Advisors (BFA)
The First-Year Advisor is a faculty member, administrator, Proctor, or other University affiliate who helps first-year students select courses and advises on questions regarding the curriculum, academic requirements, educational goals, summer opportunities, and extracurricular interests.
The Board of First-Year Advisors (BFA) is comprised of three groups:
Proctors: Graduate students or staff who live in residence with first-year students, serve as academic advisor for ~10 first-year students
Non-Resident Advisors: Staff/administrators, graduate students, and faculty from around the University who advise between 4-10 first-year students
Pre-Concentration Advisors: Non-ladder faculty who teach a part-time courseload within a department and work part-time with the APO to advise 50-55 first-year students (this is a new pilot program as of 2023-24, with the hope of scaling-up)
In the past, BFA members were asked to support a student through the entirety of the first-year, August through May; however, with the shifts to prior-term course registration coming into effect Fall 2023 for the Spring of 2024, we are asking our volunteers to support students through Concentration Declaration in late October of sophomore fall. Although a slightly longer time commitment, the concentration deadline is moving up to late October (from the third Thursday in November) and sophomore fall course selection will take place the previous spring. Upon concentration declaration, students will transition into departmental advising structures. We are also asking our advisors to take on a minimum of four advisees.
Peer Advising Fellows Program (PAF)
Peer Advising Fellows (PAFs) are upper-level students who are assigned to first-year students to facilitate their transition to the College and their acclimation to Harvard, roughly 190 students serve in this capacity. PAFs provide advice on student life at the College, including sharing their own academic experiences, helping with course selection, and identifying co-curricular opportunities like research and study abroad. PAFs are also there to listen to and talk through challenges with first-year students. They can give advice on anything from extracurricular to social experiences and refer first-year students to other resources when appropriate. PAFs are expected to have thorough knowledge of campus resources so that they know where to send advisees for information in each concentration. Finally, the PAFs play a key role in helping to build community within the entryway and dormitory by working with the Proctors and each other on study breaks, other entryway activities, and dorm-wide events.
Sophomore Advising
Each sophomore is assigned a Sophomore Advisor, who serves as the primary academic advisor guiding students in choosing courses for the third semester, exploring and selecting a concentration, and reflecting on co-curricular opportunities including research, study abroad, public service, and internships. Sophomore Advisors connect students to resources and guide students in how to pursue their interests. Concentrations will assume primary academic advising responsibility for sophomores in the fourth term, while House Sophomore Advisors will continue to offer on-going academic advising as students explore curricular and co-curricular endeavors outside of the concentration. Each House appoints a Sophomore Advising Coordinator (SAC) to manage this work and plan House-based advising events for sophomores. Given the changes to prior-term course registration and the shifts in advising, the Sophomore Advising program will sunset after the 2023-2024 academic year, allowing for fewer advising transitions, less role confusion, a more consistent group of individuals, and of course, alignment with the new faculty approved registration process.
Concentration Advising
Concentration advising seeks to guide students in three phases: into an appropriate set of introductory courses in the field of study, to advanced work in the field of study and, when applicable, through a final project or thesis in the senior year. Each concentration plays an important role in pre-concentration advising through collaborative efforts with the APO and the Houses. Students are encouraged to begin exploring concentrations in the first year especially during the Exploring Fields of Study (EFoS) program in the spring where students are invited to attend concentration events and meet with advising teams. In the third term, Sophomore Advisors encourage students to seek out information from the concentration advising teams before the declaration deadline in October.
Once sophomores select a concentration, their primary academic advisor will be assigned based on the policies of their concentration. Most use a team approach: the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) or Head Tutor, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies (ADUS) or Assistant Head Tutor, and Undergraduate Coordinator (UGC) will advise various students, splitting duties as needed depending on the student, situation, and time. Some concentrations make use of the House Tutors to advise students by House, coordinating with the Faculty Deans in the hiring process.
Each concentration has its own requirements. Several of the humanities and social science concentrations have a tutorial system (ranging from one to five semesters), and many students receive additional advising from their tutorial leaders. Basic concentration information, including gateway courses and contact information for each of the concentrations can be found on the APO's Exploring Concentrations page here.
