Harvard University
Harvard University Facts
- Harvard University has been consistently ranked among the top universities of the world. The QS World University Rankings 2019 ranks it third globally while the Times Higher Education ranks it sixth worldwide.
- Harvard University is the United States’ oldest institution of higher learning, and it flaunts a living legacy of 383 years and counting.
- It has the world’s most extensive academic and private library system, comprising of 79 individual libraries holding over 18 million items. These libraries cater to almost all the subjects in the world.
- It has been cited as one of the world’s top tertiary institutions by various organizations. It excels in its teaching methods, its inclusive culture, and its scenic beauty.
- As of 2018, 158 Nobel laureates, 18 Fields Medalists, and 14 Turing Award winners have been affiliated as students, faculty, or researchers of the university. Such a strong association history makes it even more compelling for any student in the world.
- It is a close-knit college with the university.
Harvard University Highlights
Established in |
Year 1636 |
QS Ranking |
3rd |
Total International Students |
9,500 |
Size of Campus |
5457 acres |
Faculty |
4,700 |
No.of Campuses |
1 |
Acceptance Rate |
5% |
Website |
http://www.harvard.edu |
Address |
1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-3800 |
Admission Procedure
How to Apply at Harvard University?
The admission procedure has been effectively separately depending upon the level of education as well as the various courses offered by the University. The former category takes into account undergraduate, graduate and professional courses along with its annual summer programs while the latter is subdivided into the Medical school, Law school; Schools of Education, Design, Arts and Sciences and so on.
- Filling the Common application form, universal college application, or the coalition application:
- Create an account at the respective websites.
- Schools have to be added to the list-choose Harvard College here.
- Meet the requirements of the college for admission.
- Log in to the account and start filling the application form.
- These forms have to be submitted as soon as possible for effective consideration. Applicants using the common application need to submit their application forms before their supporting documents can be produced at any college. Other applications do not require this.
- Apart from these forms, an additional supplement has to be filled by the applicant as well.
- The college will send a letter of Acknowledgement on receiving the application. This is done by the end of the second week from the day of submission.
- The Application procedure can be pursued either by November 1 as per the early Action Program or by January 1 according to the Regular Decision program. Both the plans offer applicants a deadline until May 1 to choose their college.
Admission Requirements for Harvard University?
List of Documents Required for UG
Undergraduate Documents |
Student Visa Certificate |
High School Transcripts or equivalent qualification |
Proof of English Proficiency- TOEFL or IELTS |
SAT, Act, UC Maths Placement Score |
Resume |
Letter of Recommendation (LOR) |
Statement of Purpose (SOP) |
List of Documents Required for PG
Postgraduate Documents |
10th Grade Transcripts and Certificate |
12th Grade Transcripts and Certificate |
Bachelors Transcripts and Degree OR for Advanced certificate and diploma courses, their bachelor equivalents |
Work Experience Documents |
Financial Documents |
Resume |
Student Visa Application |
SOP |
LOR |
Master's at Harvard University
The university offers over 134 master's degrees and 4,460 professional degrees. The courses they offer are quite diverse and connects with almost every aspect and every field of study. The major academic programs popular in this domain are Arts, Communication and Design, Community Services, Engineering, and Architectural Science, Science, and Business.
Bachelor's at Harvard University
The university offers a wide range of choices when it comes to bachelor's degrees. It provides more than 46 undergraduate (majors) programs, in the field of bachelor education. The degree is available in various domains ranging from Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, Journalism, Art and Design, Computer Science and IT, Applied Science and Health Sector, Law and Humanities, etc.
The University has the Harvard Business School (HBS is the graduate business school, which offers degrees at the bachelor's and master's level. Consistently ranked among the topmost business schools in the world, the school offers a large full-time MBA program. The university student learns practical MBA experience and is currently working in world-class companies and institutions.
Students Life
Life at Harvard University
One of the world’s most prestigious institutions has to have a vibrant student life. The student life at Harvard is an experience like none. The eight presidents of USA along with Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are its alumni. This is testament enough to how vital campus life is for the holistic development of any individual.
