Applications for Fall 2026 admission will open in September 2025. The deadline to submit applications for Fall 2026 admission will be December 1, 2025 for all programs. All required materials, including letters of recommendation and test scores, must be submitted no later than this deadline to be considered for admission.

To be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate applicants in his/her senior year are welcome to apply. Here’s what you’ll need to apply:

• Completed online application form
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts for all college/university degrees and courses: Self-reported transcripts are accepted for all programs. Applicants must upload copies of all transcripts to the online application system.
• Current GMAT or GRE scores
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (non-native English speakers who did not receive an undergraduate degree from a university of college where the primary language of instruction is English)
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from an academic source).
• Recommendation letters must be submitted online through the online application system. Hard copy recommendation letters will not be accepted.
• $105 application fee via credit card.

No. Applications will only be accepted via the online application tool.

Some students have an MBA or another master’s degree before entering the program. However, an MBA or another master’s degree is not required for admissions.

Students in Harvard Business School Doctoral Programs represent diverse backgrounds, degrees, undergraduate schools, and disciplines - including physics, math, economics, psychology, and engineering. Some students enter our doctoral programs upon graduation from college, while others spend a few years working before they pursue a career in business academia. However, all students in our doctoral programs have strong quantitative and analytical skills, as demonstrated by their records of academic performance and test scores. Ultimately, we are looking for applicants with strong potential for conducting innovative and independent research that also have the motivation and drive to pursue a career in business academia. Having letters of recommendation from faculty who are able to comment on your research skills and potential is particularly helpful for the admissions committee when considering your fit for our program.

It's never too soon to consider a career in academia—nor too late. The profile of today's doctoral students in business administration reflects a diverse cross section of society—virtually all life stages, professional experiences, nationalities, and economic and ethnic backgrounds are represented. The existing range of schools and programs offers a wealth of possibilities for those interested in finding a program that will closely match their individual needs.

Contacting faculty prior to application is neither necessary nor recommended. Faculty members receive hundreds of emails from prospective students and regret that they are unable to respond to all inquiries. Prospective applicants are encouraged to explore faculty members’ research interests to see how their own research interests may align.

Yes. Applicants who applied last year may file a new application. We strongly recommend that you submit at least one new letter of recommendation from someone who has not written previously.

HBS Doctoral Programs will not accept more than three applications from any individual during the course of their academic career.

All applicants, regardless of background, are required to take either the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Submitted test scores are valid for no longer than 5 years. If you are applying for admission for Fall 2026, we will accept at-home versions of the GRE. You may submit scores from tests taken no earlier than January 5, 2021. There is no minimum test score requirement, and admissions committee does not have a preference in tests. It may be helpful to note that other programs may have a preference between the GRE and the GMAT, so be sure to investigate this.

We accept both valid GMAT 10th Edition scores and scores from the new GMAT Focus exams. As writing is an essential component of the PhD program, all students must submit an official writing assessment. As the GMAT Focus lacks a writing section, HBS will contact you at the interview stage about taking the separate GMAC Business Writing Assessment if you submit a GMAT Focus score.

HBS Doctoral Programs does not have a minimum GRE or GMAT requirement. Generally, successful applicants score in the 80th percentile or higher on their standardized tests.

The TOEFL or IELTS requirement may be waived only if the applicant's native language is English or if they submit a transcript indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree from a university or college where the primary language of instruction is English. A U.S. master’s degree will not supersede a U.S. bachelor’s degree in this case. Because of the rigorous nature of the academic coursework at Harvard, the committee prefers scores of at least 110 on the TOEFL and 7.5 on the IELTS.

Submitted scores must not be older than two years. If you are applying for admission for Fall 2026, you may submit scores from tests taken no earlier than January 5, 2024.

Applications for all of our interfaculty programs are processed by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Applicants may apply up to three programs in any given year through the GSAS online application system. Each application must be unique, containing a separate statement of purpose, transcripts, recommendations, and test scores; each application also requires a separate application fee. Please note that each submitted application counts toward the lifetime maximum of three applications per person.

Electronic transcripts are now accepted for all programs, so these should be uploaded to the application. Only upon admission will hard copy transcripts be required.