Visiting Undergraduate Students

Source: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/visiting-undergraduate-students Parent: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

Overview

The Visiting Undergraduate Students (VUS) Program at Harvard College welcomes students enrolled in colleges and universities around the world to spend a semester or full year studying at Harvard.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Am I eligible to become a Visiting Undergraduate Student (VUS)?

If you are currently enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university you may apply to spend one or two semesters studying at Harvard College. This program is not for high school graduates who wish to study at Harvard for a gap year. Additionally, since the VUS Program is for full-time undergraduate students only, if you have already achieved the equivalent of a bachelor's degree, you would not be eligible. However, you might be eligible to be a "Special Student" at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. For more information on this program, please visit their website. - #### Is there financial aid for visiting undergraduate students?

As a Visiting Undergraduate Student, you will not be eligible for Harvard financial aid and you must secure your own funding. - #### Are visiting undergraduate students eligible for Harvard housing?

Visiting undergraduate students are typically not offered University housing. Accepted students must find their own housing before they arrive in Cambridge. Rarely, housing may be available, and admitted students will be notified about the process of obtaining campus housing. - #### Do Visiting Undergraduate Students (VUS) have the same privileges as Harvard Degree Candidates?

While VUS are not degree candidates and do not receive a diploma from Harvard College, they have access to all libraries, academic, and athletic facilities just like Harvard degree candidates. VUS are affiliated with the Dudley Community, the Harvard Community for students who live off campus. If you would like to learn more about life as a Visiting Undergraduate Students and the affiliation with the Dudley Community visit: https://dudley.harvard.edu/homepage - #### May I apply for both Transfer Admission and for the Visiting Undergraduate Students Program at the same time?

No. Applicants may apply to only one program per admissions cycle. - #### Are enrolled VUS students allowed to apply to transfer?

If a VUS student is eligible, they are allowed to apply to transfer to Harvard. It is important to review transfer eligibility requirements to determine if you are eligible. Please note: all courses taken at Harvard College as a VUS will count toward your time at your home university. - #### When should I apply for the VUS program?

Fall Term or Full academic year

• Application opens: February 1
• Application deadline: April 1

Spring Term

• Application opens: July 1
• Application deadline: September 1

It is advised that you apply for the appropriate term. Additionally, we are not able to make early admission decisions for students who wish to apply for a later term. - #### Are Visiting Undergraduate Students (VUS) able to take graduate level courses?

Visiting Undergraduate Students (VUS) are allowed to take courses at a graduate school but are limited to one per term. Courses which are not offered within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (the division which includes Harvard College and Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) require additional cross-registration approval from your academic adviser to ensure students' courses fit into a liberal arts and sciences focus and remain centered around the undergraduate experience.

VUS are not allowed to take classes at the Harvard Business School or Harvard Medical School.

About the VUS Program

Add Harvard College to your undergraduate experience by spending a term or full academic year studying as a Visiting Undergraduate Student (VUS). We welcome the unique insights visiting students bring from their current universities around the world.

In addition to enrollment in courses at the college, you can take advantage of our many museums, laboratories, theaters, and extracurricular activities, all in the rich cultural and historical setting of Cambridge and Boston.

You should consider applying to the VUS program if you:

• Are currently enrolled in full-time, undergraduate study in the U.S. or abroad
• Have a strong academic and personal record at your current university
• Feel your interests would be well served by undergraduate courses which may not be offered normally in your home institution but are offered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). View our course catalog for full listings.

Please note that visiting undergraduate students are not eligible for financial aid, so you will need to be prepared to cover all tuition and other costs.

• What we look for in a VUS applicant

Your Visiting Undergraduate Student application should demonstrate strong educational reasons for studying at Harvard College. Our committee considers:

• Evidence of academic strength and personal integrity
• Your academic preparation for your proposed plan of study
• Approval of your current college or university
• Breadth of interest both in and beyond the classroom
• Availability of space in the types of courses you wish to undertake
• A strong knowledge of the English language

Typically, you will apply during your second or third year of undergraduate study.

Application Timeline

Admission to the VUS program is offered twice per year. Students can apply to start in the fall or the spring term. Students applying for fall admission can enroll for either one semester or the full academic year. Applications must be submitted by the date of the deadline. Ordinarily, you are not allowed to defer admission, so please apply for the appropriate term.

Fall term or full academic year

• Application opens: Mid-February
• Application deadline: April 1
• Notification of admission: by June 1

Spring Term

• Application opens: July 1
• Application deadline: September 1
• Notification of admission: by November 1

How To Apply

The application consists of information about the student, transcripts, and supporting documents from your current university, listed below.  You will send out the forms requesting the various supporting documents through the online system once you have started the student portion of the application.  For further information about each component of the application, please carefully read through the information below.

Detailed VUS Application Steps

• Step 1: Submit the student portion of the Visiting Undergraduate Application.