- Around 22,000 students flourish in the College campus. Every year approximately 6700 students get admitted to the University in August.
- The campus has various amenities for the entertainment as well as educational needs of the students studying there.
- The best coffee places near Harvard include the crema café, L.A. Burdick’s, 1369 coffee house, and so on. All of these places have students flock their premises daily.
- The libraries are the best places for any book worm. The stately architecture of Lamont, Widener, and Cabot science library is the hub for undergraduate students.
- The diverse student population of the Harvard campus provides any individual with ample opportunities to socialize with other students of different cultures. The various events catered around many cultures makes it a beautiful place to be for any student, regardless of their ethnicity.
- The housing system of the university includes 12 houses, each housing approximately 300-700 students. The apartments are Adams, Lowell, Eliot, Winthrop, Mather, Cabot, Dudley, Kirkland, Pforzheimer, Currier, Dunster, Leverett and Quincy. The thirteenth house Dudley serves on residents and graduate students.
Harvard University Accommodation
First-year residence:
- The first-year students are provided with guaranteed housing in what is termed as Yards. There are four Yards- Ivy, Crimson, Oak and Elm.
- A Weld room is spacious with a standard room. One might even find additional furniture or hangings like whiteboards and more in such places.
- An Apley room has an ample closet space with a nice bathroom.
- The size of dorms varies from halls to larger spaces. Each dorm is presided over by a dean. Students are further divided into entryways which have 20-30 students.
On-campus residence:
- Harvard University Housing (HUH)- one can apply for one of nearly 3000 apartments the whole year. The housing applications submitted and approved between March and May will have a view and select option which would not be open to applications approved between May and February. HUH considers only graduates and faculty and employees as eligible for housing. Maximum occupancy guidelines are in place as well for efficient stay.
- HUH has 29 gardens, Kirkland court, Peabody terrace, Harvard at the trilogy, Botanic gardens, 387 Western, 10 Akron, 5 Cowperthwaite and Cronkite center as its housing apartments.
- GSAS students can avail on-campus housing based on the lottery. Twenty rooms are available for the single full-time students of this school.
Key Attraction
- Statue of John Harvard- the famous statue sitting peacefully in the Harvard Yard is a sight to see. The minister donor of the university has a good luck myth attached to his statue’s foot. Rubbing the shoe is seen as a sign for good luck.
- Widener Loker Reading Room- this beautiful hall has an arched roof with natural light peeking through the wide glass windows on the roof itself. Surely a place to be and a place to fall in love with books.
- Science Center Observatory- this observatory overlooks the entire Harvard campus and provides a great place for observing the sky with the telescope.
- The main entrance of Lowell house- the main brick entrance of the Lowell House makes a beautiful visual along with the greenery of the garden it opens into.
- Randolph courtyard- this beautiful courtyard is a place of serenity and tranquillity. It’s a must-visit for all nature lovers.
Career at Harvard University
Careers are at the topmost priority when it comes to Harvard University. The university aims to act as a bridge between the employer and the candidate by engaging the students in learning initiatives. It introduces candidates to experts from various disciplines to find solutions to world-class problems and challenges.
Jobs after Studying at Harvard University
The university is regularly ranked number one in the world, and the consistency of its chart-topping performances shows that success is yet to breed satisfaction. Many organizations facilitate internships, but it is important to research extensively to ensure that you get the maximum benefit from the experience.
Placements at Harvard University
The university has maintained more than a 90% placement rate all over the years, by successfully placing its graduates and post-graduate students in international companies and firms. The highest-paid Harvard University & Harvard Business School alumni & graduates are Legal & Paralegal professionals at $306,000 annually. The lowest-paid Harvard University & Harvard Business School alumni & graduates are Education & Research professionals at $70,000.
Harvard University Notable Alumni
Harvard is the of the most prestigious University in the world, and what started with students there are some of the most known men and women of the generation. The Alumni of Harvard include eight US presidents, several foreign heads of state, 62 living billionaires, 359 Rhodes Scholars, and 242 Marshall Scholars and this is just the tip of the Iceberg. Whether it's Pulitzer Prizes, Nobel Prizes, or Academy Awards, Harvard graduates have won them all.
