Financial Support

All BBS students, receive full tuition and stipend support, as outlined in their financial aid offer, while they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D. degree.

Students are eligible to enroll in the Harvard University Student Health Plan (HUSHP). Students are not responsible for paying the yearly health fee. Click the link for a summary of the benefits offered with the Harvard University Student Health Program. Please refer to their website to learn more about these benefits.

Upon matriculation, all students are given a one-time $1,000 relocation allowance

Harvard Griffin GSAS provides transportation and dental subsidies for all PhD students who qualify for institutional tuition grants and have not completed the Dissertation Completion Fellowship. Both subsidies are disbursed as a lump-sum stipend payment on September 1.

• Transportation Subsidy: $840 
  This stipend is intended to help with local transportation costs. Students might use the subsidy to offset costs of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) pass, parking, gas, or other transit-related expenses. MBTA semester passes are available to students at an 11 percent discount; students interested in this option should review the application process and eligibility criteria and direct any questions to the Office of Student Success. Enrollment in the MBTA semester pass program is not required to receive this subsidy.
• Dental Subsidy: $300 
  This stipend supports dental expenses. The $300 amount covers the full expense of the Preventative Dental Plan offered through the Harvard University Student Health Program. Students might use the subsidy for insurance, cleanings, or other out-of-pocket costs. If interested in enrolling in Harvard’s dental insurance plan, students should do so by September 30. While the subsidy amount can cover the cost of the dental insurance plan, students are not required to enroll in the plan to receive the subsidy payment. 

Child Subsidy Benefit for Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Student Parents
Student parents enrolled in PhD programs at Harvard Griffin GSAS are eligible for a child subsidy benefit. The subsidy is intended to help offset costs associated with raising children while enrolled in a PhD program. This benefit is separate from and in addition to the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) program, which provides support following the birth or adoption of a child. 

Parental Accommodations and Financial Support
Students enrolled in PhD programs at Harvard Griffin GSAS who are expecting a child either by adoption or childbirth are eligible for the PAFS program.

Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council (GSC)
Each year, the Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council (GSC) awards up to $750 to individual Harvard Griffin GSAS students for the purposes of conference travel and attendance. There are two application cycles this year—one in the fall term and one in the spring term—and you are welcome to apply for each one. For more information, please visit the GSC webpage.

Harvard Griffin GSAS Hardship fund
At the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, we understand that an emergency can cause significant stress and uncertainty, impacting your academic success and personal well-being. Students who experience financial hardship as the result of an emergency are encouraged to connect with the Office of Financial Aid. The financial aid staff can provide guidance and advice in navigating available resources. 

Access key tools and guidance for managing research at Harvard Medical School. The HMS Office of Research Administration Resources page provides links to research administration systems, policy and compliance information, training materials, and commonly used forms to support investigators and research staff.