Spring Course Registration is open. Explore courses today.
Going back to school as a working adult is a big commitment. At Harvard Extension School (HES), you’ll join a community that’s invested in your growth and success. All of us — our staff, faculty, alumni, and current students — are here to support you every step of the way.
Jump to a section to learn more about:
Registration is open. Browse nearly 500 courses in a variety of flexible format options.
Get your checklist and follow the key steps to register.
Join one of our registration events.
Watch on-demand webinars, and connect with alumni in an upcoming virtual event.
Choose from a variety of flexible learning options designed to fit your time, budget, and goals. Whether you live minutes from campus or across the globe, you can experience a Harvard education on your terms.
You only need to meet enrollment requirements — no application required.
Through our earn-your-way-in admissions process, we honor the student you are today: a working professional with a wealth of life and work experience. To begin, you’ll complete two or three of your degree courses to showcase your ability to succeed in the program and earn your admission.
Find Your Courses for Admission
Explore the admission and degree requirements for your program’s curriculum. And find the courses you need to take for admission.
Whether you plan to enroll for your first course toward a certificate or degree or an individual course, you simply register — no application required.
You can create your MyDCE student account, complete the pre-registration steps, and add courses to your cart so that you’re ready to finalize your registration on November 4. Learn more about preparing to register.
While all our courses are open enrollment, there are several important requirements that you should be aware of before you begin the registration process.
English Proficiency Requirement
If English is your second language, you’ll need to prove English proficiency before registering for a course. We have multiple proficiency options.
Reading & Writing Placement Test
Some courses — including many courses for admission to degree programs — require you to pass the Test of Critical Reading and Writing Skills before you can enroll. This free, online test helps ensure that your journey at Harvard Extension starts strong with the right course.
On-Campus Study Immunization Requirements
If the course you’re taking is on campus, you’ll need to meet vaccination guidelines. This requirement doesn’t apply to online courses.
January and spring 2025 course registration is now open.
Step 1: Set up your MyDCE student account.
If you haven’t already, you’ll need to:
Complete pre-registration.
Step 2: Add courses to your cart.
Next, log into Course Search and Registration.
You can search for courses by term, degree, certificate, program, format, and more. Submit your schedule when you’re ready to register.
Step 3: Finalize your registration & make payment.
Return to your MyDCE account to submit your payment. Refer to the Academic Calendar for payment deadlines.
Familiarize yourself with the MyDCE platform. MyDCE will be your HES hub for placement testing, new student orientation, links to your course websites (via Canvas), and viewing your final grades once they are posted.
We understand that your goals may evolve. Our courses, certificates, and degrees are designed to be adaptable and stackable. See: How to Stack Credentials or watch our webinar for more details.
Going back to school doesn’t have to mean putting your life on hold. We’ve designed our courses, certificates, and degrees to give you the flexibility to pace your studies to fit your schedule.
Balancing life with the rigors of the Harvard classroom will be challenging. It’ll also be deeply rewarding — inspiring you to make an impact in your work and community every day.
We offer courses multiple times a year, in terms of varying lengths — so you can balance school, career, and other life commitments.
Fall
7- and 15-week courses, late August to mid-December
January
3-week intensive courses
Spring
7- and 15-week courses, late January to mid-May
Summer
3- and 7-week sessions, late June to mid-August
We offer flexible course formats designed to help you align your studies with your schedule.
If you’re taking a single course or are earning a microcertificate, that work may apply toward a future graduate certificate or degree. Or, you might pursue a master’s degree and earn a graduate certificate along the way by choosing courses that apply toward both credentials.
Online Synchronous. Most of our courses are held live online (Eastern time).
Online Asynchronous. 35% have no required live attendance.
On Campus. 20% provide the option to attend on campus (intensive weekends available).
Our goal is to provide you with easy-to-understand information about the costs and financing options that will enable you to reach your education goals.
We believe that a high-quality education should also be affordable. Our course tuition rates are comparable to public universities and only a fraction of the tuition of our peer institutions.
| Credit Level | Our 2024-25 Course Tuition | Average Course Tuition of Peer Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $2,100 per course | $2,900 per course |
| Graduate | $3,340 per course | $4,330 per course |
If you are planning to complete a degree or certificate, the total cost of completion will depend on how many courses are required.
There are a variety of ways to pay for courses, including through our payment plan or an employer’s tuition reimbursement program. Students admitted to a degree program may apply for financial aid. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens who demonstrate sufficient financial need generally receive HES-supported grant funds to cover a portion of their tuition costs each term in addition to conventional federal financial aid options. Our Student Financial Services team is here to help you through the process.
Our dedicated staff of Enrollment Services professionals can answer any of your questions about creating a student account, using the course search, registering for courses, and making payment.
Email: Inquiry@Extension.Harvard.edu
Phone: (617) 495-4024 Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time
If you need support as you consider and choose a program, and you’ve never taken a course with us before, an enrollment coach will work with you one-on-one. Your coach can help you find a program that fits your goals and life, select courses, and finalize enrollment.
Hear our students talk about their academic experience and why they chose to attend Harvard Extension School.