As you fill out the Visiting Undergraduate Student Application, you will need to:

• Prepare a Tentative Course Plan: This plan, considered part of your application, is an indication of the kinds of courses you would like to undertake at Harvard. It is not binding. Please consult our course catalog in preparing your plan, selecting courses in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Consider both the General Education section and departmental listings. With a few exceptions noted on the application, most courses are open to visiting students. Because some courses are limited in enrollment, require the instructor’s permission, or have prerequisites, adjustments to your course selection are to be expected during registration week. Admission to our program does not guarantee your enrollment in any particular course.Course schedules and information about limited enrollment for each academic year are typically available in late March. Many courses remain the same from year to year and any course not being offered is usually identified. However, if your course plan is dependent on a particular course, please contact the department to ensure it is being offered during the term for which you are applying and to determine the likelihood of being able to enroll in it. In addition, if you need a detailed course syllabus you will have to contact the department directly.
• Write a brief Statement of Purpose.
• Submit an updated Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
• Submit your Application:As soon as you submit your application you will gain access to the Applicant Portal where you can monitor the status of your application. Please check the portal regularly.

Our office cannot confirm receipt of supporting documents until your application has been submitted. - #### Step 2: Submit two faculty recommendations.

Faculty letters should come from your university professors or other university instructors/teachers who have taught you in the classroom. - #### Step 3: Submit a Dean’s Letter of Permission form

The Dean's Letter of Permission certifies that:

• You have the permission of your current university to study at Harvard
• You are in good academic and personal standing
• Upon satisfactory completion of the courses taken at Harvard, you will be granted degree credit

• Step 4: Send an Official Secondary School Transcript

If you are from an international school system in which promotion is based upon standardized exams, you should also send a certified copy of your exam results. For example: British A levels, French Baccalaureate, Gaokao Results, International Baccalaureate, etc. Credentials must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation. Transcripts will be verified. - #### Step 5: Send an Official University Transcript

Credentials must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation. You should submit a transcript from all universities you have attended. Transcripts will be verified. - #### Step 6: Submit a TOEFL or IELTS Score (for non-native English speakers only)

Students whose native language is not English ARE REQUIRED to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score not more than two years old. Official tests results must be submitted directly to the Admissions Office from the testing services.  We will not accept any other language proficiency tests in lieu of the TOEFL or IELTS.

While not required, candidates who have taken SAT or ACT tests are encouraged to submit their results, reported directly from the College Board (code #3434) or the American College Testing Service (code #1840).

Take a Virtual Tour

Use our Virtual Tour to discover spaces that aren't even available on an in-person campus tour, such as classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, and more.

Cost of Attendance

When you spend a term or year at Harvard, you will need to pay the tuition and fees listed on this site. Visiting Undergraduate Students are not eligible for Harvard financial aid, and you must secure your own funding. In order to satisfy U.S. Immigration requirements, international students must demonstrate that they can afford all expenses, including tuition, fees, living expenses, and travel.

While you are responsible for securing your own off-campus housing, you will need to show that you can afford the food and housing estimates shown below before arriving at Harvard.

Most Harvard College students are enrolled in four courses (16 credits) per term, but you may choose to enroll in fewer. If you are an international student, you are required by United States immigration laws to enroll in a full-time program of study (a minimum of 3 courses) in order to obtain your visa.

Cost of Attendance for 2025 - 2026

Tuition ($7,415 per class)

Required Fees & Insurance

Estimated Living Expenses

Total VUS Costs

*Health Services Fee Information

**Student Health Program Information

Housing & Advising

Visiting undergraduate students are typically not offered University housing and must find their own lodging before they arrive in Cambridge. If there are available campus housing spots, admitted students will be notified about the process to secure campus housing.

Securing an apartment in the Cambridge area can be competitive and time-consuming. It is important to allow sufficient time to find accommodation. It is critical to secure housing before arriving at Harvard.

Harvard University Housing cannot secure off-campus housing for undergraduate students, but they do provide a number of online resources and can answer questions that are common for students who will be new to Cambridge. (e.g., Which residential areas are close to the mass transit system? Which locations are within walking distance to Harvard Yard? What is a reasonable rental rate? etc.). After you have been accepted and decide to matriculate, you can access a Harvard University affiliate database of private market rentals and sublets.

Advising

To help ensure your time at Harvard is successful, we provide advising resources specifically for Visiting Undergraduate Students.

Our advisers:

• Give you an extensive orientation upon arrival and approve your final course selection
• Meet with you by appointment throughout the term to discuss academic issues and monitor your progress
• Hold regular open office hours
• Help you access specialized advising resources
• Organize social gatherings with other visiting undergraduates

Contact VUS Admissions

If you have any questions about the Visiting Undergraduate Students admissions, please contact us at adm-vus@fas.harvard.edu. We're here to help.