Harvard University Admission Requirements for International Students 2025

Harvard University is a popular Ivy League university for international students. The university is renowned for its rigorous admission standards, student lifestyle, and research analytics. The university is ranked among the top 4 world universities as per the QS World University Rankings 2025. Therefore, international students who wish to apply for admission to the university must fulfill some special eligibility requirements for Harvard University to demonstrate their candidature. Harvard offers a wide range of popular courses for international students, including MBA, MS, Computer Science, Engineering, and MBBS. Each course has its specific curricula and eligibility requirements. Harvard University's acceptance rate is around 3%, which indicates a competitive admission process for international students. The requirements for Harvard University international students for popular courses include a high GPA, excellent academic performance, English proficiency tests, and others. International students are also required to qualify for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT tests to apply for popular courses at Harvard. Students who fail to fulfill all the Harvard University admission requirements are at a disadvantage for admission into highly ranked courses. This article evaluates the major eligibility criteria for top courses at Harvard University. Read the complete article to learn more about admission requirements for Harvard University courses.

This Story also Contains

1. Harvard University Admission Requirements 2025
2. Harvard University Admission Requirements for MBA
3. Harvard University Admission Requirements for MS
4. Harvard University Admission Requirements for Engineering
5. Harvard University Computer Science Admission Requirements
6. How to Apply to Harvard University?
7. Harvard University Documents Required for Admission 2025

Harvard University Admission Requirements 2025

International students looking to study at the prestigious hravrd University need to know the Harvard University admission requirements. Having a high score in standardised tests is a must if applying to Harvard. If you are applying to a UG course, then 1500+ in SAT or at least 33+ in ACT. Those who are applying to a Harvard master's course need to have a good GMAT score or good GRE score. The median GMAT score for MBA class of 2025 is 740. Apart from this, a student needs to have an excellent academic record along with a strong profile to secure admission at Harvard. Harvard University acceptance rate of 3% makes it one of the toughest universities to get into. Candidates need to be at the top of their class to make it here.

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Harvard University Admission Requirements for MBA

Harvard University has no specific MBA requirements for Harvard University. International students who are planning to apply for an MBA at Harvard can submit their online application by attaching the required documents demonstrating their academic excellence and knowledge of MBA-relevant fields.

• Pay a $250 non refundable application fee.

• Provide transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions.

• No minimum GMAT or GRE score requirement. However, do send the official score reports.

• No minimum score required for English proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL.

• There are no GPA requirements for Harvard University for MBA courses. However, a strong GPA can improve your chances of admission to the university.

• Answer the 3 essay questions:

  1. Business-Minded Essay:
     Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

  2. Leadership-Focused Essay:
     What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)

  3. Growth-Oriented Essay:
     Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)

• 2 LORS to be submitted online.

• CV/Resume

Harvard University Admission Requirements for MS

MS in Harvard is a popular course among international students. Harvard offers 32 credits for MS courses for international students. Students must complete their eight courses and pay full tuition for one year to get an MS degree at Harvard. The major admission requirements for Harvard University for the MS course are as follows:

• Students must complete their bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in the relevant field.

• Applicants should have a 4-year US bachelors equivalent degree.

• GPA requirements for Harvard University are also comparatively high for top MS courses.

• Students must qualify for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT to apply for the MS in Harvard.

• English language proficiency test certificates are mandatory.

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Harvard University Admission Requirements for Engineering

The admission requirements for Harvard University for an engineering degree are as follows. Students must check the admission requirements for Harvard University international students and other information before applying.

• Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or engineering.

• PhD applicants must complete the Supplemental SEAS Application Form as part of the online application process.

• GRE is not accepted at Harvard University for engineering courses. However, some programmes might require GRE Subject Tests in areas like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering.

• Students must take either the IELTS, Cambridge English, or TOEFL exam before applying for an engineering at Harvard.

• For Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, students must submit their academic transcripts accompanied by a certified English translation.

• A personal statement is mandatory for international applicants.

Harvard University Computer Science Admission Requirements

A few popular eligibility requirements for Harvard University for Computer Science courses are as follows:

• Pay an application fee f $105.

• A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a closely related field, or a strong foundation in CS coursework is typically required.

• SOP is required of a maximum of 1000 words

• Applicants must provide a personal statement of 500 words.

• 3 LORs to be submitted electronically to Harvard University.

• Students must demonstrate proficiency in core CS subjects like data structures, algorithms, programming languages, and computer architecture.

• A specific computer science programmes at Harvard University require GRE general test. However, GRE is not a mandatory admission requirements for Harvard computer science courses.

• English language tests like IELTS, TOEFL, and CAE are mandatory for international students to demonstrate their English proficiency.

How to Apply to Harvard University?

Harvard University's acceptance rate varies between 3 -4%. This indicates a competitive admission process among international students. Follow the steps mentioned below to complete the application process at Harvard University

Step 1: Visit the Harvard University official website.

Step 2: Harvard offers a dual mode of admission either through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. All first-year candidates can opt for either of the two modes.

Step 3: Complete the application form by filling out the required information.

Step 4: Attach the necessary documents.

Step 5: Pay Harvard University application fees.

Step 6: Submit the application form and wait for the offer from the university.

Harvard University Documents Required for Admission 2025

The following documentation is required for students to complete the Harvard University admission process:

• Completed application form

• Academic transcripts

• Secondary school report

• Standardised tests such as GMAT, GRE, SAT, or ACT

• English proficiency score report (IELTS / TOEFL / PTE)

• Two letters of recommendation

• Personal essay or Statement of Purpose

• Midyear School Report (after your first semester grades)

• Resume or CV

• Student visa USA

• Proof of financial support

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