About Master’s Program,
Master of divinity students often speak of “answering a call.” It can be a call to ministry in a wide range of religious traditions, but there are many other calls they answer. Hospital and hospice chaplaincy. Social justice work. Nonprofit advocacy. Climate activism. Education. Humanitarian aid. Whatever calls you, a master of divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School will open your mind and heart, and train you for a lifetime of service.
The three-year, full-time master of divinity (MDiv) program consists of rigorous intellectual scholarship combined with real-world experience, in settings such as churches, synagogues, mosques, hospitals, shelters, and other institutions of care. Students study their own faith tradition (and many others) alongside students from different traditions and backgrounds. Students who consider themselves “spiritual but not religious,” atheist, agnostic, or have embarked on their own spiritual formation, are a welcome and large segment of the HDS master of divinity cohort.
Students graduating with a master of divinity leave HDS with knowledge and experience that prepare them to serve within a religious community, to explore spiritually formative intellectual work, to evaluate and act on the needs and questions of religious and other communities, and to speak with both a pastoral and a public voice in many different settings.
Religion can intersect with and inform nearly every field of study—from education to advocacy, literature to law, and policy to ethical business practices. The master of theological studies (MTS) degree offers students the opportunity to explore how different elements of religion relate to language, culture, and the evolution of different faith traditions.
The MTS program is a two-year full-time degree with 20 areas of focus that allow for diverse educational interests and vocational goals. Students may also design their own area in consultation with their advisor and the curriculum committee chair.
The program may be preparatory work for a doctoral program in religion or related discipline; the program may also inform another field or profession, such as law, journalism, public policy, education, arts, or medicine, from a perspective enriched by theological study.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
We do not have a minimum GPA (grade point average). The admissions committee reviews each application holistically and each component of the application is carefully reviewed with the knowledge that successful HDS students possess strengths in different areas. The components of the application are intended to allow you to demonstrate, in a variety of ways, your academic preparation to engage in graduate-level theological study at Harvard Divinity School.
Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts from each postsecondary institution that they have attended in the academic history section of the application. All transcripts should show courses completed, grades received, duration of study, and degree or diploma received, if applicable.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The Admissions Committee determines merit-based awards, which represent about 10 percent of each year’s institutional grants. Merit awards generally include a full-tuition grant and a modest stipend to assist with living expenses (typically in the $12,000–$20,000 range beginning with the 2023-24 academic year). Merit awards are generally renewed from year to year provided the student maintains satisfactory academic progress and remains in the original program admitted to.
Need-based awards range from 75 percent tuition to full tuition. In addition to tuition grants, a small pool of stipend assistance will be offered to students with the highest levels of financial need. Typically, $12,000 beginning with the 2023-24 academic year.
Need-based awards are reviewed every year. While they generally remain consistent for years two and/or three of the program. Note: Financial aid awarding policies are subject to change.
Students in the Master of Theology (ThM) or Master in Religion and Public Life (MRPL) program who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens may qualify for federal funds and/or private loans. HDS does not provide grant support for the ThM or MRPL programs. Special students are not eligible for institutional or federal aid.
Application Requirement,
- Submitted online application form
- $25 application fee or approved waiver (please note that in order to access the fee waiver request form, you must initiate an online application)
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Complete academic history with transcripts for all coursework taken for credit
- Three letters of recommendation (submitted electronically through our online application system)
- Statement of purpose—1,000 words
- Writing sample—1,000–1,500 words
- Project Proposal (MRPL applicants only)
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (required of some international applicantsonly; see instructions)
- Optional: GRE General Test Scores
Application Deadline,
Jan 01, 2025
Application Fee,
$25 application fee
