#  Admissions & Aid 

 



##  Admissions & Aid 

Harvard Divinity School offers four degree programs focused on the study of religion through a multi-religious approach: the master of divinity, the master of theological studies, the master of theology, and the master of religion and public life. Connect with our Admissions Office to learn more.



 

 [ Introduce Yourself arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.hds.harvard.edu/admissions-aid/connect-admissions/introduce-yourself?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=introduce-yourself&utm_content=admissions-aid-landing) 

 

       ![Group of HDS students walking out of Swartz Hall](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-01/08232021-OrientationStudentLeaders-026_0.jpg?itok=RDEIY_jF) 

 

 



 

 



##  Get Ready to Apply 

**The application for fall 2026 is closed.**

For more information about the application process, head to the "Apply" page or complete the [HDS Admissions Connect](https://apply.hds.harvard.edu/register/requestinfo) form to join our mailing list for further information about programing and events.



 

 



 [ Learn about the Application Process arrow\_circle\_right ](/admissions-aid/apply-for-admission) 

 

 

 

 

 

  [### Master of Divinity

 ](/academics/degree-programs/mdiv-program)The HDS master of divinity degree prepares graduates for chaplaincy and ministry or a range of other careers that center around service, social justice, and ethical leadership.



 

   ![12032024-SeasonsOfLight-209](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2024-12/12032024-SeasonsOfLight-209.jpg?itok=2zRUM9aS) 

 

 

 

  [### Master of Theological Studies

 ](/academics/degree-programs/mts-program)The HDS master of theological studies degree enables students to explore the languages, literatures, institutions, practices, and structures of many theological fields and religious traditions.



 

   ![Professor Dan McKanan and students exchange ideas at a classroom table.](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2024-12/051319_HDS_1678.jpg?itok=7vZPU3BX) 

 

 

 

  [### Master of Religion and Public Life

 ](/academics/degree-programs/mrpl-program)The HDS master of religion and public life degree helps experienced professionals develop in-depth knowledge of the complex ways religion influences public life related to their career areas.



 

   ![MRPL student panelists at an HDS event](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-02/05122022-Leadership-Forum-0270.jpg?itok=6G8GLw8j) 

 

 

 

  [### Master of Theology

 ](/academics/degree-programs/thm-program)The HDS master of theology degree is for students who have received the master of divinity degree (or its equivalent) to pursue advanced theological studies.



 

   ![Master of Theology students](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/thmcard-09072023-convocation-170.jpg?itok=RqhEarGY) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

##  90% of MTS and MDiv students receive institutional scholarships. 

 



 [ HDS Financial Aid arrow\_circle\_right ](/admissions-aid/financial-aid) 

 

 

 

 

 

  [### HDS DivEx Program

 ](/admissions-aid/divex-program)The Divinity Explorations program (DivEx) is a three-day introduction to Harvard Divinity School and our graduate programs. DivEx highlights students’ opportunities to engage in study and conversation with special attention to how the study of religion, theology, and ethics makes an impact on the world.



 

   ![11072019-DivExLaunch-0223](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2024-12/11072019-DivExLunch-0223%20%281%29.jpg?itok=7OXvNJ1J) 

 

 

 

  [### Connect with Admissions

 ](/admissions-aid/connect-admissions)Contact the Harvard Divinity School Admissions Office or connect with current HDS students.



 

   ![051319_HDS_0682](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2024-12/051319_HDS_0682.jpg?itok=2rtGAMyu) 

 

 

 

  [### HDS Admissions Events

 ](https://apply.hds.harvard.edu/portal/hds_admissions_events)Connect with HDS Admissions on campus, off campus, and virtually this fall.



 

   ![11072018-DivExDinner-116](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2024-12/11072018-DivExDinner-116.jpg?itok=2gL3lzjb) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

### HDS Faculty 

 

World-renowned Harvard Divinity School scholars teach and mentor students with a multi-religious focus and interdisciplinary approach. HDS faculty also conduct vital research to advance religious insight around the globe.



 [Learn More about HDS Faculty chevron\_right](/faculty-research) 

 



      ![FacultyCard-2025](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2024-12/FacultyCard-2025.jpg?itok=9cyv5tlg) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

 

##  2025-26 Incoming Class Data 

 



35+

Religious Traditions Represented

 



84

Undergraduate Institutions

 



112

Incoming Class Size

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

##  HDS Student and Alumni Stories 

 



  [### 'Grief is a Story of Love Looking for a Place to Go'

 ](/news/2026/04/27/grief-story-love-looking-place-go) April 27, 2026 

Students and alumni at Harvard Divinity School are transforming how we understand and respond to grief—bringing compassion, community, and new pathways to healing.



