Admission to Harvard Business School is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of 10%. Harvard Business school offers admission to MBA, Executive Education and Doctoral programs. Admission to MBA and doctoral programs is offered for the fall term. Executive Education courses accept admissions throughout the year.
International students applying for MBA or doctoral programs at Harvard Business School must submit a GPA of above 3.6 (87-89%), a GMAT of 730 or above, and TOEFL-iBT 109 or above. Candidates applying for any executive education program must have a minimum of 10 years of work experience. Check: MBA Class Profile of HBS!
- Admission Deadline - Applications for admission 2023 to MBA at Harvard Business School are accepted in two rounds. September 7, 2022, is the application deadline for round 1 and January 4, 2023, is the deadline for round 3. December 1, 2022, is the deadline to apply for PhD programs at HBS.
- Class Profile - Around 9304 applications were submitted for the MBA class of 2022 and 732 candidates were accepted. 797 applications were submitted for doctoral programs, out of which 26 students were accepted. In case of executive education, 10,881 candidates were selected from around 134 countries.
Source: HBS
- Admission Decisions - Decisions for MBA application Round 1 will be released on December 8, 2022. Round 3 application decisions will be announced by March 29, 2023. Admission decisions date for doctoral programs is yet to be announced.
Check: Harvard Business School MBA Class Profile
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Harvard Business School Admission Deadlines 2023
Most students apply to Harvard Business School for the globally recognized MBA program. Applications are submitted round wise and the school has two rounds. Some application deadlines for top programs at the institute are as follows:
Know more: Intake in USA
Harvard Business School Admission Decision
Harvard Business School generally announces its decision within 3 months after the application deadline. For MBA applicants decision date will be as follows-
- For Round 1 - December 8, 2022
- For round 2 - March 29, 2023
Students, who have submitted a 2+2 application for deferred admission in HBS MBA program will be notified about the interview in June 2022, if selected.
Harvard Business School Graduate Admissions
Most of the applicants applying for admission at Harvard Business School are interested in the MBA program. The institute also offers executive education to applicants from countries like China and India.
Source: HBS
Application Portal: Online Application, Application Fee: USD 250 (INR 19,490)
Basic Admission Requirements:
- A degree equivalent to a four-year degree in the United States of America. A three-year degree is also considered equivalent for the same.
- Official transcripts (translated into English).
- GMAT scores: 730 or above (ranging 590-790)
- Proof of English Language proficiency
- GRE scores
- Two letters of recommendation
- Essay
- Interview (for MBA program)
Check: Statement of purpose for USA
M.B.A at Harvard Business School
In last admission cycle, a total of 732 students took admission in MBA at Harvard Business School. The enrollments represented 61 countries and 232 universities all together. HBS had also seen 44% women enrollments last year.
International Enrollment Statistics 2021
Source: HBS
Specific Admission Requirements:
The different requirements for admission to both the MBA and Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School are mentioned in the table below:
Requirements | Master of Business Administration | Executive Programs |
---|---|---|
Application Fee | $100 ~ 7,796 INR (2+2 applicants) $250 ~ 19,490 INR (non 2+2 applicants) | No Fee |
Academic Requirements | 4-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent | Not Required |
Work Experience | Recommended (Minimum 5 years) | Required (Minimum 10 years of work experience) |
Transcripts | Required | Not applicable |
GRE/GMAT | Required | Not applicable |
English Proficiency requirements | TOEFL iBT: 109 IELTS: 7.5 PTE: 75 | TOEFL iBT: 109 |
SOP | Required | Recommended |
LOR for USA | Two Reference letters are required | One required, from either a senior executive or a Harvard Business School graduate |
Resume | Required | Required |
Interview | On invitation | On invitation |
Read: MBA Jobs in USA
Harvard Business School PhD Admissions
Harvard Business School offers PhD in 8 main areas of Business Management which includes Management, Marketing, Strategy, and Health Policy among others. Currently, around 134 students are enrolled on Harvard Business School doctoral programs. Out of this, 45% are international students.
Source: HBS
Candidates with only a bachelor’s degree can apply for a PhD program at Harvard Business School. Undergraduate applicants in their final year are also eligible to take part in the admissions process.
Application Portal: Online, Application Fee: USD 105 (INR 8,147)
Admission requirements for PhD at HBS:
- Completed online application form
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Resume
- GMAT or GRE scores
- English language proficiency test scores
- TOEFL-iBT: Minimum 109
- Three letters of recommendation ( at least one should be an academic letter of reference)
- Optional writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
Read: US Universities waiving GRE and GMAT for 2023 admissions
US Visa for International Students
International students, who do not have US citizenship need to apply for a US Student Visa. Applicants need to show proof of their financial stability to procure the I-20 form, which proves that they have enough funds to afford education in the USA. Form I-20 or DS-2019 is issued only to students who have been accepted for admission to the institute.
Most students need an F-1 student visa. However, if you are applying for executive education at HBS, you should request a 90 day B1/B2 visa.
Visa Application Process -
- Receive I-20 or DS-2019 form from Harvard
- Pay the SEVIS fee using a credit card online
- Complete the DS-160 form
- Apply for the visa
- Schedule interview with the US consulate and embassy
Read: US F1 Visa interview questions and tips
The following documents are required to apply for a visa:
- Passport
- Form I-20/DS-2019
- SEVIS fee receipt
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Proof of funding
Check: I-20 form guide for Indian students
Note: The Harvard school you are applying for will assist you in your visa application process more than the Harvard International Office that provides only basic information on the same.
Admissions at Harvard Business School are offered based on the seats available in each program. The admissions committee meets every month and reviews applications. Applicants are intimidated regarding their application status via email. While securing admissions to Harvard Business School may be difficult, getting in would give a major boost to the career of a student. With a secure future, students will have a plethora of fields in business to explore and grow.
FAQs
Ques. What is the GPA requirement for the Harvard Business School MBA program?
Ans. The requirement of GPA for admission to Harvard MBA program is 3.6/4 (87-89%) or above. Along with GPA, the admissions committee also considers leadership potential, strong academic ability, and personal qualities of the candidate while reviewing applications for admission.
Ques.Are international students eligible for the 2+2 program at Harvard Business School?
Ans.Yes, international students are eligible for the 2+2 program. Non-English speaking students will have to submit English language proficiency test scores.
Ques.What tests are required for the 2+2 program at Harvard Business School?
Ans.High GRE or GMAT scores are to be submitted for the 2+2 Program. Along with that, international students need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores.
Ques.What are the application deadlines for MBA and doctoral programs at Harvard Business School?
Ans.Candidates planning to apply at HBS for MBA for 2023 admission must either apply by September 7, 2022 (Round 1) or January 4, 2023 (Round 2). In case of doctoral programs, students should apply before December 1, 2022.
Ques.Is there any minimum GMAT or GRE scores required in HBS?
Ans.No, there is no minimum GMAT or GRE score requirements. However, the previous class profile suggests a GMAT score between 590-790. For secure admission, students should submit a score of 730 or above.
Ques.Is it hard to get admission in HBS?
Ans.Harvard Business Scholl is very much selective regarding its admission. The acceptance rate tends to be around 10% for HBS admission. So, the competition will be tough, specially for international students. Applicants must submit excellent academic and other test scores for more secure admission.