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HARVARD SCHOOL A Guide to COMBINED DEGREES

Introduction t Number and type of t Avoiding early repayment 1 required courses page 7 when moving between About the combined schools page 13 degree page 1 t Residency requirements page 10 t Visa documentation for Understanding academic How do joint and concurrent international students page 14 degrees differ? page 1 regulations for hks degree programs page 10 t Summer Internship Fund page 14 Approved combined degree Transitioning smoothly programs page 2 t Switching to the mpa Program page 10 between schools page 14 Advantages and disadvantages Area of Graduating page 15 of a combined degree t Concentration page 11 program page 4 Exercise 5 Contact Information Admission and and Second Year Policy page 16 Analysis page 11 2 Enrollment Applying to a combined Logistics degree program page 5 4 Staying in touch with More admission t HKS page 12 information page 6 Receiving or applying for Enrolling in a combined financial assistance page 12 degree program page 6 t Which school provides financial assistance? Where and when do I Academic Rules 3 apply? page 12 Meeting hks course and t Deferring hks admission: residency requirements page 7 impact on financial assistance package page 13

www.hks.harvard.edu/joint

REVISED 11/16 A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 1

1 A growing number of (hks) students are pursuing joint and concurrent degrees with professional Introduction graduate schools either at Harvard or other academic institu- tions approved by hks faculty members. This challenging degree track is rewarding, but not for everyone.

This guide is designed to help you — current and prospective hks students — under- stand the intricacies of a combined degree experience to determine whether it is the right fit for your unique academic, career, and personal aspirations. Combined degree students currently enrolled at hks will benefit from this guide as well. They will need to have a clear understanding of the rules and regulations at both schools, and this guide can be useful in navigating the hks portion of their degree program. About the combined degree Joint and concurrent degrees allow students to earn two degrees in less time by reducing their coursework and residency requirements. To be eligible, students must be admitted to hks as well as a professional graduate school either at Harvard or another academic institution approved by hks faculty members. In recent years, about 25 percent of our two-year students enroll in a joint or concurrent degree program. Typically, students complete their degrees in one year less than if they earned them consecutively. For instance, it takes five years to earn a Master in (mpp) and a (jd) separately — two years for an mpp and three for a jd — but only four years when pursued concurrently. Joint or concurrent degree students are committing themselves to two degree programs at two different institutions. Because of this commitment, they will only graduate once they have met the requirements for both degrees. How do joint and concurrent degrees differ? Harvard Kennedy School offers students two distinct combined degree programs. The joint degree program with either Harvard or Harvard features integrated coursework that has been developed by faculty members from hks and hbs or hls to provide students with a more holistic learning experience. The concurrent degree program allows students to pursue degrees at hks and at a partner school; however, the coursework is not as closely integrated as the joint degree program. Students in a concurrent degree program are responsible for weaving together the two halves of their learning experience on their own. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 2

1 Approved combined degree programs Harvard Kennedy School faculty members approved 22 joint and concurrent degree Introduction programs with partner schools both within and outside Harvard. Aside from U.S. medical schools, it is unlikely hks will approve additional joint or concurrent degree programs at this point in time. Only mpp, mpa/id, or two-year mpa students may enroll in the following combined degree programs:

Joint degrees with or hks has formal joint degree programs with Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School. Due to the unique nature of the curricular requirements, only mpp and mpa/id students may enroll in these programs. hks/hbs students spend their first year at hks, the second year at hbs, and one semester at each school for their final year. hks/hls students spend a full year — either during their first or second year of the combined program — at hks to complete their core curriculum, after which they are in-residence at hls; they cross-register into hks for the courses they need to complete their hks degree. Joint degree students must complete specifically-designed coursework as well as a capstone seminar, which includes either the Policy Analysis Exercise (pae) or Second Year Policy Analysis (sypa) for hks/hbs students, or the Integrated Written Project for hks/hls candidates.

