Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit my transcript?

Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts from each postsecondary institution that they have attended in the academic history section of the application. All transcripts should show courses completed, grades received, duration of study, and degree or diploma received, if applicable.

Please keep in mind that you will need to provide official transcripts (and translations, if applicable) for verification, should you be admitted. HDS reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission if there is a discrepancy between an applicant’s uploaded transcript and...

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Does HDS prepare students who plan to be ordained and lead congregations?

If your call is to be ordained and serve a church, HDS has a deep and long-standing commitment of preparing people for pastoral ministry. This is supported by denominational counselors who work with students in fulfilling the specific requirements of particular denominations. Students engage in field education in church placements and take classes that meet denominational requirements. Ordination in Buddhist communities usually is arranged by that community. Similarly, ordination as a Rabbi (smicha) usually follows extensive work with appropriate Jewish authorities in addition to the degree requirements of HDS.

Am I required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS Score?

Applicants must submit official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores when:

  • Their native language is not English or;
  • When their baccalaureate is not from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction.

If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@hds.harvard.edu.

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What if I don’t find a field education site from the approved HDS list? Can I design my own project or propose a site?

HDS enables students to pursue their unique calling through the student-initiated placement process to complete one of the two required field education placements. Students propose a variety of organizations beyond the HDS list; recent examples have included the Albert Einstein Institution, Centro Presente, and The History Project. Each placement is approved by the Director of Field Education to ensure the site and supervisor meet The Field Education Program’s criteria.

How can I show I’m a competitive applicant for HDS’ degree programs?

Our successful applicants demonstrate their ability to do graduate theological study in a variety of ways, and the Admissions Committee honors that through our holistic admissions process. Alongside applicants’ past academic and test performance, the Committee will consider applicants’ writing skills, letters of recommendation, and professional and life experience. We review each application carefully, giving applicants of all backgrounds the opportunity to use the various components of the application to make a case for their academic success at HDS.

I’ve submitted my application with all required documents, but I still see red ‘x’ marks indicating that some documents have not been uploaded. What does this mean?

Our application processing system can take a short while to refresh after an application has been submitted. We recommend you check back in 30 to 60 minutes from the time of submission, which should allow the system to properly refresh. If documents are still shown as missing at that time, please email us at admissions@hds.harvard.edu so we can look into the issue. 

When should I start preparing for the application process?

Once you have decided that HDS is one of the graduate schools to which you would like to apply, you can begin preparing immediately, even before the online application is available each fall. Update your résumé or curriculum vitae (CV), write an initial draft of your statement of purpose, discuss your application plans with your recommendation providers, review our application deadlines and policies, and consider researching ...

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Divinity school vs seminary: what’s the difference?

Harvard Divinity School (HDS) is one of the 12 graduate schools at Harvard University. HDS was established in 1816 as the country's first nonsectarian theological school. It is dedicated to educating future leaders with the resources and support of the wider Harvard University. Seminaries are typically affiliated with a particular religious denomination and may or may not be affiliated with a larger university. We recommend that you contact the denominational seminaries that interest you for additional information about their programs, resources, and student life. 

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