FAQs

• October 1, 2025 - applications open
• January 14, 2026 - deadline for the in-person program
• March 4, 2026 - deadline for the online program

Harvard Medical School is a vibrant and diverse community consisting of the Longwood Campus and 12 affiliated teaching hospitals in the greater Boston area. Harvard Medical School is a leader in academic medicine through its teaching, research, and clinical resources. View the Student Resources page for more detailed information.

No. Previous study or experience in bioethics is helpful, but not necessary. You will have the opportunity to describe your interest in bioethics in your personal statement and other application materials.

Yes. Students will be required to complete a core course of study in the foundations of bioethics and major areas in bioethics. With the guidance and approval of the academic advisor, students will have opportunities to tailor their experience to their interests with elective coursework, through the capstone project, and by drawing on the vast resources of the Center for Bioethics and Harvard University.

The program is aimed primarily toward those interested in ethical issues related broadly to health care practice, industry, research, and policy. The minimum requirement for entry into the Master of Science in Bioethics degree program is a bachelor’s degree and demonstrated interest in the field of bioethics. An essential feature of the program is that our students come from diverse backgrounds but collectively share an interest in bioethics.

Common professions include (but are not necessarily be limited to) physicians, nurses, social workers, health care administrators, chaplains, attorneys, journalists and writers, scientists and medical researchers, psychologists and therapists.

You may begin your application using Harvard Medical School's application portal, which clearly lays out the application process. The Center hosts online information sessions which provide an opportunity to speak directly with members of our admissions team. Refer to the Admissions page for detailed information about the application process and deadlines. Please contact bioethics_masters@hms.harvard.edu if you have questions.

In-Person Program

Our full-time, campus-based program is completed in one year. The in-person class is primarily composed of recent graduates and early-career professionals who are exploring pathways into medical school, law school, research, and other advanced academic or professional fields.

Online Program

Our flexible online program allows students to pursue their degree on a part-time basis over two or three years. The online class is composed of working professionals from diverse fields that include healthcare, law, public policy, research, and education; and who seek to integrate a bioethics education to advance and/or enhance their impact while maintaining work and personal commitments. The program is conducted synchronously and there are ample opportunities to build your Harvard network virtually. Classes are generally held between 4 and 8 p.m. ET. 

No, but you may optionally submit the GRE, MCAT, or LSAT. If you opt to submit test scores and are admitted to the program you will need to have official copies sent to the Office for Graduate Education before matriculating.

We receive many applications, so decisions on some applications may be made without interviews. Three to four weeks after the deadline, you may be invited to interview via Zoom. If you are not invited to interview, please know it is not indicative of any particular decision made about your candidacy.

PDF copies of transcripts from all institutions where applicants earned credits toward academic degree(s) must be uploaded to the application database for review by the admissions committee. An unofficial copy is acceptable only for the admissions process. Unofficial copies should still be in PDF format and easily readable.

Upon enrollment of the Master of Science in Bioethics Program, you will need to submit official transcripts to begin the program. You will get information about where to send official transcripts when accepting your offer to study in the program. Questions regarding official transcripts should be sent to admissions_masters@hms.harvard.edu.

If you need your official transcripts evaluated and translated, Harvard Medical School and World Education Services (WES) have designed an easy application to do so. Please access it here: Credential Evaluation Requirements for Harvard Medical School.

Falsifying documents for admissions review can result in expulsion from the program.

Please visit the Cost of Attendance page. Note the costs shown are for the current academic year, not the academic year you will be applying to. Part-time tuition is paid each year. Part-time online students do not need to consider any of the living expenses listed. There are various types of funding. Should you have any questions regarding the cost of attendance or types of funding, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Yes. Many of our students do receive financial assistance through their employers or through their home government. Information about financial aid through Harvard Medical School is available at the Financial Aid Office. This is the current listing of institutional scholarships available to incoming students:

Dean's Scholarship for HMS Master's Students
We strive to make master’s education at HMS accessible to all qualified students. In Fall 2021, HMS began offering a new scholarship for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents who have demonstrated financial need and have exhibited academic excellence, persistence, resilience, and a commitment to advancing the position of the underserved and the underrepresented in their field of interest. This award provides eligible students with a scholarship equivalent to 15% of the full time tuition rate for any of the HMS Master’s Degree Programs (tuition only). HMS will award the Dean’s Scholarship for up to twenty students across the HMS Master’s programs. You can learn more about the Dean's Scholarship and additional HMS Master’s Aid.

Tuition Discount for Faculty and Staff at HMS and Affiliated Institutions
Full-time, benefits eligible faculty and staff at HMS and the affiliated institutions/hospitals are eligible for a scholarship equivalent to 10% of the full time tuition rate for any of the HMS Master’s Degree Programs (tuition only). Please notify the program if you think you are eligible for this scholarship.

Yellow Ribbon Program
Harvard Medical School provides qualifying post-9/11 veterans the maximum assistance available through the Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program. Under this program, the Department of Veterans Affairs matches school aid contributions made to eligible veterans. Harvard Medical School will contribute the maximum amount to be matched by the VA for all eligible veterans.

You will be requested to submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the Financial Aid Office prior to the start of the academic year in order to process your Yellow Ribbon benefit. Additional VA benefits for veterans provide substantial assistance for living expenses. These benefits should cover academic year living expenses for most Yellow Ribbon recipients. However, Yellow Ribbon recipients may also apply for federal student loans to meet living expenses costs, if needed.

Harvard University's Committee on General Scholarships
The Committee on General Scholarships (CGS) awards a range of financial assistance to international Harvard students. CGS funding is very competitive—admitted applicants and current students from across Harvard are eligible. CGS international fellowships are country specific. They are not awarded through HMS and require a separate application. Application details, contact information, and a full list of fellowship and restricted scholarship opportunities are available on the CGS website. Please contact CGS for any questions regarding fellowship/scholarships opportunities for HMS graduate students.

A change in duration of study is possible with program approval.  Full-time students may be able to change to part-time status while remaining in the in-person course of study.  Part-time virtual students may be able to change from the 2-year program to the 3-year program.  A change in course of study, that is to change from in-person to virtual and vice versa, would not be allowed unless under extenuating circumstances with specific program approval.  All changes in program status needs to be approved prior to the start of the fall semester of the academic year and will need additional approval from the Office for Graduate Education. 

Yes. International students may apply using the same materials as US students, and if necessary, submit an English proficiency exam score. International students should review the International Students page.

International students accepted to the full time in-person program will need to provide proof of funding for tuition and living expenses in United States Dollars (USD). International students cannot study part time in-person due to visa regulations. 

International students are not eligible for US government loans, but they may be eligible for certain private loans with or without a US co-signer at private financial institutions. Harvard Federal Credit Union and Eastern Bank will open accounts for admitted international students prior to arrival in the US. 

Additional information about external scholarship resources can be found on the Types of Funding webpage. You may also find scholarships that cover your country here. 

A language proficiency test is required for applicants for whom English was not the medium of instruction for their undergraduate or graduate degree. Harvard Medical School's master’s programs accept TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS Academic and Duolingo English Test. Please note, English language proficiency tests are only valid for two years after the test date.

Visa regulations require full-time study to enroll in the in-person program. International students may enroll in the part-time virtual program and will complete all degree requirements virtually.