Financial Support
Financial Aid
Tuition and Stipend
HMS PhD students receive full tuition and stipend support, as outlined in their financial aid offer, while they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D. degree.
Health Insurance and Benefits
Students are eligible to enroll in the Harvard University Student Health Program (HUSHP). Students are not responsible for paying the yearly health fee. Please see a summary of the benefits offered with HUSHP or visit their website to learn more about these benefits.
Relocation Allowance
Upon matriculation to the program, all students are given a one-time $1,000 relocation allowance
More Financial Support
HMS OGE PhD Programs Childcare Scholarship
HMS OGE PhD Program students with children may apply for additional support from the HMS OGE PhD Program Child Care Scholarship. These funds are paid out twice a year for a maximum of five years.
Parental Accommodations and Financial Support
Students enrolled in PhD programs at Harvard Griffin GSAS who are expecting a child either by adoption or childbirth are eligible for the PAFS program.
And More
Explore more family benefits on the HMS Office for Graduate Education Child Care Support page.
Harvard Griffin GSAS Hardship Fund
At the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, we understand that an emergency can cause significant stress and uncertainty, impacting your academic success and personal well-being. Students who experience financial hardship as the result of an emergency are encouraged to connect with the Office of Financial Aid. The financial aid staff can provide guidance and advice in navigating available resources.
HGSU-UAW Emergency Grant Fund
The contract between Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate Student Union (HGSU-UAW) establishes a fund of $50,000 to provide student workers with funds to meet temporary hardship due to a significant emergency event.
The Harvard Graduate Students Union manages a number of benefit funds. If a student is appointed to a union position, they may speak to a union representative about other benefits available under the contract between HGSU-UAW and the University.
Please see the HMS OGE PhD website for more information.
Note: The HMS OGE PhD Travel Allowance is paused effective Monday, March 24, 2025. No travel expenses incurred after this date will be eligible to be covered by the fund.
Helpful Links
Any grant or stipend amount awarded in excess of tuition, required fees, books, and supplies is subject to federal income tax, as is any funding contingent upon providing service to the University (for example, teaching fellowships or research assistantships). Depending on citizenship and physical location, income taxes may or may not be withheld from stipend payments. More details are available from Harvard University Student Financial Services. Students are urged to review this information and ensure that they incorporate any resulting tax obligation into their financial planning.
If you have questions about US income taxes, visit the taxes page of Harvard's University Student Financial Services (SFS), where you will find information about federal and Massachusetts taxes, information specific to international students, access to Harvard-issued tax forms, and tax FAQs.
Harvard Griffin GSAS partners with the Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council in hosting tax workshops for domestic and international students. Upcoming Tax Talks are posted on the GSAS calendar and past events appear on Harvard Griffin GSAS’s YouTube channel.
Harvard Student Financial Services Tax Information
Direct Deposit is the most efficient way for you to receive your stipend. Once hired, you will receive an email from studentaccountoperations_fad@harvard.edu prompting you to login to PeopleSoft and enter your direct deposit details. Once you receive this email, enter your bank account information online by going to HARVie and clicking on the PeopleSoft link at the top right. Once in PeopleSoft, within the Self Service menu, click on My Pay and then Deposit. If you want to review any paystubs, you can also do that through the Self Service menu in PeopleSoft by clicking on the Paychecks option.