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Required Fee Information for Sponsors

Through the third-party billing authorization form and letter, sponsors indicate which fees they will pay in addition to tuition.

To assist sponsors in determining if an invoiced charge is a required fee, the below list provides an overview, and when available, a description, of each required fee in addition.

Please note that Student Financial Services is not able to waive any fee and a decision by your organization not to pay a specific required fee will move the financial responsibility to your sponsored student.  

All Harvard Degree Programs:

  • Student Health Insurance Plan – Provides hospital, specialty care coverage, and prescription drug coverage throughout the United States and abroad. This plan is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). Students enrolled in a comparable health insurance plan may be eligible to waive.
  • Student Health Fee - The Student Health Fee (SHF) is required for all registered students who are enrolled more than half-time in Massachusetts and covers most services at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) with no copay. All students who pay the SHF will have access to many of the HUHS Clinic services in-person, as well as via telemedicine appointments. Students are encouraged to reach out to HUHS with their medical needs.

Harvard College

  • Student Activities Fee - Charged once per year and is used to fund student organizations and support student life activities and operations for all Harvard College students.
  • Student Services Fee - The Student Services fee covers the cost of the House system and the Freshman Dean's Office functions. The House system is an administrative and educational arrangement that creates independent centers of tutorial, social, advising, and record keeping functions. The charge for the Student Services Fee is mandatory for all College students, including those who do not live on campus.

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

  • GSAS Student Council Fee – This fee funds graduate student groups and organizations, supports student summer research and conference attendance and helps the GSAS Student Council advocate on behalf of students for concerns such as mentoring, teaching, health care, and housing.
  • Facilities Fee – Charged for all years of study following completion of full and reduced tuition requirement

Harvard Medical School

  • Disability Insurance Fee – The Harvard Medical School Disability Insurance Fee is a mandatory, non-waivable fee assessed on an annual basis to all students from the time they matriculate at HMS until they graduate. The coverage will provide benefits should a disability develop in a student while enrolled at HMS and guarantee that, upon graduation, student will be able to obtain group coverage, without having to prove medical insurability, providing protection for future income.
  • Matriculation Fee – Fee assessed to all incoming students at Harvard Medical School.
  • Education Materials Fee – Fee assessed for education materials provided while attending courses at HMS, separate from books and supplies.  

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

  • Technology Fee
  • Instrument Purchase
  • Clinic Fee
  • Matriculation Fee – Fee assessed to incoming student at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
  • ASDA Membership (Includes Disability Insurance)

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

  • Course Materials Fee

Harvard Kennedy School

  • Course Materials Fee – The course materials fee supports the cost of rights and permissions clearance for those readings that are not otherwise freely available.
  • HKS Student Activity Fee - The student activity fees support student-run events for HKS students throughout the year, including formals and other student government-run events, student organization events, and student conferences. If students take a leave of absence or withdraw from HKS, they will not have their fees refunded.

Harvard Divinity School

  • Active File Fee – Charged to ThD candidates living and working outside of the Boston area.
  • Activities Fee - The Student Activity fee is required of all degree candidates and is added to their term bills each semester. The funds generated are used by the Harvard Divinity School Student Association (“HDSSA”) to supp
  • Facilities Fee – Charged to ThD candidates living and working outside of the Boston area.

Harvard Business School

  • Course Materials or Course and Program Materials
  • Student Association Dues – HBS – The Student Association is the main interface between the MBA student body and the faculty. All members of the MBA student body are members of the Student Association.
  • Shad Hall - Access to Harvard Business School’s fitness center

Harvard Graduate School of Design

  • Student Activity Fee - The student activity fee supports the GSD Student Forum and student organization activities.