Admissions FAQ

• How do I apply?

• What is the application deadline?

• Can I apply to begin my studies during the Spring Term?

• What code do I use for the GRE score report?

• What is the minimum score required on the GRE?

• What are the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilization's Program/Subject codes for the application for admissions?

• How many students are in the graduate program at NELC?

• Is the TOEFL required and what is the minimum score required on the TOEFL?

• Can I apply to the doctoral program without a master's degree?

• In order to be admitted to a degree program in NELC, is knowledge of ancient and modern languages required, and if so, to what degree?

• If I am offered admission, can I defer?

• How do I know that NELC is the appropriate department at Harvard University to which to apply?

• How do I fund my graduate studies at NELC?

• What are the prerequisites for admissions to NELC?

• Does NELC have any application materials required in addition to those required by GSAS?

• How many times may I apply to NELC and GSAS?

• What is the job placement like for graduates from the department?

• Is there a minimum/maximum word count or a page limit on the writing sample required for admissions?

• What if the answers to the above questions do not answer all the questions that I have?

How do I apply?
The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations does NOT send out applications for admissions and financial aid. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) of Harvard University administers the application process for graduate admissions and financial aid to the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC). Requests must be made to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). You may contact GSAS by calling them at (617) 495-5315. Online submission of applications is required; please click here to begin your online application. Please do NOT send ANY application materials directly to NELC.
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What is the application deadline?
For admissions for Fall 2009, the deadline for the receipt of ALL application materials is December 31, 2009. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and NELC cannot guarantee ANY considerations of any material received after this date.
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Can I apply to begin my studies during the Spring Term?
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences only accepts applications for admissions and financial aid for graduate studies that commence during the Fall Term.
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What code do I use for the GRE score report?
Scores should be reported to Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Code 3451.
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What is the minimum score required on the GRE?
NELC does not have a set minimum score required for admissions. Given the competitive nature of admissions to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), where approximately 12 percent of the applicant pool is offered admissions, the GRE score is taken seriously and is an important part of the application. The department looks at the scores within the context of all the submitted application materials in order to assess the applicant's potential for graduate study at Harvard.
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What are the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilization's Program/Subject codes for the application for admissions?
On the application for admission you are asked to indicate the number and name of the program and subject that you anticipate studying at the Graduate School. Listed below are the programs and subjects offered.
4900 Unspecified
4955 Ancient Near Eastern Studies
4956 Jewish History and Culture
4957 History and Culture of the Islamic World

How many students are in the graduate program at NELC?
There are about 100 graduate students in the NELC department with about 15 new students per academic year. For a list of most of the graduate students within the department and their respective fields of concentration, please click here.
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Is the TOEFL required and what is the minimum score required on the TOEFL?
According to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), "A minimum score of 80 on the Internet based test (IBT) on the TOEFL is required for consideration by the Graduate School; some individual departments may require a higher score. Applicants who took the TOEFL more than two years ago must repeat the test. No test other than the TOEFL IBT will be acceptable as proof of English proficiency. Additionally, GSAS will use students’ scores on the speaking section of the TOEFL IBT to determine the oral proficiency of admitted students. It is therefore highly recommended that applicants take the TOEFL IBT whenever possible." (taken from the GSAS website, http://gsas.harvard.edu/prospective_students/application_instructions_and_information.php)
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Can I apply to the doctoral program without a master's degree?
Yes, you may apply into the doctoral program without a master's degree, but please note that the program is highly competitive and several applicants with whom you will be competing have the advantage of having had more years to develop and increase their competency. Therefore, an equivalent level of competence is desirable.
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In order to be admitted to a degree program in NELC, is knowledge of ancient and modern languages required, and if so, to what extent?
For the Master of Arts (A.M.) program: Before seeking admission, applicants will normally have attained a basic knowledge of a Near Eastern language central to their field of concention. In addition, advanced reading knowledge of either French or German is normally required before admission.

For the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) program: Before seeking admission, applicants will normally have attained an ability to read and comprehend sources in the Near Eastern language central to their field of concentration. In addition, advanced reading knowledge of French or German is normally required before admission to a doctoral program; the student will be tested prior to the first week of classes in the first term.
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If I am offered admission, can I defer?
No; you should seriously consider applying when you are most capable of attending. Please note that the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will not accept more than three applications from any individual during course of his or her academic career. This includes readmission applications! For more information about readmission click here.
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How do I know that NELC is the appropriate department at Harvard University to which to apply?
There are several programs that overlap with fields of study at NELC. This includes programs within GSAS and at other schools at Harvard University. Several NELC faculty have joint appointments within or affiliations with other departments and/or committees in GSAS or other schools at Harvard University. You should research other programs and contact faculty members to ensure that NELC is the appropriate department to which to apply. Below are listed some programs that should also be checked-out:
Degrees offered in the Committee on the Study of Religion (GSAS)
Degrees offered in Middle Eastern Studies (GSAS)
Degree offered in History (GSAS)
Degrees offered at Harvard Divinity School
Islamic Legal Studies Program through the Harvard School of Law
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How do I fund my graduate studies at NELC?
For the the Master of Arts (A.M.) program: The GSAS does not offer university aid to students in the A.M. program. For some helpful information about financing a A.M. degree, please click here . Applicants are encouraged to research other outside sources for their funding.
For the Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program: Given financial need, NELC does its best to provide both tuition costs and a stipend for the first two years of study. For the third and fourth years, students generally receive funding in the form of teaching fellowships, for which a student may also be eligible in subsequent years. For additional information, please see the information about financial aid found on GSAS's website by clicking here.
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What are the prerequisites for admissions to NELC?
In addition to the academic requirements of the GSAS (for these requirements click here), the following prerequisites serve as a guideline for admissions to the department:

For the Master of Arts (A.M.): The bachelor's degree (AB). Before seeking admission to the department, applicants will normally have attained a basic knowledge of a Near Eastern language central to their field of concentration. In addition, advanced reading knowledge of French or German is normally required before admission. GRE is required.

For the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): The AM degree (see above), or an equivalent level of competence, is desirable. Before seeking admission to the department, applicants will normally have attained an ability to read and comprehend sources in the Near Eastern language central to their field of concentration. GRE is required. In addition, advanced reading knowledge of French or German is normally required before admission to a doctoral program; the student will be tested prior to the first week of classes in the first term.
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Does NELC have any application materials required in addition to those required by GSAS?
In addition to the application materials requested by GSAS (for these, click here), no application to the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations will be considered complete unless accompanied by a recent sample of the student's written work (e.g., term paper, senior thesis, master's essay, etc.). There is not a specified length for this writing sample. However, one should keep in mind that the admissions committee may not have the time to examine carefully a large writing sample in its entirety.
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How many times may I apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS)?
GSAS will not accept more than three applications from any individual during course of his or her academic career.
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What is the job placement like for graduates from the department?
For a list of job placements of some recent graduates from the department, please click here.
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Is there a minimum/maximum word count or a page limit on the writing sample required for admissions?
The guideline is as follows: "No application to the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations will be considered complete unless accompanied by a recent sample of the student's written work (e.g., term paper, senior thesis, master's essay, etc.)." So, is there a minimum/maximum word count or a page limit on the writing sample required for admissions? No, there is not a minimum/maximum word count or a page limit on the writing sample that you submit.  However, the admissions committee would probably not be able to examine the entirety of long writing sample, so you should keep this in mind when selecting your writing sample to submit.
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