Concurrent degrees with , Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard , or Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Students can earn concurrent degrees with Harvard Divinity School (hds), Harvard Graduate School of Design (gsd), (hms), or Harvard School of Dental Medicine (hsdm). hks students concurrent with hds or gsd must spend one year at that school, one year at hks, and one semester at each school for their final year. Those concurrent with hms or hsdm spend their first year at hks, after which they are in-residence at hms or hsdm and cross-register into hks for courses they need to complete their hks degree.

Concurrent degrees with schools other than Harvard Students may combine their mpp, mpa/id, or two-year mpa degrees with a busi- ness, law, or medical degree so long as it is: — a (e.g., an mba or jd, not a PhD or academic master’s degree) — at least a two-year program — completed at an institution that has been approved by hks faculty members Concurrent degree students alternate between hks and the other school through- out their degree program rather than completing one degree before beginning the other. They must complete at least three semesters at hks. mpp or mpa/id concur- rent degree students must spend a full academic year at hks to complete their core curriculum, and then split their final year between their two schools. mpa students may split either their first or final year at hks; those who choose to split their first year must be in-residence at hks for the fall semester. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 3

1 Students may pursue concurrent degrees with the following approved non-Harvard schools:

Introduction Business — MIT Sloan School of — Stanford Graduate School of Business —  at Dartmouth — Wharton School at the University of

Law — Berkeley Law, University of —  —  School of Law — Georgetown Law —  School of Law — Northwestern University School of Law —  — University of Law School — University of Pennsylvania Law School — Yale Law School

Medical — University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine — Ad hoc programs may be permitted with other U.S.-based Liaison Committee on Medical Education (lcme)-accredited medical schools. Speak with Associate Dean for Degree Programs and Student Affairs Debra Isaacson if you are interested in pursuing a concurrent degree with other medical schools.

The Graduate Institute, Geneva hks has partnered with the Graduate Institute, Geneva to offer a two-year dual degree program that may only be combined with a Mid-Career mpa degree. Dual degree students pursue a Master in International Affairs or a Master in Develop- ment Studies at the institute, and earn a Mid-Career mpa degree at hks during their second year. Students who complete the program requirements for both schools will earn two master’s degrees in two years rather than three if they attended the programs consecutively. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 4

1 Advantages and disadvantages Introduction of a combined degree program There are realities associated with pursuing a joint or concurrent degree. Consider the advantages and disadvantages listed below: Advantages By combining two degrees, students: — develop broader insight from a second discipline — gain additional skills and perspective in a shorter amount of time — save on tuition and enter the job market faster than earning two degrees back-to-back — present additional degree credentials to potential employers Disadvantages Pursuing a combined degree does have some costs. Students: — typically graduate with classmates other than those with whom they began their program — take fewer elective credits because of reduced course requirements, but the degree program core or distribution requirements remain the same — assume extra moving expenses if pursuing a concurrent degree with a school outside the Cambridge/ area — face logistical challenges as they balance the demands of two different programs A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 5

2 Students interested in pursuing a combined degree must be admitted to hks as well as the other school. Admission to one Admission program does not guarantee admission to the other. and Enrollment

Applying to a combined degree program Different schools have different application requirements and options. See below for a brief explanation.

Harvard Business School Students must apply and be admitted to both hks and hbs in the same year. If admitted to both schools, students can opt in to the hks/hbs joint degree program. All joint hks/hbs candidates spend their first year at hks.

Harvard Law School Students have the option to apply to the hks/hls joint degree program at the same time or apply to one school while enrolled in the other. If admitted at the same time, students can typically decide whether to begin the program at hks or hls. Once admitted to both schools, students must follow instructions from hks and hls to formally enroll as a joint degree student and confirm where to be in-residence for each academic year. Note that potential financial assistance packages awarded by hks — including merit-based fellowships — may be rescinded if students begin at hls. If students did not apply to hks and hls at the same time, hks requires them to have at least one year remaining in their program by the time they are admitted to hls. hls does not allow students who are in their second or third years to apply to hks for the joint degree program.

Concurrent Degrees There are two options to apply to a concurrent degree program. Students may apply to hks and the partner school at the same time, or apply to one school while enrolled in the first year at the other.

