Earn Your Way In Admissions
Here at Harvard Extension, you begin your coursework before you even apply. Why? Because we believe the best way to prove you can succeed in the program is by first succeeding in the classroom.
On this page we’ll cover:
- Requirements you must meet to be eligible for admission
- Courses you must take before you apply for admission
- Materials you should have ready for when you’re application window opens
- How to submit your application
- The application review process
When to Apply
You apply for admission the semester during which you’re taking your third degree course. Here are the application deadlines.
| Registered for last degree course | Submit application | Submit financial aid application* | Check Application Portal for decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Nov. 1 — Dec. 1 | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 |
| Spring | March 15 — April 15 | March 1 | June 10 |
| Summer (Harvard Summer School) | July 1 — Aug. 1 | June 1 | Sept. 10 |
1. Check Your Eligibility
To pursue an undergraduate degree at Harvard Extension, you must meet the following criteria:
You don’t already hold a bachelor’s degree
If you already possess a bachelor’s degree, you may not pursue another at Harvard Extension School.
You aren’t enrolled at another institution
You may not be enrolled as an undergraduate degree-seeking student at another institution at the time of admission or during your Extension School degree candidacy.
You have a high school diploma or equivalent
All applicants must possess proof of high school graduation, including those who were homeschooled.
Acceptable credentials include a high school diploma or a high school diploma equivalent as determined by your home state or by the Center for Educational Documentation, through a general evaluation, if you are an international student.
Your high school diploma was awarded at least five years before you enrolled in your degree courses
This program is designed expressly for working adults who wish to earn their degrees part time while they continue to advance in their professions.
As a minimum requirement, your high school diploma or its equivalent must have been earned at least five years prior to enrolling in any ALB degree-applicable courses.
2. Complete Degree Courses for Admission
At Harvard Extension School, your admission journey starts in the classroom. Here’s how to qualify for admission.
Register for three degree courses, including EXPO 25 Academic Writing and Critical Reading
Refer to Degree Requirements to learn more about the degree courses you must take before being admitted.
Meet the grade requirements for admission
B or higher
Earn at least a grade of B in EXPO 25 and two other 4-credit courses that count toward the degree. Harvard Business School Online’s CORe cannot be used as one of these three courses.
Two-attempt limit on EXPO 25
You are ineligible to apply for undergraduate degree program admission if you fail to earn the minimum grade of B or higher in two EXPO 25 registration attempts. A withdrawal (WD) is considered a registration attempt. See Enrollment Policies for Undergraduates to learn how repeated courses affect your GPA.
3.0 GPA
Earn the required cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 (equivalent to a grade of B) or higher in all Harvard courses. If you haven’t earned at least a B in all of your Harvard courses, use our GPA Estimator tool to determine your GPA. See Academic Standing for information on grade-point average calculation for the undergraduate degree program.
Apply during the semester you’re taking your third degree course
Submitting an application promptly near the conclusion of your degree course(s) stipulated for admission is essential not only for your successful admission but also for degree program completion. As a result, students who do not apply for admission to the program in a timely manner are assessed an additional $300 delayed application fee. Moreover, degree requirements, including admission courses, can change from year to year, which may result in your losing degree credit if you postpone submitting your application, so don’t delay.
Refer to When to Apply for specific dates and use the Extension Application Portal to access the application using your Harvard Key.
3. Gather Your Supplementary Materials
Although you may apply only during certain times of the year, you can – and should – prepare your supplementary materials early so when the deadline approaches you’re ready.
Prepare for your online application
Before the application opens, you can get a head start on it by following these preparatory steps:
- Collect the names of the colleges and/or universities you have attended and the dates of your attendance.
- Update your résumé to reflect your current work experience, education, skills, organizational memberships, and achievements.
- Review tips and tutorials. Review our Tips to Avoid Plagiarism and complete the free online tutorials—Using Sources, Five Scenarios and Using Sources, Five Examples.
Request transcripts for previous schools
We require a current official transcript (i.e., a transcript issued directly from the school to our office) from each college or university at which you have registered for courses.
Electronic transcripts may be sent by your school to admissions@extension.harvard.edu. See the Submit Your Application section for instructions on how to submit paper transcripts.
Students with international credits and degrees must have them evaluated for equivalency as part of the admissions process. For more information, visit Admission Requirements for International Students.
4. Submit Your Application
Your application period corresponds with the semester during which you are enrolled in your third degree course. Details on application periods can be found on at the top of this page under When to Apply.
Start your online application
Refer to When to Apply for the dates between which you are able to use the Extension Application Portal to begin an application using your Harvard Key. You cannot start an application outside these dates.
Pay the application fee
A nonrefundable $100 fee is required to begin the application. You will be assessed an additional $300 delayed application fee if you have earned grades in more than six courses toward the undergraduate degree before applying.
Mail your transcripts (if applicable)
If transcripts must be mailed via post because your college or university does not offer electronic delivery, documents should be sent to:
Admissions Office
Harvard Extension School
51 Brattle Street
Cambridge MA 02138
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Do not open envelopes addressed to you that contain official copies of documents. Instead, mail them unopened in a larger envelope to the Admissions Office.
- All materials must be received in the Admissions Office no later than the application deadline date for your application to be considered complete.
Materials are accepted and processed by the Admissions Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern Time.
5. How We Review Applications
After grades become available for the term, admissions advisors conduct a final application review. The Admissions Office considers the following when reviewing applications.
Academic Standing and Student Conduct
You must be in good academic standing with Harvard University, with no disciplinary or administrative procedures pending, stemming from violations of our Academic Integrity and/or Student Conduct policies. The Admissions Office will consider your academic disciplinary and student conduct records at Harvard University and other academic institutions in making admissions decisions.
You should be aware of our application expectations as well as our Right to Refuse Registration due to infractions that include criminal records, which will also be considered.
Financial Standing
You must be in good financial standing at Harvard as well as previous schools.
English Proficiency
English is the language of instruction at Harvard Extension School. If your native language is not English, you must have provided designated proof of English proficiency to register in the courses that qualify you for admission and you must be able to register in future courses according to Extension School’s current English proficiency requirements. As part of your application review, admissions advisors will confirm you have met these requirements and will ask you to provide a letter of explanation if you do not. Students who have misrepresented themselves will be found in violation of the Extension School’s Student Conduct policy. Their applications will be removed from admission consideration, they will be prevented from applying again in the future to a degree program at Extension School, and their case will be reviewed by the Administrative Board to consider grounds for disciplinary action.
Your Complete Application and Admission Decision
A complete application comprises our receipt of a finished online application, specific grade and GPA requirements in stipulated Harvard degree courses, as well as certain academic standing, student conduct, and English proficiency requirements as outlined above and on program-specific pages of this website.
If you submit a complete application and meet these eligibility requirements, you will be admitted.
Admission decisions are made according to the When to Apply schedule and appear in the Extension Application Portal.
If you did not earn the required GPA and/or grades by the end of the semester, you will be notified that you may reapply to the program after you have met those admission criteria.