Advising Resources & my.harvard.edu
Students can access records tracking their academic progress in my.harvard. In the “Advising Network” tab, students will find the photos, names, and contact information for all of their assigned advisors. They can also view their Academic Advising Report which outlines their progress towards completing the requirements for their degree and other important advising materials, such as advising questionnaires, score reports from placement exams, and a “What If?” report to help students plan their path to degree. Students’ advisors can also access the my.harvard portal to see the photos, names, and contact information for all of their advisees. Advisors are strongly encouraged to update and consult the “Advising Journal” frequently to facilitate communication between the advising network team.
Official advisors in the network also receive access to an Advisor Portal. A SharePoint site that has been created as a centralized academic advising hub of resource information for all members of the advising network—including the BFA, PAFs, and many residential advisors. These individuals also receive support from the APO via regular newsletters, access to a Slack real-time messaging channel, and regular Advisor Learning Series workshops to stay abreast of everything academic advising.
Finally, perhaps the most important resource is the Student Handbook and Fields of Concentration. The Harvard College Student Handbook contains the rules and procedures of Harvard College which students are expected to be familiar with and to follow. Specific requirements for each of the fields of concentration, secondary fields, and language citations can be found in the Fields of Concentration handbook.
Advising is a crucial aspect of the graduate student experience, an activity that is central to the successful completion of a graduate student’s education. As an advisor, you are responsible for ensuring that your advisee receives the guidance they need to successfully navigate their academic training and graduate in a timely manner. You also play a critical role in helping with their career preparation and, ideally entering the profession of their choosing. Advising graduate students is a privilege, and the relationship you develop with them will affect their time at Harvard and the career path they follow afterwards.
As an advisor, you may feel you don’t have all the answers. Harvard Griffin GSAS maintains an advising website that outlines best practices, lists advising resources, and provides details on upcoming workshops. This site reflects the ongoing efforts of the Harvard Griffin GSAS initiative known as The Advising Project. We encourage you to reach out to theadvisingproject@fas.harvard.edu for more information.
Harvard Griffin GSAS students are enrolled in 58 different graduate programs; each student’s experience is unique, meaning that each advising relationship is unique. While no single advising approach can be applied universally, several recommendations can be put into practice in all advising relationships.
Setting Expectations
During your first meeting with your advisee, discuss expectations:
Be sure to revisit these expectations regularly as the student progresses through their academic stages. And remember that, no matter how positive a relationship you have with your advisee, they will recognize that a power differential exists. Do what you can to create an environment in which the student will be comfortable discussing difficult topics.
Communicate Available Resources
Harvard Griffin GSAS students have access to Resources that will help them during their graduate careers. Examples include the Fellowships & Writing Center, Office of Career Services, Disability Access Office, and Academic Resource Center. Familiarize yourself with these resources so that you can refer to them at various points in the student’s career. If your advisee has an overall concern, you can direct them to the Harvard Griffin GSAS Office of Student Services.
Faculty should also be aware of issues of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, understanding that a student’s identities can impact their sense of belonging in the program and at Harvard. Reach out to Harvard Griffin GSAS’s Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging for more information and guidance.
Advising Network
Advisors should be the student’s primary point of contact, but effective advisors recognize that students benefit from multiple perspectives. Connect them with other faculty members or program staff who may inform their project and provide fresh perspectives.
The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
The Bok Center offers faculty, graduate students, and other instructors a wide variety of resources and programming to foster excellence in teaching and learning. We strive to promote a culture of experimentation, collaboration, and reflection about teaching, and to support instructors in creating equitable and inclusive learning environments. The Center supports faculty in designing their courses and syllabi, in developing their classroom presence, and in exploring evidence-based strategies to promote learning. Annual series of lunches, mentoring workshops, exploratory seminars, and reading groups and journal clubs draw faculty together into communities of practice. We collaborate with the Office for Faculty Affairs to facilitate a peer observation program for tenure-track faculty in the FAS. Additionally, our Learning Lab collaborates with faculty to create and implement innovative assignments and course activites.