The Graduate Institute, Geneva Students must apply and be admitted to hks and the Graduate Institute, Geneva at the same time. Current hks students are not eligible to enroll at the institute through this program. Admitted students spend their first year at the Graduate Institute, Geneva to pursue a Master in International Affairs or a Master in Development Studies, and their second year at hks to earn a Mid-Career mpa degree. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 6

2 More admission information — Students are typically required to submit gre or gmat scores as part of their hks Admission application. and Enrollment — For hks/hls applicants, they may submit lsat scores only if they are first-years at hls, but they must submit a written request to the hls admissions office to have their lsat scores sent to hks. Applicants not enrolled at hls must submit gre or gmat scores. — For hks/hms applicants, they may submit their mcat score rather than the gre or gmat, but they must submit a written request to the hms admissions office to have their mcat scores sent to hks. If students are applying to medical schools other than hms, they may only submit gre or gmat scores. — The mpa/id Program does not accept lsat or mcat scores. — F or first-year hks students applying to concurrent degree programs that require a school official to complete a certification form (“Dean’s Certification” or “State- ment of Good Standing”), provide the form and a stamped envelope addressed to the correct admissions office to Associate Dean for Degree Programs and Student Affairs Debra Isaacson. Enrolling in a combined degree program Once students are admitted and decide to enroll at hks and their other school, they must share their plans with the appropriate hks office. Prior to matriculating at hks, students must notify the Office of Admissions by submitting the “Combined Degree Study Plan” in the New Admit portal. If students are admitted to a joint or combined degree program after beginning their studies at hks, they must e-mail the hks Registrar’s Office ([email protected]) to notify them of their change in status. Once their status is officially changed, students will have access in my.harvard.edu to submit their “flight plan” ­— when they will be in-residence at their two schools. Students must also notify their other school about their joint or concurrent degree status and submit any required paperwork. Students are expected to follow their flight plan after they have been submitted, but if their plans change they must notify the hks Registrar’s Office as soon as possible. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 7

3 Because joint and concurrent degree students earn two degrees at the same time, they are given a “discount” on their coursework Academic and residency requirements. They must keep careful track of the Rules rules and requirements specific to their course of study.

Meeting hks course and residency requirements Combined degree students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all hks course and residency requirements to be eligible to graduate.

Number and type of required courses The number and type of required courses for combined degree students vary based on their program. Different scenarios are illustrated below.

HARVARD MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA BUSINESS SCHOOL # of HKS credits 52 HKS + 2 Joint 52 HKS + 2 Joint N/A N/A HKS — MPP core — MPA/ID core N/A N/A requirements — First-Year Joint Degree Seminar — First-Year Joint Degree Seminar — Second-Year Joint — Second-Year Joint Degree Seminar Degree Seminar

Joint Degrees Joint — Third-Year Business- — Third-Year Business-Government Integrative Course Integrative Course — PAE/PAC Seminar** — SYPA/Seminar — At least 12 elective credits (Year 3) — At least 8 elective credits (Year 2)

Years total 3 3 N/A N/A

Semesters 3 3 N/A N/A in-residence at HKS

HARVARD MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA LAW SCHOOL # of HKS credits 48 52 N/A N/A HKS — MPP core — MPA/ID core N/A N/A requirements — Joint Degree Program Seminar — Joint Degree Program Seminar (Year 3) (Year 3) — Integrated Written Project — Integrated Written Project (including writing workshop (including writing workshop module) module) — At least 12 elective credits after — At least 12 elective credits completion of Year 1 at HKS (preferably in different semesters) (preferably in different semesters)

Years total 4 4 N/A N/A

Semesters 2 2 N/A N/A in-residence at HKS*

* Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per semester to satisfy the hks residency requirement. ** Concurrent mpp students who are International and Global Affairs (iga) concentrators must also complete iga-100, 8 iga-approved distribution credits, and 4 additional elective credits. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 8

3 HARVARD MPP MPA/ID MPA (HSDM only) MC/MPA MEDICAL 3 SCHOOL # of HKS credits 48 52 48 N/A or HKS — MPP core — MPA/ID core — Four credits in each of N/A requirements the 3 methodological areas — PAE/PAC Seminar** — SYPA/Seminar HARVARD (analytics; management and SCHOOL — At least 14 elective credits — 0 to 12 additional elective leadership; DPI) credits (depending on — 36 elective credits OF DENTAL other school) MEDICINE Years total 5 5 5 N/A

