Frequently Asked Questions

DivEx is intended to provide participants with exposure to graduate-level education. As a result, if you are currently pursuing, or have already obtained a graduate-level degree, you would be ineligible for this program. 

Applicants must submit official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores when:

• Their native language is not English or;
• When their baccalaureate is not from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction.

If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@hds.harvard.edu.

A meal plan is not required, but students should consider the GradPlus meal plan.

Yes,  Harvard University Housing (HUH) offers information and resources on other housing options throughout Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, and the surrounding areas. Most apartments operate on a fixed-term lease at market rate rents and include all utilities. Unlike on-campus housing, spouses, domestic partners, children, parents, and siblings are allowed to live in HUH apartments. HUH may also be available for faculty and staff. 

These HLS dormitories are not ADA accessible. If you require certain housing accommodations due to a disability or medical related issue, we encourage you to notify accessibility@hds.harvard.edu as soon as possible to discuss your housing needs.   

No. Please double-check all documents you include with your application before submitting it. Once an application is submitted, no further changes can be made. Additionally, we cannot return submitted documents for re-use in a future application or for personal review.

All HDS degree programs are intended to be completed by students on a full-time schedule.

Should an incoming student find themselves in extraordinary extenuating circumstances, they may petition to complete their program on a part-time basis.

For more detailed information, please consult page 47 of the HDS Handbook for Students.

International students who will be traveling within the contiguous United States are eligible to apply.

While going slightly over the limit by a few words is acceptable, we do ask that you adhere as closely as possible to the 500-750 word limit for your Personal Statement. 

We strongly discourage you from submitting extraneous materials beyond our requirements, as they will not be included in your application nor reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Harvard Divinity School does not accept transfer credits. However, after satisfactory completion of at least one full semester of coursework at HDS, students in the MDiv program may be considered for advanced standing for work completed at another institution prior to enrollment at HDS. Guidelines and information about obtaining advanced standing are provided in the HDS Handbook for Students.

Alumni have access to a growing number of electronic resources and can request a borrowing card for the Harvard libraries. Find out more at the Use Harvard Library as an Alum web page.