The Bok Center offers a robust slate of professional development programming for PhD students. Early-stage PhD students look to the Bok Center as they prepare to teach, and may attend our Fall Teaching Conference or Winter Teaching Week for an introduction to the foundations of teaching, or take a Bok Seminar to explore topics in teaching, learning, and communication. We serve international students and scholars who want to improve their oral English communication skills to prepare for the language and culture of the Harvard classroom through our Professional Communication Program for International Teachers and Scholars. Advanced PhD students can demonstrate their commitment to developing as teachers in higher education by pursuing one of our Teaching Certificates or by applying to our Pedagogy Fellows and Media and Design Fellows programs, where we partner with departments to enhance training and support for graduate student teachers across the FAS.
Further information and resources on teaching are available on the Bok Center’s website.
Wheelchair accessible.
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) supports the academic missions of Harvard College and the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by providing foundational skills and strategies that empower students to reach their full academic potential. Drawing on research in the behavioral and learning sciences and working in collaboration with faculty and staff, the ARC offers students the tools they need to optimize their intellectual engagement during their time at Harvard and beyond.
All College and Harvard Griffin GSAS students are welcome and can access the full range of ARC support throughout their time at Harvard. No referral is needed. Students can choose to engage with the ARC in person and virtually. They can find information on all ARC resouces through the website and can register for most services using the ARC Scheduler. Students, faculty, and staff can get in touch with ARC staff by sending an email to academicresourcecenter@harvard.edu.
The ARC offers four main services: academic coaching; accountability groups; workshops; and peer tutoring, as well as the English language conversation program.
Academic Coaching
Students can meet one-on-one with an academic coach to work on optimizing their learning experience. Academic coaches introduce students to techniques for managing time, reading strategically, studying effectively, and more. They also help students prioritize their goals for the semester, identify effective work habits and ideal learning environments, and plan for when they are returning from leave or recovering from an injury or illness. ARC coaches support students from all disciplines and will direct students to other appropriate resources on campus as needed.
Accountability Groups and Accountability Hours
The ARC is committed to helping students connect with a key resource at Harvard – their fellow students. ARC coaches facilitate accountability sessions where students come to the ARC (in person or virtually) to work towards a specific goal in the company of other students. At the start of an accountability session, students set a goal and share that goal with the group. These sessions help students because they create opportunities for weekly structure, social connection, and peer motivation.
Workshops
ARC academic coaches also facilitate various workshops throughout the semester. These workshops center around building and strengthening the skills necessary to succeed academically. Workshop topics include time management, strategic reading and note-taking, semester planning, problem set strategies, and more.
Peer Tutoring
The ARC oversees the Peer Tutoring program, connecting Harvard students with a network of trained peers who can support their learning in a variety of courses. Peer Tutors can provide an extra layer of academic support for students by reviewing critical concepts and materials from class, clarifying points of confusion, and developing study strategies for upcoming exams.
English Language Conversation Program
ARC-trained conversation partners provide support for students who are non-native English speakers, offering assistance in developing speaking and listening skills, understanding local idioms, learning more about the US and Harvard cultures, or practicing for oral presentations. Primarily for graduate students.
For more information about the ARC or any of our services, please contact us by email and visit our website.
Joya Sengupta, Executive Director of Education Support Services
https://ess.fas.harvard.edu
Education Support Services (ESS) provides world-class audiovisual and instructional support, training and consulting services to faculty, staff, students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). The team supports the school’s mission by delivering premium technology offerings that advance the teaching & learning environment.
ESS provides multimedia support to classes and events occurring in FAS buildings. Supported technologies include: computer and video projection within FAS classrooms, sound reinforcement systems, audio and video recording/editing, and web simulcasting and videoconferencing. Services include assisting FAS, Continuing Education, and Summer School classes with classroom media equipment, lecture capture, special event support, and assistive listening systems.
Please contact ESS at ess@fas.harvard.edu to arrange for services.
Services are available without charge for work performed in support of Faculty of Arts & Sciences courses and course-related activities that are restricted to members of one course. For other activities, charges are based on the amount of labor and equipment used to perform the task. Photographs of classrooms and information on classroom features can be found at https://essroombook.fas.harvard.edu/
Education Support Services is comprised of several groups.