Semesters 2 3 2 N/A in-residence at HKS* Concurrent Degrees Concurrent

HARVARD MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA DIVINITY SCHOOL # of HKS credits 48 52 48 N/A or HKS — MPP core — MPA/ID core — Four credits in each of N/A requirements the 3 methodological areas — PAE/PAC Seminar** — SYPA/Seminar HARVARD (analytics; management and GRADUATE — At least 14 elective credits — 0 to 12 additional elective leadership; DPI) credits (depending on — 36 elective credits SCHOOL other school)

OF DESIGN Years total 3 3 3 N/A

Semesters 3 3 3 N/A in-residence at HKS*

BUSINESS MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA MIT Sloan School of Management # of HKS credits 48 52 48 N/A

Stanford Graduate HKS — MPP core — MPA/ID core — Four credits in each of N/A School of Business requirements the 3 methodological areas — PAE/PAC Seminar** — SYPA/Seminar (analytics; management and Tuck School of — At least 14 elective credits — 0 to 12 additional elective leadership; DPI) Business at Dartmouth credits (depending on — 36 elective credits other school) Wharton School at the University Years total 3 3 3 N/A of Pennsylvania Semesters 3 3 3 N/A in-residence at HKS*

* Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per semester to satisfy the hks residency requirement. Non-Harvard Concurrent Degrees Concurrent Non-Harvard ** Concurrent mpp students who are International and Global Affairs (iga) concentrators must also complete iga-100, 8 iga-approved distribution credits, and 4 additional elective credits. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 9 3 LAW MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA Berkeley Law, University of California # of HKS credits 48 52 48 N/A

Columbia Law School HKS — MPP core — MPA/ID core — Four credits in each of N/A requirements the 3 methodological areas Duke University — PAE/PAC Seminar** — SYPA/Seminar School of Law (analytics; management and — At least 14 elective credits — 0 to 12 additional elective leadership; DPI) Georgetown Law credits (depending on — 36 elective credits other school) New York University School of Law Years total 4 4 4 N/A Northwestern University Semesters 3 3 3 N/A School of Law in-residence at HKS* Stanford Law School Law School University of Pennsylvania Law School Non-Harvard Concurrent Degrees Concurrent Non-Harvard MEDICINE MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA University of California, # of HKS credits 48 52 48 N/A San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine HKS — MPP core — MPA/ID core — Four credits in each of N/A requirements the 3 methodological areas — PAE/PAC Seminar** — SYPA/Seminar Other accredited U.S. (analytics; management and medical schools on a — At least 14 elective credits — 0 to 12 additional elective leadership; DPI) case-by-case basis credits (depending on — 36 elective credits other school)

Years total 5 5 5 N/A

Semesters 3 3 3 N/A in-residence at HKS*

THE MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA GRADUATE INSTITUTE, # of HKS credits N/A N/A N/A 32 GENEVA HKS N/A N/A N/A — Four credits in each of the 3 requirements methodological areas (analytics; management and leadership; DPI) — 20 elective credits Dual Degree Dual Years total N/A N/A N/A 2

Semesters N/A N/A N/A 2 + MC/MPA Summer Program in-residence at HKS*

* Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per semester to satisfy the hks residency requirement. ** Concurrent mpp students who are International and Global Affairs (iga) concentrators must also complete iga-100, 8 iga-approved distribution credits, and 4 additional elective credits. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 10

Combined degree students must be aware that zero (0) credits will be applied to an 3 hks degree for courses that are in the same discipline as their joint or concurrent Academic degree — regardless of whether they are completing the other degree at a Harvard school. For example, if you are pursuing an mpp/jd degree with Columbia Law School, Rules you cannot apply any courses completed at hls to the 48 credits required for an mpp degree. This rule is retroactive. If you are a first-year hks student and have applied or plan to apply to other schools for a combined degree, cross-registered courses in that discipline cannot be applied to your hks degree requirements.

