You should include language courses (language instruction, and content courses taught in a foreign language) on the Abroad Course Enrollment form. Additionally, you will need to directly contact the appropriate Language Adviser to request pre-approval of the course. The same process is followed if seeking elective credit for a language course.

Although a course may be pre-approved, all courses are subject to final approval by faculty as well.  Make sure to bring syllabi, exams, and written work back with you to campus, as you may need to share your work with Harvard faculty to ensure final course approval. 

Once abroad, you will be prompted (via email) to submit your final course selections and upload translated course syllabi through the online Abroad Course Enrollment Form, found on Studio Abroad. 

The OIE will also ask you to record the number of credits assigned to each course by the program or institution. 

The approval process begins once you have submitted your Abroad Course Enrollment form, and uploaded all of your translated syllabi to Studio Abroad. Once this occurs the syllabi are sent to Harvard faculty for review. Please note that you should submit your Abroad Course Enrollment form at least 7-10 business days in advance of your add/drop deadline, for proper review to take place.  In some cases approval may happen quickly;  in others, review takes more time. It takes time to finalize course approvals, as each individual course is subject to review prior...

Courses must be taken for a letter grade when there is a letter grade option. If you are planning to take a course that is Pass/Fail only, contact the OIE.

An independent study course with a member of the Harvard Faculty while studying abroad is governed by the same policies as completing an independent study course in residence, except that the independent study petition must be submitted by the study abroad deadlines and reviewed as part of the overall application for study abroad. 

Internship courses are not eligible for credit and will not be considered as a part of the full load. You are free to pursue internship and service opportunities for personal enrichment.

You must speak directly with your study abroad program or institution to request that an official transcript be mailed, in a sealed envelope, to:

Office of International Education
1414 Massachusetts Ave., 3rd floor 
Cambridge, MA 02138

The OIE can only receive and process official documents sent to us by the study abroad program or academic institution directly. (We cannot accept a transcript that is hand delivered, emailed or faxed). This takes time, so be proactive!

The OIE will not accept transcripts one year post study abroad...

No. The OIE cannot make copies of your official transcript, so be sure to request additional copies for fellowship, graduate school applications, etc. These should be mailed to you directly, not to the OIE.

Remember, this process takes time, so be proactive.

No. Study abroad course grades will not appear on your Harvard transcript and are not factored into your Harvard GPA. The name of the study abroad program or foreign institution, and the number of credits you earned, will appear on your Harvard transcript (example: “Granted 16.00 credits for work at the Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona”). 

In these cases consult with your Allston Burr Assistant Dean to ensure that you are proceeding toward your academic degree at a satisfactory rate.

Please also be sure to check with your concentration and/or secondary field to understand departmental policies regarding minimum letter grades accepted for credit transfer. 

You should have your language department adviser sign the...

Foreign language citations are awarded through the Harvard language departments. Specific departmental requirements are listed in the Harvard College Handbook for Students.

For information about the language department’s petition process, consult with the appropriate departmental language adviser before you leave, and as soon as possible after your return from study...

Check in with your secondary field adviser to see if your course is eligible for secondary field credit. Once transfer credit has been posted to your student record, enter the course information in the online secondary field tool, seek your secondary field adviser’s signature of approval, and submit the form to the Registrar.

Once the OIE has confirmed via email that transfer credit has been posted to your student record, and as you plan for your final year at Harvard, please contact the Registrar's Office to request the course reduction. Specify which General Education requirement you would like to waive, and the Registrar will update your academic record accordingly.

Beginning Fall 2019 Gen Ed requirements will no longer be reduced for term-time study abroad.

For additional information consult the...