• Completed online application form
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts for all college/university degrees and courses
  Self-reported transcripts are accepted for both all programs at the application stage. Applicants must upload copies of his/her transcripts to the online application system. Hard copy transcripts will only be required if admitted to a program, prior to enrollment.

• Current GRE or GMAT scores (see details below)
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (non-native English speakers see details below)
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from an academic source). Recommendation letters must be submitted online through the online application system. Hard copy recommendation letters will not be accepted.
• $105 application fee via credit card
• Optional writing sample (no more than 10 pages)

All applicants are required to take either the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Submitted test scores are valid for no longer than five years. If you are applying for admission for Fall 2025, we will accept at-home versions of the GRE. You may submit scores from tests taken no earlier than January 5, 2020. There is no minimum test score requirement, and admissions committee does not have a preference in tests. It may be helpful to note that other programs may have a preference between the GRE and the GMAT, so be sure to investigate this.

We accept both valid GMAT 10th Edition scores and scores from the new GMAT Focus exams. As writing is an essential component of the PhD program, all students must submit an official writing assessment. As the GMAT Focus lacks a writing section, HBS will contact you at the interview stage about taking the separate GMAC Business Writing Assessment if you submit a GMAT Focus score. If self-reporting GMAT Focus scores, please enter GMAT as the test Type and Subtype and input your scores and percentiles for only the quantitative and verbal sections of the GMAT Focus in the test score section of the application. Then upload a copy of your GMAT Focus score report in the Additional Materials section of the application.

• Institution Codes for PhD Programs
• GRE: 3451
• GMAT: HRL-X8-30

A department code is not required for score submission.

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants whose native language is other than English and who do not hold a Bachelor degree or its equivalent from an institution at which English is the language of instruction must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Submitted scores are valid for no longer than two years. If you are applying for admission for Fall 2025, we will accept at-home versions of the TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic. You may submit scores from tests taken no earlier than January 5, 2023. The committee prefers scores of at least 100 on the TOEFL internet-based test and at least 7.5 on the IELTS test. Applicants are strongly encouraged to choose the TOEFL internet-based test when possible.

Institution Codes for Toefl score reports
PhD programs: 3451

Instructions for submitting IELTS score reports
Designate Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a recipient of your test results. Our address, for the record only, to identify us in the IELTS system, is 1350 Massachusetts Ave. Smith Campus Center 350, Cambridge, MA 02138. Paper test report forms will not be accepted at this address.

We realize that recent natural disasters and other extenuating circumstances may have significant impacts on applicants’ academic and personal lives, including the ability to provide all required application materials prior to our stated deadlines. We understand that these impacts may extend to recommenders and offices at institutions previously attended. If any of these conditions apply to you, we encourage you to apply, even if required materials are missing. Our application form includes a section for you to let us know about any of your materials that may be unavailable or delayed. This information will be shared with the appropriate admissions committee and your admissions decision will be based on the materials available at the time of review. Please note that even though the online application system may indicate that your application is incomplete, it will still be reviewed by the appropriate admissions committee. If you are able to gather missing materials after the admissions deadline, you will find that our application system does not allow applicants to attach new materials to an application once it has been submitted; please email the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Admissions Office for assistance. Any materials that become available before the admissions committee has finished deliberating will be passed along for consideration. If your application is incomplete and you are denied admission, GSAS will not count it toward our lifetime limit of three total applications that an individual may submit.

Applicants who applied last year are considered reapplicants. Those reapplying must submit a completely new application. The new application must include all required documents to be provided by the applicant - we will not re-use material previously submitted. These materials include an updated statement of purpose, transcripts, test score reports, updated letters of recommendation, the application fee, and any other supporting materials

Please note, Harvard University will accept no more than three applications from any one individual over the course of their lifetime. If your 2025 application is incomplete and you are denied admission, GSAS will not count it toward our lifetime limit of three total applications that an individual may submit due to the global pandemic.