Residency requirements Pursuing a combined degree reduces the amount of time required to be in-residence at hks from four semesters to either two or three — depending on the school where students are completing their combined degree. hks/hls, hks/hms, or hks/hsdm degree students must be in-residence at hks for a full academic year, after which they can cross-register into hks for their remaining years at Harvard to complete their hks degree requirements. Students pursuing combined degrees with hbs, hds, gsd, or a school other than Harvard must be in-residence at hks for a full academic year plus one additional semester before graduating from either degree program. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits each term while at hks to satisfy residency requirements. This may mean they will have more total credits than the minimum required to earn their hks degree. MIT does not reduce the required number of credits needed to earn an MIT Sloan mba. Students pursuing a concurrent degree with MIT Sloan can cross-register into courses at MIT while they are in-residence at hks; however, these cross-registered MIT courses cannot be applied toward the hks degree. Concurrent students pursuing a jd may not take hls courses for credit toward their jd or their hks degree.

Understanding academic regulations for hks degree programs Combined degree students are responsible for understanding hks academic regulations to ensure that they are eligible to graduate from their degree programs.

Switching to the mpa Program Concurrent mpp/mba students may switch to the mpa Program before they begin any of their three semesters at hks. hks students who apply, are admitted, and agree to enroll in a partner mba program during their first year at hks may switch to the mpa Program before they begin their second semester at hks — so long as they confirm their matriculation in time — or before their final term at hks. hks/hbs, hks/hls, and hks/hms students may not switch to the mpa Program. mpp students in concurrent degree programs — other than mba — who want to switch to the mpa Program may only do so once they complete the first-year mpp core curriculum. Students interested in switching to the mpa Program should contact Associate Dean for Degree Programs Student Affairs Debra Isaacson for more information. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 11

Policy Area of Concentration 3 Joint or concurrent mpp students do not need to complete a Policy Area of Concentra- tion — unless they want to graduate as an International and Global Affairs (iga) Academic concentrator. See the iga Fact Sheet for more information. Rules Policy Analysis Exercise and Second Year Policy Analysis Combined degree mpp students — except for joint hks/hls students — must complete their Policy Analysis Exercise (pae) and related seminar. Combined degree mpa/id students — except for joint hks/hls students — must complete the Second Year Policy Analysis (sypa). hks/hls students must complete the Joint Degree Program Seminar in Year 3 and the Integrated Written Project and related writing workshop in Year 4 instead of the pae or sypa requirement. The pae and sypa seminars are held from September through March. Concurrent students at hks during the fall semester can complete their pae or sypa in late December or early January, or adhere to the March deadline. mpp candidates who are only at hks in the spring semester can begin their pae during the fall semester while not in-residence or wait to begin their pae when they arrive at hks in the spring. In either case, they must contact their pae or sypa seminar leader(s) at the beginning of the academic year to establish a timeline and ask for guidance. All students must complete their pae by the March deadline. Joint mpp or mpa/id students pursuing an mba at hbs must identify an hbs advisor — in addition to their hks advisor — for their pae project. Similarly, students concur- rent with hms must identify an hms mentor to oversee their project. Concurrent students who are required to spend three semesters in-residence at hks receive full-course credit for the pae or sypa seminar during their final semester, despite the seminar being a full-year course. The four credits will be applied to the 12-credit minimum needed to meet the residency requirement. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 12

Completing a combined degree has unique challenges, particu- 4 larly being away from the hks and fulfilling require- Logistics ments for two schools. This section provides some practical information and tips on how to ensure a smoother experience.

Staying in touch with hks Before leaving for their other school, students must share their new mailing address with the hks Registrar’s Office to ensure that they receive mail from hks; they can do this at my.harvard.edu. Students are urged to check their hks e-mail regularly. If their timing changes after submitting a flight plan, they must notify the hks Registrar’s Office as soon as possible to confirm when they will return to hks. Receiving or applying for financial assistance This section addresses some commonly asked questions about financial assistance, which combined degree students may receive to fund their education. Every situation is different, so we urge students to meet with their assigned financial aid officer to talk about their degree plans or contact the hks Student Financial Services (sfs) Office.

