Harvard University

Overview

Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is globally recognised for its academic excellence, influence, and reputation. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just three miles from Boston, Harvard’s 209-acre campus features 10 schools offering degrees, alongside the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, two theatres, and five museums. It is also home to the largest academic library system worldwide, with 18 million volumes, 180,000 serials, and millions of manuscripts and photographs.

Harvard maintains a high cost of attendance, but its significant endowment allows the university to provide substantial financial aid, with approximately 60% of students receiving assistance. Freshmen reside in dorms in Harvard Yard and dine in the historic Annenberg dining hall. The campus is vibrant with over 400 student organisations, offering opportunities in academics, extracurriculars, and athletics. Students engage in activities ranging from sports at Harvard Stadium to entrepreneurship at the Harvard Innovation Lab and journalism at the Harvard Crimson.

Harvard’s alumni include eight US presidents, multiple heads of state, 62 billionaires, 359 Rhodes Scholars, and 242 Marshall Scholars. Its graduates have won prestigious awards, including Pulitzer Prizes, Nobel Prizes, and Academy Awards, and together, they have earned 108 Olympic medals. Consistently ranked as the top university in the world, Harvard’s track record of success remains unmatched, reflecting its continued drive for excellence.