Financial Obligations
On this page:
- Harvard Griffin GSAS (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) PhD Students
- Harvard Griffin GSAS Master’s Students
- Part-Time Status
- Additional Financial Obligations
- Current Year Tuition and Health Fee Rates
Harvard Griffin GSAS (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) PhD Students
With few exceptions, PhD candidates must pay the following to receive their degree:
- Four terms of full tuition
- Four terms of reduced tuition
- A continuation fee for all subsequent terms of enrollment.
Ordinarily, full-time PhD students complete the full tuition and reduced tuition requirement in the first four years of study, and these costs, as well as other required health-related fees, are covered in full by the student aid package.
After satisfying these tuition requirements, all students working toward their degree are charged a continuation fee to maintain their full-time enrollment status, regardless of whether they are in-residence or approved to be a traveling scholar in any given term. PhD students on a leave of absence from their academic work (voluntary or involuntary) or who are studying at another Harvard School are not charged any tuition or fees as they are separated from the university and not actively working toward their degree completion during these times.
Graduating students who are enrolled in their final term will pay at least the continuation fee; however, in rare cases, when a student has not yet satisfied their four terms of full tuition and four terms of reduced tuition requirements, a fee adjustment will be made to bring them into compliance with this financial obligation. Graduation students on leave during their final term will not be required to pay any tuition, provided that they too have already met all other outstanding tuition requirements.
If an approved dissertation is submitted to the Registrar’s Office prior to the course registration deadline for a term, a PhD student need not register for that term. If a PhD student registers for a term and subsequently submits an approved dissertation to the Registrar’s Office on or before the course registration deadline for that term, registration will be canceled, and any tuition paid for that term will be refunded to the student account.
Harvard Griffin GSAS Master’s Students
Harvard Griffin GSAS master’s degree candidates are charged full tuition for each term of enrollment until receipt of the degree. As a requirement for receiving the degree, all Harvard Griffin GSAS master’s candidates must pay at least two terms of full tuition.
Part-Time Status
While most Harvard Griffin Students are enrolled full-time, it is possible under some conditions for students to pursue their degree on a part-time basis. Part-time students are charged tuition at a per-course rate.
Additional Financial Obligations
Health Fees
Harvard Griffin GSAS students in residence are automatically enrolled in the Harvard Student Health Insurance Program, which has two components:
All students who have comparable coverage from another source may elect to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan component. Some students are also eligible to waive the Student Health Fee.
PhD students whose requests to waive either of these fees have been approved, will have their grants reduced accordingly. Harvard grants are not available to cover the cost of health insurance obtained from other sources.
Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council Fee
All students, with the exception of those registered at another Harvard School and those on an approved leave of absence, will be charged a $35 Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council fee. This fee funds Harvard Griffin GSAS student groups and organizations, supports student conference attendance and summer research, and helps the Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council advocate on behalf of students for concerns such as mentoring, teaching, health care, and housing. Students returning mid-year from leave or study at another Harvard School will be assessed a fee of $17.50 for the spring term.
Current Year Tuition and Health Fee Rates
Current tuition and health fee rates for all programs, including the per-course rates for part-time students, can be found on the Financial Aid section of the Harvard Griffin GSAS website under Cost of Attendance.