Which school provides financial assistance? Where and when do I apply? Financial assistance is awarded for a specific semester, term, or academic year by the school where you are registered for that semester or term. Stay up to date on the financial assistance application deadlines and requirements for hks and your other school. If you receive a two-year hks fellowship but will be in-residence for only two or three semesters as a full-time hks student, you will receive funding only for those semesters. The following examples illustrate some different scenarios.

I am pursuing a combined degree with a non-Harvard school Financial assistance is only provided by the school in which you will be enrolled at any given semester or term. You must apply for financial assistance at each school for the semesters that you will be enrolled. At hks, you will only apply for financial assistance when you are submitting your hks admission application; assistance will be renewed each semester unless otherwise advised. For each subsequent semester, you will only need to notify the hks Student Financial Services (sfs) Office of your return to hks before the start of the academic year. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 13

4 For example, if you are a concurrent degree student with Wharton, you will apply for financial assistance at the following times:

Logistics Enrolled term School Where to apply When to apply

Fall 2016 and HKS HKS Notify SFS of enrollment before Spring 2017 the start of the academic year

Fall 2017 and Wharton Wharton Wharton school policy Spring 2018

Fall 2018 Wharton Wharton Wharton school policy

Spring 2019 HKS HKS Notify SFS of enrollment before the start of the academic year

In this scenario, you will return to hks for your third semester in Spring 2019 and must notify sfs of your enrollment before the start of the 2018–2019 academic year.

I am pursuing a combined degree with hbs, hds, or gsd If you are enrolled at hbs, hds, or gsd, you will follow the same timeline as students pursuing concurrent degrees with non-Harvard schools as illustrated above. Because you are required to complete three semesters at hks, you will apply for financial assistance when you submit your hks admission application and when you notify sfs — before the start of the 2018–2019 academic year — that you will be returning to hks for your third semester.

I am pursuing a combined degree with hls, hms, or hsdm If you are enrolled at hls, hms, or hsdm, you must apply for financial assistance for the year you are in-residence at hks. For the remainder of your degree program, you will apply for and receive financial assistance from your other school. Even when you are taking classes at hks but the majority of your courses are held at hls or hms, you must apply for and receive financial assistance from hls or hms.

Deferring hks admission: impact on financial assistance package Any financial assistance packages — including merit-based fellowships — that students may receive are only distributed in the year in which they are awarded. If students apply to hks and the other school at the same time, and defer hks admis- sion to begin at the other school, they must reapply for financial assistance and meet all applicable deadlines before enrolling at hks. There are no guarantees that the hks financial assistance package will be the same combination of fellowships, scholar- ships, work-study, and loans that were originally awarded.

Avoiding early repayment when moving between schools If students have taken or plan to take out student loans to help fund their education, they cannot go into repayment while completing their degrees. The U.S. government pays the interest on subsidized loans while they are enrolled in school; however, their loans will accrue interest once they graduate. If this scenario applies to you, your loans from one school do not need to go into repayment while you are enrolled at the other so long as the second school has reported you to the National Student Loan Clearinghouse as an enrolled student. You can check your enrollment status on the U.S. Department of Education database. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 14

4 Regardless of which school you are attending, you should be listed as full time at the top of the screen. If this is not the case, contact the Registrar’s office of the school in Logistics which you are currently enrolled as soon as possible to make sure your loans do not go into repayment. If you are completing a concurrent degree with a non-Harvard school and have student loans that have extended beyond the grace period, you must take action the summer between moving from one school to the other to avoid going into repayment. If you find yourself in this situation, you are eligible for a summer bridge deferment but it is not automatic and requires you to take extra steps. Contact your lender(s) to inform them that you are enrolled in two different programs as a concurrent degree student and will continue your studies in the fall. Lenders must allow a summer bridge deferment and may require you to submit documentation in writing.

