
Harvard University Courses are organised through separate schools rather than one single international course catalogue. Indian students applying after Class XII usually explore Harvard College concentrations such as Computer Science, Economics, Applied Mathematics, Government and Neuroscience. Graduates apply through a specific school for degrees such as the MBA, public policy, data science, law or education. Your first decision is therefore the school and degree level, not only the subject name.
For Indian students, the course choice also depends on the study level, academic background and school-specific requirements.
Use the course level and your current qualification as the first shortlist filters. Then compare the subject prerequisites, teaching language, duration and programme-specific assessment.
Start with this decision:
Major Faculties And Course Areas

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Undergraduate study usually begins after Class XII. The exact entry profile depends on the degree. Check subjects, language and any professional assessment before treating a course as a realistic option.
These examples show the academic direction and the first Indian preparation check. Use the linked university course details for the full programme record.
| Course | Duration | Main academic focus | Indian student check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science concentration | 4 years | Computing foundations, theory, systems and applications within a liberal-arts degree. | Strong Mathematics and computing preparation help, but Harvard College uses holistic review. |
| Economics concentration | 4 years | Economic theory, data, policy and applied analysis. | Mathematics is useful for quantitative economics pathways. |
| Applied Mathematics concentration | 4 years | Mathematical modelling across science, technology and social applications. | Advanced Mathematics preparation is important. |
| Government concentration | 4 years | Politics, institutions, public policy and political analysis. | Reading, writing and social-science preparation matter. |
| Neuroscience concentration | 4 years | Brain science across biology, psychology and related disciplines. | Biology and Chemistry preparation can support the academic fit. |
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These are commonly compared options for Indian applicants. They are not an official popularity ranking. Compare the curriculum and eligibility instead of choosing by title alone.
The College concentration is a four-year undergraduate route after Class XII. The Data Science master’s is a graduate degree with a stronger statistics and programming expectation. They belong to different application systems and should not be compared as parallel entry options.
Harvard’s undergraduate concentrations are explored within Harvard College, while the MBA is a separate professional-school application. This is a structural difference, not just a difference in subject. An Indian student comparing them must first decide whether they are applying after Class XII or after a bachelor’s degree and work experience.
| Decision point | Harvard College Computer Science | Harvard MS in Data Science |
|---|---|---|
| Study level | Postgraduate | Postgraduate |
| Typical duration | 4 years | 2 years |
| Core academic focus | Computing foundations, theory, systems and applications within a liberal-arts degree. | General management, leadership, business functions and case-based learning. |
| First preparation check | Strong Mathematics and computing preparation help, but Harvard College uses holistic review. | Harvard Business School sets its own work-experience and test rules. |
| Best first question | Does your current qualification meet the exact course profile? | Does your transcript show the required prior learning? |
| What can change the choice | Teaching language, subject depth and the selected intake. | Prerequisite credits, assessment and the selected application school or department. |
Postgraduate choices are more dependent on the bachelor’s transcript. Read the course prerequisites before comparing duration, tuition or career direction. A related degree can still miss a required module.
The table separates specialist and broader routes. Duration is a typical full-time structure and must be confirmed for the intake you choose.
| Course | Duration | Main academic focus | Indian bachelor’s check |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA course details | 2 years | General management, leadership, business functions and case-based learning. | Harvard Business School sets its own work-experience and test rules. |
| Master in Public Policy | 2 years | Policy analysis, economics, statistics and public leadership. | Quantitative preparation and policy experience can be relevant. |
| MS in Data Science | 2 years | Statistics, computation, data analysis and applied research. | Mathematics, statistics and programming preparation should be clear. |
| LLM course details | 1 year | Advanced legal study for graduates with a first law degree. | A recognised law degree and school-specific conditions apply. |
| Master of Education | 1 year | Education policy, practice, leadership or learning sciences. | The relevant professional or academic background varies by pathway. |
Harvard requires a school-level reading of the catalogue. The undergraduate concentration model and the separate graduate schools create two different shortlisting journeys. Use the course name as the starting point, then test the qualification, subject and delivery conditions against your own profile.