The Assistive Technology Center provides alternative materials and assistance to students requiring accessible education.
Event & Media Production supports events including conferences, performances, symposia, and ceremonies. This group includes the Media Production Center’s Hauser and Plympton Studios.
The Teaching & Learning Support group provides multimedia resources for graduate and undergraduate course instruction within the FAS, ranging from AV support in FAS learning spaces to lecture capture services for simultaneous enrollment courses.
Design & Engineering supports technical infrastructure, including repairs to AV systems, consultation and design and installation of new AV technologies in FAS spaces.
The Language Center supports language instruction, providing consultative support, technologically mediated teaching spaces, professional development programs, events centered on language pedagogy, and informal speaking practice opportunities.
Piano Technical Services cares for the 200+ FAS pianos.
Education Support Services (ESS) Teaching & Learning Support is organized into four operational zones. This model replaces the previous building-centric support model.
Oxford West:
Science Center Room B02 (wheelchair accessible)
617-495-9460
https://ess.fas.harvard.edu
Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (during the academic year)
Provides classroom technology support for FAS locations
Oxford East:
Northwest Labs Room B111
617-495-5775
Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM-10:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (during the academic year)
Supports classes and events in the Northwest Building and adjacent buildings
Sever Hall Office:
Sever Hall Room 301
617-495-9470
Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM-10:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (during the academic year)
Supports classes and events in Sever Hall and adjacent buildings.
CGIS Office:
CGIS South Building Room S053
617-495-9807
Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (during the academic year)
Supports classes and events in CGIS and adjacent buildings.
Assistive Technology Center 1414 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 227 (wheelchair accessible)
617-496-8800
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Email: atc@fas.harvard.edu
https://atc.fas.harvard.edu
The Assistive Technology Center (ATC) serves students with disabilities requiring technical solutions to access course materials. The ATC also demonstrates assistive technologies for members of the Harvard community. Students must be registered with the Disability Access Office (DAO) or their graduate school's local disability coordinator before receiving services. (See Students Requiring Accessible Education.) For more information, please see the DAO website.
Media Production Center
Rosovsky Hall (rear), 59 Plympton St.
617-495-9440
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Email: ims_mpc@fas.harvard.edu
https://mpc.fas.harvard.edu/
The Media Production Center (MPC) produces custom audio and video materials for teaching, outreach, and research. Our studio is equipped to record interviews, voiceovers, musical performances (Steinway grand piano on-site), on-line learning modules, and promotional videos. We also provide video post-production services such as editing, titling, and color correction; location audio/musical event recording and reinforcement; audio editing, mixing, and mastering; format transfers, digitizing, and web file creation. We are happy to provide assistance and guidance to solve your audio and video media problems.
Services are available without charge for work performed in support of Faculty of Arts & Sciences courses and course-related activities that are restricted to members of one course. For non-course activities, charges are based on the amount of labor and equipment used to perform the task.
Rita E. and Gustave M. Hauser Digital Teaching & Learning Studio
Widener Library, Room G90 (Concourse Level; wheelchair accessible)
617-495-3979
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Email: hauserdigitalstudio@harvard.edu
https://hauserdigitalstudio.harvard.edu/
The Hauser Studio, centrally located in Widener Library, is a state-of-the-art video capture studio that provides services for courses and related activities throughout the University. The studio is equipped to provide broadcast, HarvardX, and cinema style multi-camera production. It serves as a high-tech production facility and as a training ground for faculty throughout the University who want to experiment with new approaches to further integrate digital technology into their teaching.
Language Center
Science Center B-06 (wheelchair accessible; assistive listening available)
617-495-9448
Monday – Thursday 9:00am – 9:00pm, Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Email:language@fas.harvard.edu
https://language.fas.harvard.edu
The Language Center offers consulting support, technology, and learning spaces to students and faculty in FAS world language courses and to other FAS courses using materials in languages other than English or focusing on international cultures. The Language Center is comprised of three technology-equipped active learning classrooms for small groups, and a multipurpose area for informal language learning and events.
