Financial Support
Students in the HMS Office for Graduate Education PhD Programs are eligible for a number of benefits through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and the HMS Office for Graduate Education. The list below is to highlight the many resources that are available to you as a graduate student.
Financial Aid
Tuition & Stipend
HMS OGE 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. Click the link for a summary of the benefits offered with HUSHP.
Please refer to their website to learn more about these benefits.
Relocation Allowance
Upon matriculation, all students are given a one-time $1,000 relocation allowance
Subsidies for Transportation and Dental Expenses
Harvard Griffin GSAS provides transportation and dental subsidies for all PhD students who qualify for institutional tuition grants and have not completed the Dissertation Completion Fellowship. Both subsidies are disbursed as a lump-sum stipend payment on September 1.
- Transportation Subsidy: $840
This stipend is intended to help with local transportation costs. Students might use the subsidy to offset costs of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) pass, parking, gas, or other transit-related expenses. MBTA semester passes are available to students at an 11 percent discount; students interested in this option should review the application process and eligibility criteria and direct any questions to the Office of Student Success. Enrollment in the MBTA semester pass program is not required to receive this subsidy. - Dental Subsidy: $300
This stipend supports dental expenses. The $300 amount covers the full expense of the Preventative Dental Plan offered through the Harvard University Student Health Program. Students might use the subsidy for insurance, cleanings, or other out-of-pocket costs. If interested in enrolling in Harvard’s dental insurance plan, students should do so by September 30. While the subsidy amount can cover the cost of the dental insurance plan, students are not required to enroll in the plan to receive the subsidy payment.
More Financial Support
Child Subsidy Benefit for Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Student Parents
Student parents enrolled in PhD programs at Harvard Griffin GSAS are eligible for a child subsidy benefit. The subsidy is intended to help offset costs associated with raising children while enrolled in a PhD program. This benefit is separate from and in addition to the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) program, which provides support following the birth or adoption of a child.
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.
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.
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.
Helpful Links
PhD Payroll Transition Loan program provides a one-time short-term loan to Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD students who experience financial hardship due to the change in pay schedule when moving from a stipend to a salaried student research assistant (RA) appointment payroll.
The transition from the PhD living assistance stipend to a salaried student research assistant (RA) appointment payroll may create a short-term cash flow problem for PhD students. A PhD student’s living assistance stipend is paid in monthly installments on the first of the month. These stipend payments are paid in advance and intended for living expenses from the time of payment through the end of the payment month. Salaried student RAs are paid biweekly. These salary payments are not paid in advance. They are paid for a two-week period in the week after the pay period ends. As a result, during the transition from stipend payroll to salaried RA payroll, a student will experience about a month-and-a-half gap between payments.
Student Funding Questions
David Jablon
ogephd_studentfunding@hms.harvard.edu