PhD Admissions FAQ

Admission to the PhD program is extremely competitive, so it is difficult to assess any qualified applicant's likelihood of admittance. However, on average, we admit approximately 10% of qualified applicants

The complete online application, fee, and supporting materials (including official GRE scores) are due by December 1, 2026, 5:00 pm EST, for September 2027 enrollment. We cannot make exceptions for late applications. Applications that are not complete when the faculty begin reviewing them will not receive full consideration.

 

 

No. Students may only enroll in the fall.

Yes, but two separate applications are required, each with its own supporting letters of recommendation, transcript, GRE scores, etc. Each department will then independently consider the application. If admission is granted to both programs, the applicant will need to decide in which program to enroll. Once admitted, note that students may cross-register in courses offered by the other program, so there is flexibility to design a program that suits his/her needs and interests.

No, but it is helpful. An applicant should have the equivalent math background of Mathematics 21a and 21b (see Harvard course catalog), at minimum. Students who do not have that level may not compete well against undergraduate math or statistics majors in admissions and will struggle in upper-level statistics courses

The GRE is optional, not required.  Students who wish to submit GRE scores can follow instructions on the GSAS website.  The institution code is 3451.

• Applicants who are non-native English speakers can demonstrate English proficiency in one of three ways:
  • Receiving an undergraduate degree from an academic institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
  • Earning a minimum score of 5 (95 for tests taken prior to January 21, 2026) on the TOEFL iBT and a minimum Speaking score of 4.5 (23 for tests taken prior to January 21, 2026).*
  • Earning a minimum score of 7 on the IELTS Academic test and a minimum Speaking score of 6.5.* 
• A master’s degree or other graduate degree is not accepted as proof of English proficiency.
• If you received an undergraduate degree from an institution in the United States in which English was not the primary language of instruction but a significant portion of your program was conducted in English, you may petition for a waiver of the TOEFL/IELTS requirement. Please note this ONLY applies to US institutions. Contact the office of admissions for details.
• Alternate language tests, certifications, or individual examples of English language experience are not accepted as proof of English proficiency.

 

3451

Please read the GSAS "Cost of Attendance" website.

Virtually all PhD students are fully supported with a combination of tuition, stipend grants, teaching, and research assistantships. PhD students are required to work part-time during the academic year as teaching fellows and research assistants. Harvard University does not provide any financial aid for AM students, however AM students may be eligible for on-campus employment.

Please read the GSAS "Cost of Attendance" website.