 

  [Tyler Sprouse](/people/tyler-sprouse)

 

   ![HDS campus in spring](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/05122023-SpringCampus-010%20banner%20resize.jpg?itok=z-zpyn9-) 

 



 

 

   [### Hope Podcast: Featuring Amy Brenneman, MRPL Candidate

 ](/news/2026/03/16/hope-podcast-featuring-amy-brenneman-mrpl-candidate) March 16, 2026 

In this episode of the Hope Podcast, we speak with MRPL candidate Amy Brenneman about her coming back to Harvard, about writing the unknowns in a creative life, and about hope as an action.



 

 

   ![Amy Brenneman headshot with podcast microphone to her left](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/Amy%20Brenneman%20Hope%20Pod.jpeg?itok=R9y1QvE2) 

 



 

 

   [### HDS Students Awarded Building Bridges Grant for Black-Jewish Pluralism Project 

 ](/news/2025/12/18/students-awarded-building-bridges-grant-black-jewish-pluralism-project) December 18, 2025 

A student-led initiative at Harvard Divinity School (HDS) will bring communities together through dialogue, history, and shared commitments to justice.



 

 

   ![Michelle Millben, MTS ’26, and Sarah Zemelman, MTS ’26](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/121125_Michelle%26Sarah_22.jpg?itok=-EBsqzDY) 

 



 

 

   [### Harvard Divinity School by the Numbers

 ](/news/2025/12/18/harvard-divinity-school-numbers) December 18, 2025 

Before the year 2025 draws to a close, reflect on the impact the HDS community had on campus, in communities, and across the country.



 

 

   ![Windows with trees reflecting on them](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/10072022-HDS-Campus-148.jpg?itok=MYDtNuEz) 

 



 

 

   [### How Harvard Divinity Students Share Their Ministry Beyond the Classroom 

 ](/news/2025/11/13/how-harvard-divinity-students-share-their-ministry-beyond-classroom) November 13, 2025 

For MDiv students, Julio Daly, Elijah Gipson-Davis, Sabbi Lall, and Craig Rusert, the HDS field education program was a time of spiritual care, leadership, and application.



 

  [Eden Olayiwole](/people/eden-olayiwole)

 

   ![A student stands in front of a church preaching with a choir behind. They are all wearing choral robes](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/ElijahGipsonDavisFieldEdCrop.png?itok=TNeIcjrC) 

 



 

 

   [### Student Spotlight Featuring André Holland, MRPL ’25 

 ](/news/2025/11/17/student-spotlight-featuring-andre-holland-mrpl-25) November 17, 2025 

Recent Harvard Divinity School graduate, André Holland, discusses his journey from Hollywood to Harvard.



 

  [Eden Olayiwole](/people/eden-olayiwole)

 

   ![Andre Holland  ](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/AndreHolland-thumbnai.jpg?itok=1f1xm_FX) 

 



 

 

   [### HDS Students Win Harvard Culture Lab Grant for Deep Listening Project 

 ](/news/2025/10/30/students-win-harvard-culture-lab-grant-deep-listening-project) October 30, 2025 

HDS students Paula Ortiz and Lia Pikus are using their grant to launch workshops that foster connection and belonging across campus.



 

 

   ![Paula Ortiz and Lia Pikus sitting on a bench in the CSWR courtyard. Photo: Alex Bayer](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/Paula-Lia-Banner.jpg?itok=D_B1U_Uq) 

 



 

 

   [### Creating New Knowledge

 ](/news/2024/11/19/creating-new-knowledge-terrence-johnson) November 19, 2024 

Terrence L. Johnson, MDiv ’00, on His Journey from Reporting to Religion and Public Life Scholarship



 

 

   ![Terrence Johnson headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/05242023-terrencejohnson-003-900x600.jpg?itok=HR73l4Pr) 

 



 

 

   [### Harvard Divinity's Rucha Modi Creates New Home for Hindu Student Experiences

 ](/news/2024/11/19/rucha-modi) November 19, 2024 

 Rucha Modi is pursuing her master of theological studies degree with an interest in religion and public service. Before joining the HDS community, Modi earned a degree in global studies at UCLA, served in the Office of Vice President Kamala Harris, and... 

