Harvard University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Yes, there are Harvard-affiliated options that can support online study, but they depend on the specific Harvard school/program.

Harvard funding is often structured as financial aid or program funding that follows you regardless of subject (especially at the undergraduate level), so scholarships/aid can apply across STEM, humanities, social sciences, design, and more—not just one department.

The recipient stories span a wide mix of subjects: Eunice Chon studied History of Science and Philosophy at Harvard College.

For built-environment and engineering-adjacent work, Alessandra Rodríguez pursued a Master’s in Urban Planning at Harvard GSD and said, “My experience at Harvard GSD has been intense and transformative.” For education/humanities, Zahra Mirza studied Learning and Teaching at HGSE as a Fulbright recipient.

Many Harvard funding mechanisms are open to a wide range of nationalities, but the exact mix of “university aid” vs “external scholarships” can differ by school and country. At Harvard College, financial aid is explicitly available to foreign students as well as U.S. students (though non-U.S. students generally aren’t eligible for U.S. federal funding streams).

The stories on Global Scholarships show recipients from multiple nationalities studying at Harvard: Alessandra Rodríguez is “from Peru” and described receiving Fulbright plus other awards while studying at Harvard; Zahra Mirza wrote, “I was born and raised in Pakistan… [and went] to the US for my Master’s… at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education as a Fulbright Scholarship recipient.”

It depends on the Harvard school/program. For Harvard College first-year admissions, English proficiency exams (like TOEFL/IELTS) are not required, but you may submit them if you want.

In contrast, some graduate programs do require proof of English proficiency for many international applicants. For example, Harvard GSD states that international applicants must submit TOEFL scores (with specific exceptions), and HGSE requires TOEFL/IELTS/DET for applicants whose native language is not English unless they meet exemption criteria.

The recipient stories reflect that program-by-program reality: Alessandra Rodríguez wrote plainly, “I took the TOEFL,” and Zahra Mirza listed “Standardized Exams: GRE; TOEFL” as part of her pathway to HGSE via Fulbright.

Harvard generally evaluates applicants holistically and does not set a universal minimum GPA for “acceptance” across the whole university; requirements vary by school and program, and competitive programs typically expect a very strong academic record.

In the recipient stories, you can see the kind of academic strength that often accompanies funded outcomes: Alessandra Rodríguez reported a “GPA equivalent of approximately 3.8/4.0.”

Some Harvard-affiliated funding does publish GPA thresholds (for specific internal grants/scholarships). So the safest approach is: treat “no minimum GPA” as a general admissions stance, but double-check the exact funding/program rules you’re applying to.

Harvard does not advertise a single, university-wide “age limit” for scholarships; eligibility usually depends on the program stage (undergraduate vs graduate vs certificate) and the funder’s rules.

Because many Harvard funding models are need-based (and many external scholarships are merit/impact-based), “minimum eligibility” usually comes down to (1) being admissible to the program, (2) demonstrating financial need where applicable, and (3) showing strong preparation, fit, and follow-through for the specific scholarship.

The stories show common patterns: a strong academic base plus a clear narrative of impact. Alessandra Rodríguez said she focused on “crafting a compelling personal statement that told a coherent story about my journey, values, and future goals,” and she later reflected that her application was “deeply personal and purpose-driven.”

The exact documents depend on the Harvard school/program (College vs graduate school vs online/certificate). For Harvard College, you’ll typically submit the main application plus school reports/transcripts and recommendations, along with required supplements.

For graduate scholarship pathways, essays are often central. Alessandra Rodríguez described asking mentors to review her essays and personal statement.

Common document checklist to expect across many Harvard pathways: transcripts/academic records, essays or statements, letters of recommendation, CV/resume (especially for graduate/certificate programs), test scores where required (TOEFL/IELTS/DET/GRE depending on program), and sometimes a portfolio (design fields) or proof of impact/leadership (certain scholarships).

Yes, many Harvard programs have an application fee, but the amount and waiver policies depend on the specific school. For Harvard College, the admissions application processing fee is $90, and fee waivers are available when the fee would create a hardship.