There are two screening rooms for small-group foreign-language instruction and one technology-equipped classroom for course section meetings.
Piano Technical Services
Vanserg Hall, Piano Shop (wheelchair accessible)
617-495-2981
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Email: lincoln@fas.harvard.edu
https://pts.fas.harvard.edu
Piano Technical Services (PTS) services and maintains the collection of approximately 200 pianos in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for teaching, learning, practice, performances, events, etc. Our primary responsibility is to the Music Department where approximately one-quarter of the keyboard collection resides. We also service Sanders Theatre and the OFA, Houses and residence halls, and other departments at the University where keyboard instruments are located. Core activities include tuning, regulating, repairs, restorations, event support, moving, renting, evaluations, advising and consulting. PTS does not purchase instruments, or reserve or schedule practice rooms or concert venues.
Information Technology
Faculty members can find some of the tools and resources they’ll need to get started with teaching, research, and working at Harvard at huit.harvard.edu/faculty. These include:
The Basics: HarvardKey, campus Wi-Fi, and Harvard’s emergency messaging system
Technology for teaching: including Canvas and; my.harvard
Technology for research: including high-performance computing, library resources, and consulting
Tools for collaboration and daily use: including Microsoft and Google tools, Zoom, phone, and printing
Services and support for technology in the FAS are provided by Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT), in partnership with Education Support Services, FAS Research Computing, the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, and the Harvard Library. Learn more about IT in the FAS.
IT help is available through the following channels:
Call: 617-495-7777
Chat: huit.harvard.edu/chat
Submit a ticket or find online help articles: huit.harvard.edu/ithelp
Email: ithelp@harvard.edu
Harvard Library
We are the libraries and archives of Harvard University.
At Harvard Library, we are champions of curiosity. We aim to be global leaders in expanding world knowledge and intellectual exploration. We engage with our communities in the creation and sharing of new knowledge, connecting them with the vast collections that we curate and steward through collaborations around the world.
At its core, our mission for nearly four centuries has been to advance the learning, research, and pursuit of truth that are at the heart of Harvard.
We have over 800 staff engaging with scholars and students across more than 25 libraries and around the world. With over 20 million physical and digital items, our vast collections are renowned for their global reach and depth, with resources spanning the development of all disciplines and more than 460 languages.
Our rare and special collections are amongst the most remarkable in the world, ranging from medieval manuscripts to sound recordings of modern poets and from early maps to digital images. We collect collaboratively with peer institutions and facilitate international open access, seeking to build a diverse, open corpus of knowledge with scholars and citizens everywhere.
Established in 1638, we are the oldest library system in the United States and the world’s largest academic library.
Explore Libraries
Harvard Library is a multi-library system with more than 25 locations across campus and beyond. library.harvard.edu/libraries
Special Collections and Archives
Harvard Library is home to all kinds of historical documents and objects. Discover primary sources including letters, photographs, books, scores, and digital materials, many of which have been digitized.
How to Use Harvard’s Special Collections and Archives
Digital Collections
Harvard Digital Collections provides free, public access to more than 6 million objects digitized from our collections - from ancient art to modern manuscripts and audio-visual materials.
Use CURIOSity Digital Collections for curated views of Harvard's digital collections.
Teaching Support
Teaching a class? Let our expert staff help you get the most out of the library for your courses. We can help you find materials, create course guides, and provide library instruction and library visits for your class.
https://library.harvard.edu/services-tools/teach-library
Popular Library Services and Tools:
Ask a Librarian - Get immediate help during our live chat hours or submit a question.
Check Harvard Library Bookmark - Before you subscribe to a journal or buy an article, check to see if you have access through Harvard Library.
Lean Library browser extension - Use this browser extension to seamlessly access Harvard Library resources from anywhere on the web.
HOLLIS, library catalog - HOLLIS is Harvard Library's catalog. Search HOLLIS for books, articles, media and more.
New York Times - Claim your free New York Times digital account and search their archives.
Scan & Deliver - Request library materials—from book chapters and periodicals to special collections and ephemera—and we will digitize and send them to your inbox.