 

 

   ![Headshot of Rucha Modi](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/ruchamodi-900x600.jpg?itok=e1yGCZeg) 

 



 

 

   [### Harvard Divinity's Taylon Lancaster Inspired by MLK, Beloved Community Continues Path to Pastor

 ](/news/2024/11/19/taylon-lancaster) November 19, 2024 

 Rev. Taylon E. Lancaster is a master of divinity candidate at HDS and the senior pastor at Third Baptist Church in Springfield, Massachusetts. With strong dedication to the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., Lancaster is committed to building a beloved... 

 

 

   ![Rev. Taylon Lancaster at a lectern](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/revtaylonelancaster-900x600.jpg?itok=NjSxI6aF) 

 



 

 

   [### Harvard Divinity Alum Samirah Jaigirdar Explores Religion and Politics

 ](/news/2024/11/21/samirah-jaigirdar) November 19, 2024 

 Samirah Jaigirdar, MTS ’24, joined the HDS community as an international student from Dhaka, Bangladesh. With a background in international relations and global Islamic studies, she came to Harvard with the goal of studying political science through the... 

 

 

   ![Samirah Jaigirdar headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/samirahjaigirdar-900x600px.jpg?itok=Q3MNiEPq) 

 



 

 

   [### Harvard Divinity Student Thomas McConkie Aims to Help Others Realize a ‘Greater Fullness’

 ](/news/2024/03/22/harvard-divinity-student-thomas-mcconkie-aims-help-others-realize-greater-fullness) March 22, 2024 

 “There’s a lot of Mormonism in my Zen and a lot of Zen in my Mormonism,” Thomas McConkie, MDiv ’25, says. This elegant synthesis, however, took years of meditation and spiritual exploration to articulate. During his freshman year in college at the... 

 

 

   ![Thomas McConkie, MDiv ’25](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/mcconkie-news-900x600.jpg?itok=c_mbE_lS) 

 



 

 

   [### Former Friar Reflects on Zomi Culture and His Path to Harvard Divinity School

 ](/news/2024/01/22/former-friar-reflects-zomi-culture-path-harvard-divinity) January 22, 2024 

 “I never thought that I would get into Harvard Divinity School. I still remember the morning I received my online acceptance letter. I had just woken up, unlocked my phone in spite of my blurry vision, and saw that I had an update on my application status... 

 

 

   ![Suan Sonna](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/suan-sonna-news-900.jpg?itok=9hY1LrRv) 

 



 

 

   [### Student Sitalin Sánchez Sees Art as Part of the Academic Process

 ](/news/2023/12/11/sitalin-sanchez-religion-art-academics) December 11, 2023 

 For Sitalin Sánchez, a second-year master of theological studies degree candidate at Harvard Divinity School, religion and the arts are inseparable. She is an illustrator, designer, poet, dancer, and academic. Art is not her hobby. It is her research... 

 

 

   ![HDS student Sitalin Sánchez](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/sitalin-news-dance-600x400-recrop.jpg?itok=Xy10J6IH) 

 



 

 

   [### Ask an Alum: How an HDS Education Intersects with Public Health and Social Justice

 ](/news/2023/11/17/ask-alum-hds-education-public-health-social-justice) November 17, 2023 

 As a trained physician, professor, and a social justice scholar, Ans Irfan (he/him, they/them) holds a commitment to health equity and religious literacy that is both personal and professional: “If my dignity—and the safety of the LGBTQIA+ community—is up... 

 

 

   ![Ans Irfan speaking at an HDS event](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/irfan-900x600.jpg?itok=2UL7rQh2) 

 



 

 

  

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##  HDS on Instagram 

 



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##  Additional Information 

 



 email 

 [### Contact Us

 ](mailto:admissions@hds.harvard.edu)<admissions@hds.harvard.edu>

617.495.5796



 

 

 language 

 [### International Applicants

 ](/admissions-aid/apply-for-admission/international-applicants) 

 

 quiz 

 [### Frequently Asked Questions

 ](/admissions-aid/frequently-asked-questions) 

 

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 [### Admissions Tips

 ](https://www.instagram.com/harvarddivinity/)For helpful hints on the HDS admissions process, check out our "Admissions Takeovers" highlight on the HDS Instagram and be sure to follow us @HarvardDivinity.