Admissions Requirements
Admission to the Ph.D. program is offered on the basis of an outstanding academic record, letters of recommendation, a writing sample of 15-20 pages double spaced (This includes citations and references), and ordinarily GRE scores.
For the Ph.D. program a strong background in one or more areas of South Asian Studies is required. For admission to the Sanskrit and Indian Studies program, prerequisites include two years of Sanskrit, and for the Tibetan and Himalayan Studies program, two years of classical Tibetan. These language requirements correspond to the first and second years of Sanskrit or Tibetan taught at Harvard. For the South Asian Studies program, candidates should have at least two years of study in a South Asian language. The student’s command of the relevant languages will be evaluated during the first term.
Applicants with the requisite background should fill out this expression of interest form well before the admissions deadline. Please describe your previous academic work in South Asian Studies and your specific research interests. Include the names of faculty members with whom you might wish to work.
To Apply for Admission
Complete admissions and financial aid information and forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office, Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Smith Campus Center, Room 350, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138. For more information on deadlines and application procedures, please click here: APPLY TO THE Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Harvard does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job or course of study requirements, and we actively seek applicants from historically underrepresented communities. We hope you’ll consider applying.