| Applicant starting point | Course families to compare | Evidence to prepare | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Class XII | Harvard College concentrations such as Computer Science or Economics | College application, school testing policy and subject preparation | Concentrations are chosen within Harvard College, not applied to like UK degrees. |
| With a bachelor’s | MBA, Data Science, Public Policy, Law or Education | The selected graduate school’s academic and professional rules | Harvard graduate programmes do not share one application model. |
| Comparing undergraduate and graduate study | Four-year College route versus school-specific graduate routes | Starting qualification, work experience and test context | The MBA is not a direct postgraduate version of a College concentration. |
| Planning the application | Harvard College or a named graduate school | Correct portal, essays, references and deadline | A university-wide deadline can hide school-level dates. |
Harvard requires the applicant’s starting point to be identified before the course comparison begins. Harvard College concentrations belong to an undergraduate application, while the MBA, Data Science and other graduate options belong to separate schools. The correct portal, testing policy and evidence list follow from that distinction.
Before treating a course as a final option, record its exact level, duration, language, prerequisites, test requirement and application route in one shortlist. This keeps related course names from being compared as if they had the same entry path.
Students applying after Class XII should make the subject and language checks before comparing fees or city preferences.
Master’s applicants should read the prerequisite credits as carefully as the course title. A related bachelor’s degree can still miss a required foundation.
These errors can make a course look suitable before the actual qualification or application condition is checked.
Harvard does not use one course-selection model across the university. Harvard College admits undergraduates before concentration choice. Graduate applicants apply to separate schools such as HBS, Harvard Kennedy School, SEAS, Harvard Law School or the Graduate School of Education.
Duration alone does not show how a degree feels to study. Check when specialisation starts, whether a placement or research project is compulsory and whether the teaching language changes by level.
For the current catalogue, check the Harvard academic programmes. The official record should control course availability, mode and language.
Eligibility is course-specific. Indian students should compare the qualification route, academic subjects and English evidence together. A university-wide minimum cannot replace the selected programme’s conditions.
Indian Class XII applicants should understand that Computer Science, Economics, Government and Neuroscience are concentrations within Harvard College. They are not separate first-year applications in the same way as UK degree choices. Mathematics and subject depth still matter for preparation.
The graduate course title determines the application school, test policy, work-experience context and documents. The MBA is different from a research master’s. Data Science, public policy, law and education each require their own academic fit check.
English testing and waiver rules can differ between Harvard schools. Do not copy the MBA’s recommended scores into a data science, law or education application. Follow the selected school’s current instructions.
Harvard has no university-wide entrance test for all courses. Undergraduate applicants should check the current Harvard College testing policy. Graduate applicants may need the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT or another school-specific test. Always identify the school before planning the exam.
Harvard College uses a different application calendar from the graduate schools. MBA rounds, public-policy deadlines and other graduate dates are not interchangeable. Identify the school before making a deadline plan.
Harvard College and the graduate schools use separate application systems and document rules. Identify the school first, then prepare the transcript, testing, references, essays and work evidence that belong to that route.
After shortlisting, check the Harvard admission information for the route, documents and current deadlines. Do not transfer an undergraduate deadline to a postgraduate course.
Harvard fees differ sharply by school, degree and enrolment status. The cost of an MBA cannot be used for an undergraduate or public-policy estimate. Compare tuition, health insurance, living costs and school-specific aid through the dedicated fees and scholarship information.
Harvard costs vary by school and programme. Compare the course-specific tuition, health insurance, living budget and funding model. Need-based aid and school scholarships follow different rules from admission.
Harvard funding differs by school and may be need-based, merit-based or programme-specific. Do not assume that an undergraduate funding rule applies to the MBA or another graduate school.Once you have chosen a course, compare the Harvard scholarship information. Check eligibility, coverage, renewal and the award deadline separately from admission.
Source note: Course names, structures and policy conditions should be rechecked against the current Harvard academic programmes before submission.
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Shortlist Harvard University courses by study level, subject preparation, teaching language and duration. Then open the exact course details, confirm the current entry conditions and compare the next application step before deciding.
Ques. Does Harvard have one course catalogue for international students?
