Master of Science in Bioethics Degree Program

All application deadlines have passed.

• November 1, 2022 was opening day for the MBE program admissions.
• January 15, 2023 was the final deadline for early professional applicants (0-2 years work experience) and international students applying for the full-time program.
• January 15, 2023 was also the early deadline for mid-career professional applicants (3+ years work experience) and those applying for the part-time program.
• March 15, 2023 was the final deadline for mid-career professional applicants (3+ years work experience) and those applying for the part-time program.

Please contact bioethics_masters@hms.harvard.edu if you have questions.

Harvard Medical School is a vibrant and diverse community consisting of the Longwood Campus and 12 affiliated teaching hospitals in the greater Boston area. HMS is a leader in academic medicine through its teaching, research, and clinical resources. View Student Resources for more 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 mid-career professionals 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. A limited number of Bachelors-level applicants with strong academic records and an evident interest in bioethics will be considered for admission.

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.

Yes. There is an option to complete the program full-time or part-time. Some mid-career professionals can take a sabbatical while completing the program full-time and return to their career with relevant experience they have gained from the curriculum. Some students also choose to continue their career while attending but may need to work with their employer to accommodate availability during class time.

Full-time students will complete the Master’s program in one year by completing a total of 36 credits, including a 4-credit capstone project. Classes offered through the center will primarily occur in the late afternoons, generally beginning at 4 p.m (Eastern Time).

Part-time alternatives are possible with the expectation that students would complete the degree in two years. The part-time virtual option offers mid-career professionals an opportunity to participate in on-line classes in the evening hours (Eastern Time).

The maximum time from enrollment to completion is three years, however extension of studies beyond two years would require a petition for extension and is granted only in light of extenuating individual circumstances. Additional costs for extended time will be applied. Schedules of the full- and part-time options are viewable on the Curriculum page.

Yes. We offer a two-year, part-time virtual program where all instruction is offered remotely. Online required courses are offered in the evenings (Eastern Time) to accommodate working professionals. Students will select this option during the admissions process. 

We also offer an on-campus "residential" program. For the residential program, there may still be some courses taught online, depending on classroom and building capacity allowances. We will continue to follow the strict public health guidance from HMS and Harvard public health guidance as informed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the CDC. Therefore, we must remain flexible and ready to shift to remote instruction if public health necessitates it.

No. The only required standardized test score for admission is the TOEFL exam for applicants whose native language is not English, with the exception of non-native English speakers who earned a bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction. If you have taken the GRE and wish to have your scores considered by the admissions committee, you may submit scores to Institution Code 0550.

Yes. Top candidates are selected to interview, typically via Zoom. As we receive many applications, decisions on some applications may be made without interviews.

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 for the admissions process.

If your transcripts are not already in English you can send an official transcript to World Education Services. The site will be able to evaluate and translate your transcript and send it directly to the Center for Bioethics to upload to your application. If an email address is needed to send the transcripts electronically, please use bioethics_masters@hms.harvard.edu.  

Upon enrollment of the Masters of Bioethics, you will need to submit official transcripts in order to begin the program. Falsifying documents for admissions review can result in expulsion from the program.

The estimated cost of attendance for the program (Years 1 & 2) is outlined here. HMS Master's students are eligible to receive financial assistance from certain government programs.

Tuition Discount for Faculty and Staff at HMS and Affiliated Institutions
Beginning for the entering class of AY20 (Fall 2019), 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. Students who are also considering applying for financial assistance should notify the HMS Financial Aid office of this scholarship opportunity.

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 here. 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 Harvard Medical School 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. Below is a list of fellowship/scholarship opportunities available to HMS graduate students. Please contact CGS for any questions regarding the fellowship/scholarships below.

• Argentina: Amalia Lacroze De Fortabat Fellowship Fund
• Australia: Robert Gordon Menzies Scholarship
• Brazil: Jorge Paulo Lemann Fellowships
• Colombia: Scholarships for Colombian Students
• France: Arthur Sachs Scholarship, Jean Gaillard Fellowship Fund
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong Jockey Club Graduate Scholarships
• Mexico: Fundacion Mexico en Harvard Scholarships
• Spain: Real Colegio Complutense Scholarships

All application deadlines have passed.

• November 1, 2022 was opening day for the MBE program admissions.
• January 15, 2023 was the final deadline for early professional applicants (0-2 years work experience) and international students applying for the full-time program.
• January 15, 2023 was also the early deadline for mid-career professional applicants (3+ years work experience) and those applying for the part-time program.
• March 15, 2023 was the final deadline for mid-career professional applicants (3+ years work experience) and those applying for the part-time program.

Please contact bioethics_masters@hms.harvard.edu if you have questions.

Yes. International students may apply with the same materials as U.S. students. International students will be responsible for working with Harvard International Office to secure visas permitting study prior to beginning the program.

International students are not eligible for U.S. government loans, but they may be eligible for certain private loans with a U.S. co-signer. Learn more about financial aid eligibility requirements. Learn more about funding your master's program education at Harvard Medical School's financial aid for master's students page.

Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research
The Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR) can offer partial scholarships to a limited number of selected candidates. Priority is given to candidates from the United Arab Emirates, but candidates from the GCC and MENA region*, and candidates living and working in the GCC and MENA region, regardless of nationality, will also be considered. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. To apply for DHFMR support, please select this option on your application.

*The GCC and MENA region includes: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. For more information, visit the financial aid website.

Yes. The TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English exam is required of applicants whose native language is not English. Exemption from this requirement may be granted for those who earned a bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction. The TOEFL Code for Harvard Medical School Graduate Education Master’s Programs is 3151.

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.