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• Applying for Financial Assistance
• Fellowships & Scholarships
• Student Loans
• Work Study
• Sponsored Students
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program
• Financial Health Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions (Domestic Students)
• Frequently Asked Questions (International Students)
• Contact

Frequently Asked Questions (International Students)

Now that I have been admitted, did I receive any aid? If so, when will I hear about aid?

We do not expect to have decisions regarding any of the HKS international student fellowships until all of the admission decisions have been made. For the two year programs (MPP, MPA2, MPA/ID),this typically occurs around late March and for the Mid-Career program, typically around mid-April.

I applied for an affiliated external scholarship through an organization (such as World Bank) and have not heard anything. What should I do?

If you applied for any of the external scholarship, please inquire about the status of these awards by contacting the individual or office to which you submitted your application for consideration.

I have applied for the Catherine B. Reynolds Fellowship, when will recipients be notified?

Notifications for recipients only will be sent out by April 1st of each year. If you have not received a letter indicating that you have received a Zuckerman or Reynolds Fellowship by April 7th, you may assume that you were not selected for the Fellowship.

Where can I research other sources of scholarship aid?

Please see the Fellowships & Scholarships for International Students - External Resources section of the Student Financial Services website for more details.

I have secured funding from an outside sponsor, how should I notify HKS?

Please complete and submit the Sponsor Verification Form found on the Student Financial Services tab of the secured New Admit website.

May I apply for a tuition waiver?

No. Tuition waivers are not available at HKS.

Will I need to purchase health insurance through Harvard University?

Yes. Massachusetts requires every enrolled student to have health insurance. Also, medical care is very costly in the US; without insurance you could have very large medical bills. Please refer to the "Welcome from the Harvard International Office" section of the secure New Admit website for further details.

What if I already have health insurance?

The University Health Services (UHS) coverage is mandatory for all full-time registered students and is a separate charge from Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage. You may request a waiver of Blue Cross/Blue Shield health coverage through the University Health Services. Please review the information found in Immunization & Health Services section under the "Enroll @ HKS" tab on the secure New Admit website.

May I apply for a loan as an international student?

Loan funds are available to students at HKS without the need for a cosigner through the CitiAssist Loan via Citibank (as the lender). International students may borrow up to a maximum of $10,000 per academic year. For more information please see Loans.

Is there any assistance available for repayment of my loans?

HKS is committed to excellence in government; we recognize that graduates are faced with significant amounts of educational debt and the reality of low paying public sector jobs. HKS's Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) currently enables graduates to enter these positions by funding educational loan repayment. For further information, please see LRAP.

May I work during my studies at HKS?

It is highly recommended that students do not work in the first semester of study as the course schedule is rigorous and the degree program should be the first priority. After having adjusted to the schedule, a student could consider working as a course assistant or the like. Incoming students are unable/should not apply for employment before arrival in the United States for a number of reasons:

• A student on an F-1 visa is eligible for employment authorization from the US government only after 9 months of residence in the US.
• Employment authorization from the US government is an involved and lengthy process.
• Potential earnings from employment will not be considered for incoming student financial certification.

Working part-time is certainly a possible source of income for the second year of study (if applicable to you) as long as it does not interfere with your studies.

I have only secured funding for my first year will there be options for funding in my second year?

It is not wise to have little means of funding for your second year for a number of reasons. First, you most likely won't be able to depend upon HKS to provide increased scholarship or fellowship funding support for your second year. Also, your time will be occupied with your studies during your first year and the added stress of trying to find funding for your second year will not be of any help. In addition, your residence in the United States during your first year will exclude you from consideration for the majority of scholarships as organizations prefer to fund students applying directly from their country of citizenship. Lastly, you could be faced with a choice to suspend your studies for lack of funding as a worst case scenario. You should expect that the cost of attendance will rise each year by approximately 4% - 6%.

If I have an additional question or need further guidance, whom do I contact?

Please refer to the Contact section for information on ways to contact the Student Financial Services Office.