Ans. No. Harvard courses are organised through Harvard College and separate graduate or professional schools. Each school controls its own programme rules.
Ques. Which Harvard courses can Indian students study after Class XII?
Ans. Harvard College concentrations include computing, economics, applied mathematics, government, neuroscience and many humanities or science areas. Admission is holistic and school-specific.
Ques. How long are Harvard graduate courses?
Ans. Duration varies. The MBA and Master in Public Policy commonly use two years, while some law, education and specialised master’s routes use one year.
Ques. Which test is required for Harvard courses?
Ans. The test depends on the school and degree. Possible exams include GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT, but none applies to every Harvard course.
Ques. Can Indian students choose a Harvard College concentration before admission?
Ans. Harvard College admits students to the College first. Students normally explore and choose a concentration after entering, subject to the College’s academic structure.
Ques. Do all Harvard graduate courses use the same application?
Ans. No. The MBA, data science, public policy, law and education routes belong to different schools or application systems. Identify the school before preparing documents.
| Program | Important Dates | Fees | Application Fees | Eligibility | Financial Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MBA 2 years | Round 1 Application Deadline for Fall 2029 Intake (1st Sep 2026) Round 2 Application Deadline for Fall 2029 Intake (1st Jan 2027) | INR 80.7 L/Yr USD 84,760 /Yr | 250 | Bachelor's Degree, TOEFL: 5.0, IELTS: 7.5, PTE: 75, Duolingo: 145 | |
LLM 1 year | Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Dec 2026) | INR 76.9 L/Yr USD 80,760 /Yr | 90 | Bachelor's Degree, TOEFL: 5.0 | |
Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Dec 2026) | INR 64.3 L/Yr USD 67,504 /Yr | 105 | Bachelor's Degree, TOEFL: 4.0, IELTS: 6.5 | - | |
MS Data Science 18 months | Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Dec 2026) | INR 64.3 L/Yr USD 67,504 /Yr | 105 | Bachelor's Degree, TOEFL: 4.0, IELTS: 6.5 | - |
PhD Computer Science 5 years | Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (15th Dec 2026) | INR 56.2 L/Yr USD 59,048 /Yr | 105 | Bachelor's Degree, TOEFL: 4.0, IELTS: 6.5 | |
BA Computer Science 4 years | Early Action Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Nov 2026) Regular Decision Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Jan 2027) | INR 59.3 L/Yr USD 62,226 /Yr | 90 | Higher Secondary Degree | |
MPA 2 years | Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Dec 2026) | INR 61.3 L/Yr USD 64,340 /Yr | 100 | Bachelor's Degree, TOEFL: 5.0, IELTS: 7.0 | |
BA Physics 4 years | Early Action Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Nov 2026) Regular Decision Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (1st Jan 2027) | INR 59.3 L/Yr USD 62,226 /Yr | 90 | Higher Secondary Degree | |
MBA Finance 2 years | INR 75 L/Yr USD 78,700 /Yr | 105 | GPA: 3.73, TOEFL: 109, IELTS:7.5, GMAT: 740, Duolingo-145 | ||
MArch 42 months | Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (5th Jan 2027) | INR 61 L/Yr USD 64,000 /Yr | 90 | Bachelor's Degree, TOEFL: 5.0 | - |
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The experience so far has been great. Being surrounded by such excellent people is really where the benefit comes from. This enables one to fuel their research in a collaborative environment getting ideas from many people and making progress all the time.
Getting into Harvard is somewhat difficult because of its low admission rate of 3.44%. You need to have a GPA of above 4.22 and a TOEFL score of above 90 to have a fair chance of admission. You should get an SAT score of above 1500 to enhance your chances of admission.
It's the best like no other University as good as Harvard in the world rankings. The computer was chosen by me because I found its content interesting.
Brand name, Course structure, Location, Academic excellence, Entrepreneurial opportunities, Cross registration opportunities, Faculty, Career opportunities
I decided to attend Harvard because I saw it as an opportunity for a new experience. I wanted to go abroad, and I wanted to attend a university with some renown and where I was sure I would be supported. Harvard does not require that you apply to a specific major: they let you in based on potential and then you choose what you want to do in your second year, and that appealed to me.
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