Guidelines for International Applicants

Applicants from outside the United States are welcome to apply to the Master's in Biomedical Informatics program. In addition to the eligibility and prerequisite guidelines for all program applicants, international applicants must also adhere to the following requirements and guidelines.

Application Requirements

  • English Language Proficiency Requirements

    Applicants for whom English is not their native language must demonstrate English Language Proficiency by meeting one of the following requirements. 

    • Hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, OR Doctoral degree from an accredited institution where English is the primary language of instruction according to the International Handbook of Universities. 
    • Obtain a score of 103 or higher on the TOEFL iBT exam.
    • Obtain a score of 11 or higher on the TOEFL Essentials exam. 
    • Obtain a score of 7.5 or higher on the IELTS Academic exam. 
    • Obtain a score of 130 or higher on the Duolingo English Test. 

    Students whose institution taught in English but is not listed in the International Handbook of Universities must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from an organization included on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services Members List that attests to their institution's language of instruction. 

    These are the minimum language proficiency requirements that must be demonstrated at the time of application. Applicants who submit an application without meeting these requirements will not be considered for admission. 

  • Submitting Official Test Scores

    TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Essentials:
    Code 3151: Harvard Medical School Graduate Education Master’s Programs.

    IELTS Academic:
    Contact the test center where you took the IELTS test to request that your scores be sent via E-Delivery to:  

    Account Name: Harvard Medical School Graduate Education Master's Programs  

    Address: Graduate Education Master's Programs
    25 Shattuck Street
    Boston, MA 02115
    United States 

    Duolingo English Test:
    Search for “Harvard Medical School” and select the appropriate program.

  • Transcript Requirements and Guidelines

    All applicants must submit an unofficial transcript for each degree program completed or in progress that meet the following requirements:

    • Lists all courses completed and in progress. Completed courses must include a grade or other evaluation indication. 
    • All information is issued in English. 

    Applicants submitting transcripts from institutions outside of the United States or Canada are strongly advised to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from an organization included on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services Members List.  Although a credential evaluation is not strictly required, having a credential evaluation better enables the admissions committee to evaluate and understand your academic preparation and accomplishments. 

    The admissions committee strongly prefers WES or another course-by-course evaluation for review. International transcripts without a credential evaluation are difficult to assess. 

    A copy of all transcripts and credential evaluations must be uploaded directly by the applicant to the application portal at the application stage. Materials sent directly to Harvard Medical School via mail or electronic service are not processed and reviewed at the time of application. 

Visa Information

  • Financial Requirements

    Please visit the Harvard International Office website to learn about the student visa process. 

    Harvard is required to certify that international students have funds to cover the full cost of tuition, fees, and estimated living expenses for the first year of their program before issuing an I-20 or DS-2019.

    If funding originates from multiple sources, documentation for each source is needed. All documentation must be submitted in English or accompanied with a certified translation.

    • Fellowship/Grant/Scholarship: Official award letter that states the value of the award in the home currency and U.S. dollars, as well as the period for which it is valid.
    • Employer or Agency Sponsor: Official letter from employer or agency on letterhead that states the amount of funding in the home currency and its U.S. dollar equivalent, as well as the period for which the funding is valid.
    • Personal Savings - Bank statement:
      • No more than two personal savings accounts will be accepted.
      • Student's name must be listed as account holder or joint account holder.
      • Account must be in U.S. dollar currency; U.S. dollar equivalent is not acceptable.
      • Bank must have retail/consumer banking operations in U.S. (non-U.S. banks with branch in U.S. is acceptable).
      • Funds must be in cash accounts, available without restrictions. Stocks, mutual funds or other investment accounts do not meet these criteria.
      • Monthly bank statement is required. Bank letters and references are not sufficient.
      • Dated within the last three months.
    • Loan
      • Must be approved by Harvard Medical School's Financial Aid Office.