54 Dunster Street
Phone: 617-495-2595
careerservices.fas.harvard.edu
The Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) supports the students of Harvard College, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), and degree candidates in the Harvard Extension School (HES) in exploring, experiencing, and achieving their career aspirations wherever they may lead. MCS services and support continue to be available to graduates for up to five years after degree completion. The office offers a broad array of advising, instructional programs, and resources across every career and professional development pathway with a focus on internships, research opportunities, summer jobs, term-time and summer international education, postgraduate employment, and graduate and professional study. Additionally, MCS offers pre-med, pre-health, and pre-law advising and support services as well as funding support to Harvard College students interested in summer study abroad and international internship experiences.
The first floor of MCS is accessible to individuals with mobility impairments via the 52 Dunster Street entrance.
Wheelchair accessible
1414 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd floor
Phone: 617-496-2722
Fax: 617-496-2563
Email: oie@fas.harvard.edu
www.oie.fas.harvard.edu
Study Abroad
Harvard views study abroad as an essential part of every student's undergraduate education; over half of Harvard College students participate in an international experience during their time as an undergraduate. Through spending a semester studying abroad, students are afforded a transformative experience. Study abroad provides students the opportunity to earn credit toward their concentration, secondary field, and/or language citation, while also earning elective credit that will count toward their total credits required for graduation. Details about academic year, semester and summer study abroad may be found on the Office of International Education (OIE) website.
From a full year, one semester, or even just a summer abroad, there are many ways to experience international study. The Office of International Education advises Harvard College students on all aspects related to study abroad, from finding the right program best suited to the student’s academic and other interests, preparation prior to departure and on-the-ground resources, to funding support, academic advising, and ensuring a smooth re-entry back to Harvard. The OIE website has extensive advising resources, including information on approved programs and universities, course and credit guidelines, application instructions, pre-departure materials, and contact information for the OIE staff, concentration and language advisers, and student advisers and ambassadors who have recently returned from a semester abroad.
Planning is key to a successful study abroad experience, and it is never too early to begin integrating study abroad into individual academic plans, seeking advice from concentration, secondary field, and/or language advisors, and visiting the Office of International Education for guidance. All students should seek assistance from the OIE as early as possible to begin planning the best study abroad experience for them. To ensure that credits from courses taken abroad will transfer back to Harvard for concentration or secondary field credit, students should work directly with the specific academic departments. If a student is seeking elective credit for a course taken abroad, the course will be reviewed by the OIE, in consultation with the Office of Undergraduate Education and when necessary, specific academic departments.
Who can Study Abroad?
Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors may participate in semester study abroad through enrolling directly into a foreign university, studying through programs sponsored by U.S. universities, or through organizations dedicated specifically to providing high-quality study abroad programming. The OIE maintains a list of approved programs on the OIE website, which is reviewed and updated each semester and summer. If a student is interested in participating in a program that is not on the approved list, the student may petition the program through the formal petition process.
Getting Started
To begin planning, students should meet with an advisor at the OIE during drop-in hours held daily (Monday-Thursday, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM), or through appointment, by emailing oie@fas.harvard.edu. Student Advisors, who are recently returned study abroad students, are also available to speak with through informal conversations, coffee chats, or during in-person drop-ins.
Procedures for Earning Degree Credit for Study Abroad
A maximum of 32-credit transfer credits may be earned from studying abroad, and credits earned are considered transfer credit and are applied to a student's academic record by the OIE upon completion of the study abroad experience (see more below). No more than 16-credits may be earned for each semester spent abroad no more than 8-credits may be earned for summer study abroad.
Credit from study abroad may be earned for concentration and/or elective credit and may also contribute to a secondary field or language citation. Courses taken during semester or summer study abroad may also count for the divisional distribution requirement. Specific information about these options is provided on the OIE website, the General Education website (see Term Time Study Abroad), and through the undergraduate advisers in the academic departments.
Students planning to study abroad in countries where English is not the primary language are encouraged to complete at least one year of study in the host country’s language before studying abroad. Additionally, as part of their academic program during each semester or summer abroad, students in non-English speaking countries are expected to take either a language instruction course or a course taught entirely in a language of the host country. Students taking language courses abroad should be aware of the language policy.
