Resources For:

Students may apply for non-resident status in three categories:

Traveling scholar (PDF)
For students away from the Boston area who are engaged primarily in their degree work.

Leave of absence (PDF)
For degree candidates whose time will be devoted primarily to activities other than degree work. It is not advisable for students to take more than one year of leave. In unusual situations where additional leave may be required, the department should contact Rise Shepsle, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, (617-495-1814, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to discuss the situation.

Studying at Another Harvard School (PDF)
For students who will be registered and studying full-time at another Harvard school.

Other Forms

Change in Non-Resident Status (PDF)

Cancellation of Non-Resident Status (PDF)

Previous Year Forms

Traveling Scholar 2008-09

Leave of Absence 2008-09

*Please note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required for viewing of the application. You may download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web site .

Approval Process

Before deciding on non-resident status, students should discuss their plans with their advisor and then complete the appropriate application. Applications must be approved by the student's advisor, the departmental director of graduate studies, and the Dean's Office. International students considering non-resident status must also obtain approval from the International Office of their non-resident application. GSAS students who have loans and are going on leave should speak to their financial aid officer about the repayment of loans. Those students applying for Leave of Absence or Study at another Harvard School are encouraged to contact their department regarding possible effect of their leave on departmental G-year and progress toward degree.

Submission

Applications can be downloaded from this page (see above). Students should submit completed forms including all departmental signatures to the Dean's Office, GSAS, Holyoke Center 3rd floor. Students should be aware that any unpaid termbill balance from the previous term, and current term charges other than tuition and health insurance coverage fees will delay the approval of their non-resident application.

The address on the application should be a mailing address for the period a student is to be away, and is the address to which termbills will be sent. Students who will be traveling may want to use a local or permanent address from which mail can be forwarded if necessary.

Applications for non-resident status are due in department offices by August 1 for the fall term or academic year and by January 1 for the spring term. After those dates the late registration fees apply. The student will be charged $50 plus $5 for each week that the application is late.

Tuition

The tuition requirements for the PhD are two years of full tuition and two years of reduced tuition. Students applying for non-resident status may request to delay payment of the required full or reduced tuition, and instead pay the active file fee or the facilities fee. Students delaying payment of tuition should be aware that the required tuition, at the rates current at the time of payment, must be paid prior to the receipt of the degree. If a student owes required tuition and plans to graduate the year the student is non-resident or the next year, the student may be asked to pay that tuition while in non-resident status. Please contact your financial aid officer regarding your grant and choosing an appropriate tuition option.

Students who will be on leave to enroll in another Harvard school may choose to delay the payment of tuition. If they choose to do so, they will be charged the required GSAS tuition at the rates current at the time of payment prior to their receiving their degree. Tuition is not shared between the schools.

Health Coverage

A student registered as a Traveling Scholar will be charged fees for both HUSHP Basic (Harvard University Health Services) and HUSHP Supplemental (Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Hospital/Specialty and Medco Prescription Drug coverage).  All traveling scholars are eligible to waive HUSHP Basic and if they have comparable coverage they can apply to waive HUSHP Supplemental.  A separate online waiver must be submitted for each part of the plan in which the student does not want to participate.  For information on HUSHP plan benefits and the online waiver form visit the HUSHP website.  Waiver deadlines are September 30 for the fall and February 28 for the spring.

A student who goes on Leave of Absence by September 30 (fall) or February 28 (spring) will not have HUSHP Basic (Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) fee) and HUSHP Supplemental (Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Hospital/Specialty and Medco Prescription Drug coverage).  If the student wishes to purchase HUSHP Supplemental, he/she must contact UHS Member Services within 30 days of the approved application (617-495-2008 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). HUSHP Basic is not an option to purchase by students on leave. A student who goes on leave after these dates will retain the health insurance coverage in which he/she originally enrolled that term. Visit the HUSHP website for information.

International Students

Immigration regulations require F-1 or J-1 visa holders to maintain full-time status while in the United States. F-1 or J-1 students who are considering applying for a leave of absence must speak to an advisor in the Harvard International Office (Holyoke Center 858, 617-495-2789) before submitting an application form. All international students must have their non-resident applications approved by the International Office.

Additional Information

If a student is currently in non-resident status and would like to continue in that status next term or next year, a new non-resident application needs to be completed.

Once a non-resident application has been approved, a traveling scholar may request a formal letter of introduction from the Dean's Office in Holyoke Center. This letter, known as a "dazzler," may assist the student in gaining access to research facilities and libraries abroad.

For more information, please contact the Dean's Office at 617-495-1814 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it