Dear Harvard Griffin GSAS Students,
As we come to the end of a long term and look forward to the holiday break, I am writing with the exciting news that Harvard Griffin GSAS will enhance and expand the PhD financial support package beginning in academic year 2024–2025.
The annual 12-month stipend for all students across all programs benefiting from the financial support package will increase to at least $50,000 inclusive of guaranteed subsidies below.
Tuition and health insurance grants will now be provided after the G5 year in programs with an average or expected time to degree that exceeds five years (some restrictions apply). Eligible students will be notified by the Office of Financial Aid during the spring 2024 term.
For those with a Teaching Supplement included in their financial aid commitment, the “top-up” will now be a guaranteed fixed amount.
Subsidies for transportation and dental programs will be disbursed to all students benefiting from financial support, instead of requiring an “opt-in.”
In addition, annual stipend rate increases will now take effect on July 1 across all PhD programs, one of the measures we are taking to improve consistency and transparency of financial aid policies and procedures.
The importance of increasing financial support was highlighted in the 2023 GSAS Admissions and Graduate Education Working Group final report (GAGE report). This strategic planning process and the report’s recommendations gave us a stronger platform from which to advocate for our students. These enhancements are the result of hard work on the part of many in the Harvard Griffin GSAS and University communities, and I would like to thank everyone involved in making this happen. I am grateful in particular to President Claudine Gay, Provost Alan Garber, and FAS Dean Hopi Hoekstra for their support, financial and otherwise, and for affirming the importance of graduate education to this institution.
Again, I hope that this is welcome news ahead of a well-deserved break. This direction is critical to our mission: to cultivate an environment where every student can be successful.
With all best wishes,
Emma Dench
Dean of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History and of the Classics
