Summer Study Abroad
Summer Study Abroad
Studying abroad is an integral part of the Harvard experience and allows you to earn academic credit through coursework taken around the world. Opportunities for studying abroad during the summer can be found through the Office of International Education or through the Harvard Summer School. Programs vary in length, from four to twelve weeks, and provide a range of academic experiences and opportunities, from language-intensive and culturally focused courses, to field-based and immersive study of location-specific topics in the humanities, social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences.
You may earn up to eight credits for a summer of study abroad.
Office of International Education (OIE)-Approved Summer Study Abroad Programs
When studying abroad in an Office of International Education (OIE)-approved program, you will take courses alongside other U.S. students, as well as local and international students. Through language-intensive, thematically focused, field-based programs, or by directly enrolling into foreign universities, you can earn up to eight credits toward your concentration, secondary field, language requirement or citation, and/or elective credit.
Harvard Summer School (HSS) Study Abroad Programs
Harvard Summer School offers study abroad programs around the world, all designed and led by Harvard faculty. By enrolling in a faculty-led Harvard Summer School study abroad program, you can build relationships with Harvard faculty and earn up to eight credits toward your Harvard degree (courses count for Harvard College degree credit). Programs provide a range of academic experiences and opportunities where you will study alongside other Harvard students. Visit the Harvard Summer School Study Abroad Programs website for more information and additional program listings.
While financial aid for summer study abroad is not available, students on financial aid may apply for summer funding, which can cover tuition and housing. A travel stipend is also available. Please note, however, that funding for summer study abroad is limited, and only about 30% of summer study abroad applicants are funded.
If you are not on financial aid due to receiving outside scholarships, please email summerfunding@fas.harvard.edu to learn if you can be considered eligible for study abroad funding.
For information on applying for summer funding and other funding opportunities for an Office of International Education (OIE)-approved or Harvard Summer School (HSS) program, check their respective websites.
Beyond earning credit toward your Harvard degree in a new country and culture, and maybe in a new language, studying abroad is an immersive and transformational experience in many ways. Through studying abroad, you will have the opportunity to gain new perspectives, expand your cultural knowledge, work on foreign language proficiency, and meet local and international students from universities around the world. The benefits from studying abroad extend past your experience, by influencing your coursework when you return to Harvard, as you engage in internships and/or research in future summers, and as you think about what you might pursue post-Harvard.
If you are interested in expanding your world view, learning in a different cultural context while immersing yourself in a new culture, and earning credit towards your undergraduate degree, consider studying abroad! Since studying abroad through HSS or the OIE is an integral part of your Harvard experience, many students typically do so the summer after their first year (rising juniors and seniors also participate in summer study abroad too).
Many students who return from summer study abroad are eager for a longer, more immersive and culturally enriching experience, and will study abroad for a semester or academic year. Semester study abroad is a critical component of any student’s Harvard College experience, where students earn credit toward their concentration, secondary field, language requirement, language citation and/or general elective credit. Semester study abroad is for everyone, and financial aid travels! To speak with a student who recently returned from a semester abroad, or a member of the OIE team, consider attending OIE drop-in hours or request a meeting at oie@fas.harvard.edu.