Join a global community of learners at Harvard Extension School.
Each year, nearly 4,000 students from more than 100 countries take Harvard courses, earn certificates and microcertificates, and complete part-time degrees.
How International Students Study with Us
As an international student, you can:
- Take online or on-campus Harvard courses for credit
- Pursue short, focused certificates or microcertificates
- Work toward a part-time bachelor’s or master’s degree, often while living outside the U.S.
- Complete a short on-campus experience through Harvard Summer School
Key Considerations for International Students
To help you plan effectively, there are a few important details to know about visas and on-campus requirements. We explain them here so you can choose the option that fits your situation.
Visas at a Glance
- Harvard Extension School is a part-time school and does not sponsor F-1 student visas or issue the Form I-20.
- To study full-time on campus on an F-1 visa, you enroll through Harvard Summer School in a summer session, not Harvard Extension School in a fall or spring term.
- Many other visa types (e.g., J-1, F-2, H1-B, etc.) do allow part-time study in the U.S.; always confirm with your visa sponsor.
- Tourist status (B-2 or ESTA) does not allow for-credit study. Only non-credit.
Choose Your Goal
Use the options below to find the path that best matches your situation and interests.
I Want to Take One or More Courses
You can take individual Harvard courses online from anywhere in the world, or on campus if you are in the U.S. on a visa that permits part-time study.
Reasons to take a course:
- Explore a subject or potential degree field
- Build skills for your current or future career
- Strengthen a future degree or graduate school application
I Want a Short, Focused Program (Certificate or Microcertificate)
If your goal is to gain a specific set of skills or a credential rather than a full degree, consider a certificate or microcertificate.
Undergraduate and Graduate Certificates offer structured sets of courses focused on a topic such as artificial intelligence, business, cybersecurity, and more. These can be completed fully online.
Microcertificates are shorter programs designed to build targeted, in-demand skills in a concise format, fully online.
I Want a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree
International students can earn a Bachelor of Liberal Arts (ALB) or a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM).
A majority of the coursework is completed online, with a short, required, on-campus experience through Harvard Summer School.
A Harvard Extension School degree is:
- Designed for adult learners seeking a Harvard bachelor’s degree
- Offered in part-time, flexible course formats
- Requires on-campus coursework completed at Harvard Summer School
- Follows an earned admission model: you begin by successfully completing specific Harvard courses before you apply.
I Want to Come to Campus on an F-1 Student Visa
Because Harvard Extension School is part-time, we do not sponsor F-1 visas. To study on campus with an F-1 visa, you must enroll full-time in for-credit, on-campus courses through Harvard Summer School.
Important:
- You request a Form I-20 through Harvard Summer School, not Harvard Extension School
- Summer School offers intensive, full-time on-campus study over a Harvard Summer School term.
- Many students use Summer School both to earn Harvard credit and to satisfy the on-campus requirement for a Harvard Extension School degree.
Visas and Residency Requirements
As noted above, your ability to study with Harvard Extension School or to come to campus through Harvard Summer School depends on your specific immigration status and the rules that govern it. You must review and follow all current regulations from the U.S. Department of State, and confirm any enrollment limits with your visa sponsor before you register.
If you are planning an F-1-sponsored, full-time summer on campus through Harvard Summer School, it is especially important to consult both the Harvard Summer School and Harvard Extension School academic calendars early, so you can align course selection, I-20 requests, visa appointments, travel, and housing with published deadlines.
For Prospective International Degree Candidates: All degree programs require international students to attend Harvard Summer School to complete the on-campus requirement for their degree. Therefore, the ability to travel to the U.S. is a requirement for admission to the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Visit Admissions Details for International Students for more details.
If you have questions about your specific immigration status or eligibility to study with us, contact us at Visas@Extension.Harvard.Edu.
Time Zones and Course Formats
All courses with times listed in the course description or syllabus are noted in Eastern Time (ET). Live online courses require you to participate at the scheduled ET meeting times, which, depending on your location, may fall in the early morning, late evening, or overnight. Some courses offer recorded lectures or more flexible participation, but you should still plan for regular engagement each week.
When you select courses:
- Check the meeting time and format (live online, on campus, or asynchronous/online).
- Choose options that realistically fit your time zone, work, and family commitments.
Paying for School as an International Student
Limited financial aid funding is available to non-U.S. citizens at Harvard Extension School. You may be eligible to borrow a private education loan through a lender of your choice with a U.S. citizen as a cosigner. Learn more about paying for school.
Need Help Deciding?
If you’re unsure which path is right for you, we’re here to help.
We look forward to welcoming you, wherever you are in the world, to Harvard Extension School.
