Student Handbook

Overview

The Harvard Medical School (HMS) Student Handbook begins with Being a Student at Harvard Medical School, which describes the aspirations of the Harvard Medical School faculty for students’ experience here. It is followed by a brief history of the School. 

The Handbook includes descriptions of the curriculum and requirements for the MD degree in the Pathways and HST Programs and provides incoming and current MD students the information necessary to successfully participate in the program. The Student Handbook also provides answers to many questions students have about specific aspects of education and student life at HMS.

Harvard Medical School reserves the right to make changes to the Student Handbook at any time without advance notice. These changes may affect such matters as tuition and other fees, courses, degrees, and programs offered (including the modification or possible elimination of degrees and programs), degree and other academic requirements, academic policies, rules pertaining to student conduct and discipline, fields or areas of concentration, and other rules and regulations applicable to students.  

In addition, Harvard Medical School retains the discretion to act as it deems necessary in extraordinary circumstances to protect the health and safety of the Harvard community, secure educational opportunities for Harvard students, and otherwise protect Harvard’s dual mission of teaching and research against significant disruption. For these purposes, “extraordinary circumstances” include, but are not limited to, public health emergencies, government action, extreme weather events, and other conditions posing broad threats to the community health and safety or significantly disrupting campus life or learning.  

Discretionary measures available to the Harvard Medical School may include, but are not limited to, making recourse to remote, hybrid, or other alternative or off-campus instruction; suspending or limiting access to University-provided residential housing; limiting its provision of or access to certain activities and services; introducing or modifying vaccination, mask, and physical distancing mandates; and implementing compulsory testing and tracing programs as required conditions for accessing the Harvard campus or Harvard facilities.

Review of HMS academic and financial policies and/or curricular requirements may result in changes to rules and/or policies that are published in this document, which is reviewed and updated annually. All students are expected to be familiar with the policies of Harvard Medical School and Harvard University. 

All information in this handbook and in the HMS Course Catalog is subject to revision, and, from time to time, changes are made in course offerings, academic rules and requirements, and the plan of instruction. Harvard Medical School reserves the right to alter, change, or amend any of these rules and regulations at any time without prior notice. Information contained herein supersedes that published previously and is subject to change. 

Please forward any comments, updates, or questions to the Program in Medical Education at pme@hms.harvard.edu.