Visa documentation for international students All international students are responsible for obtaining and maintaining valid visa documentation. If you are an international student pursuing a combined degree and your schools are preparing your travel documents (the I-20 for an F-1 student visa; the DS-2019 for a J-1 student visa), you must have each of them prepare travel documents for the semes- ters you will be enrolled. Your schools will have procedures and for you to follow to issue your travel documents and transfer your visa between your schools. Familiarize yourself with these procedures after you are admitted to each school. If a sponsoring agency (amideast, Fulbright, iie, laspau, or usaid, for example) is preparing the DS-2019 for your J-1 student visa, ask them about the procedures you will need to follow. Contact the hks Student Financial Services Office with any questions or concerns.

Summer Internship Fund Combined degree students are eligible to receive funding from the Summer Intern- ship Fund (sif) starting the summer after they are in-residence at hks. sif funding is awarded one time only. Transitioning smoothly between schools Students are advised to take specific steps to ensure a smooth transition between their semesters at hks and their other school. As a combined degree student, consider doing the following: — Notify the hks Registrar’s Office if your flight plan has changed; you can do so on my.harvard.edu on the Flight Plans page under the Student Home tab. — Decide if it would be easier to return to hks in the fall or spring for your final semester. It may be easier for mpp students to complete their pae by returning in the fall. mpa/ids must return in the fall semester to finish their second-year core requirements. — Find out if hks’s spring grade reporting deadline in late May will interfere with your graduation plans from your other school. Typically, partner schools will accept written confirmation — instead of an official grade report — from the hks Registrar’s Office confirming that you are on-track to graduate. — Confirm deadlines to apply/reapply for financial assistance at hks and your other school. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 15

4 — Create a moving and housing plan if you are pursuing a concurrent degree with a school outside the Cambridge/Boston area. If you are returning to hks for a Logistics semester, the housing forum at the bottom of the KNet homepage may be a good resource for short-term housing. Housing (huh) resources may also be useful. If you are interested in applying for Harvard housing, contact the hks Registrar’s Office ahead of the application deadline to receive your enrollment confirmation. huh offers one-year leases that only correspond to the academic year. You should not apply for university housing if you plan on being at Harvard for less than a full academic year. — Check with other combined degree students who are in their final year to see who will return for the fall or spring semesters. You might find a classmate to share a one-year lease with if you are returning to hks for different semesters. — Buy Harvard University’s Blue Cross health insurance plan to comply with Massa- chusetts law, which requires you to have healthcare coverage while you are enrolled at hks. You might be waived from buying Harvard’s plan if you already hold an acceptable health insurance plan; your other school may have a similar requirement. Learn about the individual requirements and waiver policies to avoid being double-charged for insurance plans at both schools. Once you enroll at hks, you can extend your Harvard health insurance plan for up to two semesters at your other school; however, primary care benefits under the university plan may be limited or subject to co-pays and deductibles if you are unable to use Harvard student clinics for primary care. More information is available on the Harvard University Health Services website. Graduating — Combined degree students must apply to graduate from hks and their other school at the same time. hks will contact the other school to confirm students have met the graduation requirements. — Students will need to stay up to date on the graduation application deadlines for hks and their other school. The hks application deadline is usually in March to graduate in June. A GUIDE TO COMBINED DEGREES page 16

5 For questions about Contact Contact Joint and concurrent degree HKS Registrar’s Office Information tracking forms, HKS enrollment, 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 165 and enrollment verification Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-1155 [email protected]

Academic requirements for HKS Degree program points of contact degrees (e.g., PACs, distribution, — Eleni Cortis, MPP core requirements) 617-496-8593 [email protected]

— Carol Finney, MPA/ID 617-495-7799 [email protected]

— Emma Heffern, MPA 617-496-4312 [email protected]

HKS financial assistance Student Financial Services 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 165 Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-1155 [email protected]

HKS admissions Enrollment Services 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 165 Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-1155 [email protected]

Admission to or requirements Contact the school’s combined degree coordinator for other schools or Registrar’s office, and/or their admissions office

Degree program change Debra Isaacson forms and questions about Associate Dean for Degree Programs and Student Affairs combined degrees 79 JFK Street, Littauer 131 Cambridge, MA 02138 [email protected]