- John Adams - 2nd President of USA
- John Quincy Adams - 6th President of USA
- Franklin D. Roosevelt - 32nd President of USA
- Helen Keller - American Author
- John F. Kennedy - 35th President of USA
- George W. Bush - 43rd President of USA
- Bill Gates - Founder of Microsoft
- Barack Obama - 46th President of USA, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
- Mark Zuckerberg - Co-founder of Facebook
Colleges related to Harvard University
The colleges under Harvard University are:
- Harvard Business School
- Harvard College
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine
- Harvard Divinity School
- Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Harvard Graduate School of Design
- Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Harvard Division of Continuing Education
- Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Harvard Kennedy School
- Harvard Law School
- Harvard Medical School
- Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Harvard Division of Continuing Education is a constituent of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and the college gives students a unique opportunity to obtain knowledge from the short term courses.
Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences was founded in 1872 and has the maximum numbers of students enrolled in the natural sciences department that is 54%.
This institute is known for sharing transformational ideas in the field of arts, humanities and social science. It has a annual fellowship program which supports more than 50 artists and scholars. It has a low acceptance rate of only 5 percent per year. There are more than 2500 manuscripts in the institute premises.
Harvard School of Dental Medicine was established in 1867 and Harvard School of Dental Medicine was rewarded a training grant from the National Institute of Dental Research in 1957.
Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences was formed in 1847 and it has notable alumni like Danny Cohen, Danielle Feinberg, and Don Ross.
The public health graduate school of Harvard University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health was established in 1913 and is situated in Longwood Medical Area in Boston adjoining the Harvard Medical School.
Harvard Divinity School was founded in 1816 and it invites scholars and practitioners and focuses on the intellectual and historical scope of religious dialogue.
It is a public administration and public policy school founded in 1936. Kennedy School offers both masters and doctoral degrees in the field of public policy, international developments, and public administration. Basically, it offers four master’s degree courses in public policy. Currently, it is ranked at number one position by US news in social policy.
Founded in 1636, Harvard has changed dramatically over the centuries, but has always been a one stop point for the world’s most ambitious scholars and leaders.For almost as long as the College has existed, Harvard has provided financial aid to students.
This tradition began with Anne Radcliffe, Lady Mowlson of London, who in 1643 left a bequest to aid students with need admitted to Harvard College.The residential life and campuses are appreciable providing a nice environment to support and excel in.
Harvard Graduate School of Education has around 876 students studying in this school and this school is associated with the Harvard Education Publishing Group and publishes the Harvard Educational Review.
It was established in 1782 as a graduate medical college. This college has more than 10,000 faculty members in academic staff. It also has a strong alumni network with over more than 9000 students. It is the third oldest college of Harvard providing graduating degrees. It is also known for its innovative methods of research.
- 50% of the students at HBS are eligible for fellowships. 800–900 Need-based fellowships are disbursed annually
- 208 students are entitled as Leadership fellows with 85 organizations since 2001
- 70% of students transform their career path based on their MBA degree
- 1,754 MBA students have taken part in Summer Fellowships since 1982
- $30–$70K HBS Fellowships of HBS are entirely need-based, with the greater part of the fellowships in the $30–$70k range
- $40K Average one-year fellowship award.
This institute is known for its courses in various fields of Architecture.
- North America's oldest urban planning program was founded in this School in 1900.
- World's first landscape architecture program was established in this college.
- GSD Design Labs synthesize theoretically and applied knowledge through research.
- Fabrication Lab of GSD has both traditional tools and other technology available for model making.
- It has more than 13,000 alumni across the world.
It is the oldest law school of USA which has 560 students in its every class of three year JD program. Founded in 1817, it is ranked first in the world by QS World and Shanghai Rankings. The acceptance rate of the college is very low with only 12.8% in 2017-18 cycles. It has a perfect overall assessment score of 100.0.