Harvard University Doctoral Program (PhD)

Harvard University is a globally renowned private research university offering doctoral degrees in various academic disciplines. Harvard University is considered among some of the top research institutions in the world and is highly regarded for educational excellence and extensive research opportunities. The PhD programs at Harvard University are designed by brilliant minds in the particular domain to cultivate a conducive environment for research and academic advancements. 

The PhD programs at Harvard University generally last for 5 years with continuous academic rigor. Harvard University follows an interdisciplinary approach to offer extensive research opportunities while integrating subjects from different academic disciplines. Harvard University offers PhD programs through its 12 schools which are different departments for various academic fields. The University allows students to collaborate with different schools to conduct interdisciplinary research. This promotes a comprehensive educational experience among the students and prepares them to address complex global challenges.

Harvard University offers cutting-edge research opportunities with advanced resources to conduct high-quality research. PhD students continue their research journey with mentorship and guidance from the highly qualified faculty of Harvard University who have remarkable research experience in their domains. These faculty members provide a collaborative environment that encourages research and innovation. Students are encouraged to contribute original knowledge to their fields by engaging in groundbreaking research. Students also receive professional development plans that prepare them for diverse industries.

Harvard University is the best university to pursue a doctoral degree but the admission process is very rigid and extensive and eligibility criteria are very demanding. The majority of students do not get admission to Harvard University due to these reasons. However, students can still fulfill their dream of pursuing their doctorate from top universities in the USA by enrolling Online DBA(Doctorate of Business Administration) program. The Online DBA program is designed for the working professional with 3 to 5 years of experience and is offered by some of the most reputed universities around the world. The Duration of Online DBA is 3 years. 

The eligibility requirements for PhD program at Harvard University are extensive and interested candidates must fulfill the eligibility requirements mentioned below- 

Education Qualification 

• Candidates completed their master's degree with first class from a recognized university.

OR

• Candidate with a 4-year bachelor's degree with First Class in relevant discipline from a recognized university.

OR

• Candidates with a 3-year bachelor's degree with First Class in the relevant discipline from a recognized university.
• English Language Proficiency- Students applying for PhD program at Harvard University must have a language proficiency qualification in English. Students with higher English Proficiency scores get priority in admission. Generally, Harvard University accepts scores of IELTS and TOEFL exams. 
• Letter of Recommendation- Students need to obtain a letter of recommendation from their previous university/ employer who can attest to their academic and research abilities.
• Statement of Purpose- A detailed Statement of Purpose that explains the research interests and career goals of the students must also be presented. 
• Research proposal- Students also need to prepare a detailed research proposal that specifies the topic of the research, the objective of the research, the methodology, the hypothesis, and the expected outcome of the research. 
• Valid Passport- Students should also have a valid passport to apply for a student visa if the admission application gets approved by Harvard University. 

Harvard University allows students to pay their course fees in easy installments. Students can register for a Monthly Payment Plan (MPP) by paying a $35 fee per semester. Students must ensure that all their prior installments are paid to remain eligible for a Monthly Payment Plan (MPP). Students can also apply for loans at the Financial Aid Office of Harvard University. Besides this Harvard University also provides need-based Harward scholarships to over 55 percent of students.  Students can also secure scholarships from outside the university through secondary schools, corporations, parental employers, civic organizations, the National Merit Scholarship Programs, and the ROTC.

The curriculum for PhD program at Harvard University is manifold and offers distinctive opportunities for research and innovation in a wide range of disciplines. The curriculum is divided into two major parts. The first part is coursework.  The coursework provides the theoretical foundation for the fundamental knowledge of research in a particular field. Generally, the coursework is conducted at the beginning of the PhD program. Once the coursework is completed, PhD candidates begin with extensive research work. In this part, students conduct original research, present research papers, and prepare their thesis/dissertation. Students get cutting-edge research opportunities to contribute to the original research in their field. The syllabus of a PhD is designed by experts in the particular domain and it offers a compressive understanding of the subjects. To provide a detailed overview of the Harvard University PhD curriculum, the syllabus of PhD in Computer Science is mentioned below- 

PhD Course Work

Syllabus 

Note- The actual syllabus of the Computer Science PhD at Harvard University may differ from the syllabus mentioned above. Students are advised to refer to the official website of Harvard University to check for any changes in the syllabus.

Harvard University evaluates students based on examination formats and patterns depending on the course, department, and level of study. Harvard University conducts midterm examinations halfway through the semester which include multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, essays, or problem-solving tasks. Final examinations are conducted at the end of the semester. The final examination is comprehensive and covers all the course material. Students enrolled in PhD programs are required to complete the mandatory coursework in the initial years. After finishing the coursework, PhD candidates begin their work on original research in their selected area of research. After the research is complete, students prepare a dissertation/thesis to state the outcome of their research. At last, they have to appear for a grand viva where they have to defend their research outcome before the departmental research committee. 

With the cutting-edge research facilities from Harvard University students can contribute in their field through original research. This opens them to a wide range of rewarding career opportunities in the industry.  Harvard University has a distinctive reputation in the world for its academic excellence and a PhD degree from this university makes students the most desirable candidate in the industry. Moreover, comprehensive career counseling and career services are offered by Harvard University through its Office of Career Services (OCS). As a world-renowned institution, Harvard University has robust ties with top companies in finance, consulting, technology, healthcare, law, academia, and public service. Here are some of the top job profiles that are available to students post-completion of their PhD from Harvard University are mentioned below-