It is expected that students who study abroad for a semester or academic year will take a full course load abroad as determined by the study abroad institution or program and approved by the OIE. The full course load should also align with the College's policies regarding an equivalent full course load (i.e., 16-credits per semester), which will be applied to their student record.
Applying for Study Abroad
Online application instructions are available on the OIE website. To ensure that academic advising conversations take place before the student receives approval to study abroad, it is expected that students will have consulted with their Resident Dean and departmental DUS regarding their proposed study abroad coursework. Students should meet with a study abroad adviser from the OIE for specific questions on this process.
To be approved for study abroad, a student must be in good academic and disciplinary standing during the semester immediately preceding the proposed period of study. Unless permission is granted by the Administrative Board in advance, a student may not study abroad for credit when the student is on probation for any reason or on a Leave of Absence.
To study abroad, students must do both of the following:
Apply directly to their study abroad program or university for admission by their published deadlines.
Apply to the Office of International Education for course approval and transfer credit by the deadline listed below:
Semester Study Abroad
October 1 for Spring semester study abroad
March 1 for Fall semester study abroad
Summer Study Abroad
Mid-February (for students applying for both summer funding and credit)
April 1 (for students seeking only credit, no summer funding)
Students should begin the application process early and be mindful of their institution and program-specific deadlines.
Financial Aid and Semester Study Abroad
Student financial aid awards transfer to semester study abroad and may be used to pay for study abroad tuition, room and board, program and visa fees, books, airfare, and other living expenses. Students eligible for financial aid should consult their designated financial aid officer for more detailed information and should not let finances hinder their ability to study abroad.
All students who study abroad during the academic year will be charged the student services fee, which will appear on their Harvard College term-bill. Students will also be billed automatically for health insurance, which may be waived with proof of comparable coverage by the designated deadline.
Students will be billed directly by their study abroad institution or program for tuition, room and board, and other program-related fees.
Students studying abroad will maintain their HarvardKey and may access Harvard libraries and other virtual services.
Summer Funding for Summer Study Abroad
Though financial aid for summer study abroad does not exist, Harvard College offers robust summer funding through the David Rockefeller International Experiences Grant (DRIEG). Students should consult the OIE website for details or speak with an OIE adviser.
Students may consult the Mignone Center for Career Success for more information about other summer funding opportunities.
Domestic Study
Harvard does not ordinarily grant credit for domestic study at other U.S. institutions, except in rare cases when such study is judged to offer an "exceptional opportunity” unavailable at Harvard. Information on the process for petitioning for credit for study out of residence within the U.S. can be obtained from the student’s Resident Dean; if the student’s petition is approved by the Administrative Board, the OIE will be notified by the appropriate Dean and will instruct the student on how to apply for transfer credit.
Undocumented or DACA students interested in a domestic study out of residence should reach out to Camila Nardozzi, Director of the OIE, for more information.
Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF)
77 Dunster Street (corner of Dunster and South Streets)
Phone: 617-495-5095
Email: undergradresearch@fas.harvard.edu
Website: http://uraf.harvard.edu
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF) serves as the hub for institution-wide policies, practices and funding related to undergraduate research; the development and implementation of College-based programs such as the Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village and the Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE); and the management of postgraduate fellowships and prestigious national competitions (such as Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright). In addition, in conjunction with Admissions and Financial Aid, OCS, OIE, the FAS Office of Science Education, and other collaborative academic and affiliated research enterprises, URAF provides advising, resource materials, and seminars about the full range of research opportunities, research funding, and fellowships locally (university-wide), domestically, and internationally.
Barker Center 019
Phone: 617-495-1655
Email: writingcenter@fas.harvard.edu
https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/
The Writing Center offers free one-on-one writing help to all undergraduate students. Instructors may recommend the Writing Center to students who need help with argument, structure, and clarity in academic writing. An English Grammar and Language tutor is also available to assist students with grammar and syntax. The Writing Center website also features handouts about academic writing and a link to the Harvard Guide to Using Sources, an online publication that explains how to use sources effectively and how to avoid plagiarism.
Wheelchair accessible.