Auditing

Auditing Policy

Auditors are permitted at the instructor’s discretion for in-person courses only. Auditing is ordinarily limited to currently enrolled Harvard students, Harvard employees, and Harvard fellows. 

Individuals outside Harvard University, including HGSE alumni, may be permitted to audit courses with the instructor's permission and the Registrar's approval and will be charged an auditing fee. 

Faculty also have a responsibility to protect student information that Canvas may provide. All auditors—both Harvard degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking—must submit an Auditor Request Form to the Office of the Registrar in order to audit a course. 

Audited courses may not be taken for credit and may not be converted into credit for use toward a degree at a future point. Auditors are never permitted to take final exams and do not receive grades. HGSE residential students are not eligible to audit online courses designated for Online Education (OEL) students. Similarly, HGSE OEL students may not audit HGSE residential courses.

An audited course does not appear on a degree-seeking student's transcript.

Auditor Enrollment Policies

  • Auditors are limited to a maximum of two course per semester (Fall and Spring). January term courses count toward the spring limit.  
  • Appointed Harvard Fellows may audit more than two courses per semester. 
  • Currently enrolled Harvard degree-seeking students, Harvard Visiting Fellows, and Harvard Employees may audit at no cost.
  • The 2026-2027 auditing fee is $650 per course. 

Auditor Change Policy

  • For Harvard degree-seeking students who begin auditing a course but are unable to continue, they must notify the Office of the Registrar no later than the last day of classes so the course can be removed from their record. 

  • Faculty have the discretion to determine whether an auditor has met the standard required to retain the course on their record. 

     

View HGSE Courses.

Auditing Instructions

Non-Degree Seeking Auditors


Non-degree seeking auditors (such as Harvard employees, fellows, alumni, etc.) should follow these steps:

  1. Contact the HGSE instructor to obtain verbal approval.
  2. Complete and submit the Non-Degree Seeking Auditors Form. 
    1. This form is only to be submitted once per semester regardless of how many courses you would like to audit.
    2. The form must be submitted by the course's add/drop deadline.  
  3. Once submitted you will receive an email within 3-5 business days with instructions on how to complete your enrollment and course audit registration. You can view dates on the Academic Calendar. 

 

Degree-Seeking Auditors


Degree-seeking auditors should follow these steps:

  1. Contact the HGSE instructor for verbal approval.
  2. Complete and submit the Degree Seeking Auditors Form. Once submitted you will receive an email within 3-5 business days with instructions on how to complete your enrollment and course audit registration. You can view dates on the Academic Calendar.
  3. Once the instructor officially approves your request in my.Harvard, you will be automatically enrolled in the course. The course will not appear on your transcript.