The Committee is an office within the Office of the Provost, offering programs that serve students in all of Harvard’s graduate and professional schools. Jessica Soban, Deputy Provost, is the Chairperson.

The majority of the Committee’s programs are funded with income from Harvard endowment funds established specifically for this purpose as a result of gifts to the university. Most of these scholarships and fellowships are restricted to students who meet specific eligibility criteria established by the original donors.

CGS funds represent only a small fraction of the financial support available to Harvard students. It is important that all students begin their search for financial support with the Financial Aid Office of the school within Harvard University in which they plan to enroll.

The funds and programs offered through the Committee on General Scholarships are only a small sample of the support available to Harvard students. Most financial support is managed within the College or the graduate or professional school in which the student is planning to enroll. All applicants should begin their search for financial support with the Financial Aid Office of that school, and then return here to determine whether there are additional or supplemental programs for you at CGS.

Prospective graduate students should contact the Admissions and Financial Aid Office of the particular Harvard graduate or professional school of interest to them. Prospective undergraduate students should contact the Harvard College Admissions and Financial Aid Office.

CGS and its sub-committees meet regularly throughout the year to review applications and determine scholarship and fellowship awards. Specific deadlines and timelines are posted within the guidelines of our individual programs.

Scholarship awards are based upon several factors, including the scale of the scholarship program, the amount of funds available each year, and the number of students deemed eligible for each scholarship. Many scholarships also consider the financial need of each eligible candidate. A CGS scholarship rarely covers a student’s full costs for an entire academic year.

We do not offer short term fellowships or fellowships for study/research during the summer.

Our email is: cgs@harvard.edu.

Our mailing address is:
14 Story Street, 3rd Floor
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States of America

The Committee on General Scholarships reminds you that most financial assistance is available through the school within the University in which you plan to enroll. We encourage you to begin your search with that Financial Aid Office.