Harvey Cushing
Graduated in 1895 and became the father of modern neurosurgery. He pioneered techniques for operating on the brain and pituitary gland that dramatically reduced surgical mortality; Cushing's disease is named after him.
Harvard Medical School
The world's #1 ranked medical school, training physicians in Boston's Longwood Medical Area since 1782.
5000+ Students trust us
United States
Country
Boston
City
#1 in the World
Ranking
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
Harvard Medical School
- Study program:Doctor of Medicine (MD, equivalent to MBBS)
- Language:English
- Duration:4 Years (graduate-entry MD)
- University type:Private, non-profit
- Per academic year fees:$73,874 · ₹70.9 Lakh (approx.)
- Entrance examination:MCAT (no separate university entrance exam)
- Application deadline:AMCAS cycle (typically late October)
- International seats:Very limited (11 international matriculants, 2025/26)
The engraved Harvard Medical School wall sign at the Longwood campus entrance
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Recognition & Prestige
Rankings & Recognition
Harvard Medical School is ranked the number one medical school in the world and the leading US school for medical research. Its recognition rests on independent global rankings, nearly 250 years of history, and a research record that includes multiple Nobel Prizes.
#1
QS World University Rankings by Subject — Medicine 2026
#1
US News global ranking — Clinical Medicine
The medical degree is recognised internationally. Harvard Medical School's MD programme is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), Harvard University is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and the school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). An LCME-accredited MD makes graduates eligible to sit the Indian screening examination (FMGE/NExT) for licensing.
Complete Information About Harvard Medical School
Get complete information about Harvard Medical School, including tuition, living costs, admissions and the licensing route for Indian students.
Success stories
Student Success Stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
Why Study Medicine at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School pairs the world's top-ranked medical education with one of the largest hospital and research networks anywhere, taught entirely in English in the heart of Boston.
World's #1 Medical School
Unmatched Clinical Network
Research Powerhouse
Generous Financial Aid
Two MD Tracks
Boston Medical Hub
Global Licensing Reach
Read all about studying medicine abroad in our free guide
Know exactly what options exist for your medical-education-abroad success.
How to Apply
Admission Process for the MD
Admission to the MD at Harvard Medical School is through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), based on a completed bachelor's degree, the MCAT and a holistic review, followed by a secondary application and interview. The MD is graduate-entry, so there is no NEET requirement and no direct entry after Class 12.
Admission Timeline
- 1May 2026AMCAS Opens
The AMCAS application for the entering MD class opens for submission.
- 2Late October 2026HMS Application Deadline
Final date to submit the AMCAS application to Harvard Medical School for the cycle.
- 3November 2026Secondary Application
Applicants complete the HMS supplemental application and essays.
- 4Dec 2026 – Feb 2027Interviews
Invited candidates complete Harvard's interview process, including multiple mini-interviews.
- 5Through Spring 2027Admission Decisions
Offers of admission are released on a rolling basis.
- 6August 2027Classes Begin
The new MD class matriculates and orientation begins.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
Applicants must have completed at least three years of college and hold a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree from an accredited institution before matriculation, together with the required pre-medical coursework. International applicants must have studied for at least one year at an accredited institution in the United States or Canada; those without a US or Canadian degree are rarely accepted.
Subjects:
BiologyChemistryPhysicsWritingBehavioural Sciences
Prior Degree & Age
The MD is graduate-entry, so applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree before matriculation. Most matriculants are therefore 21 or older. There is no separate upper age limit.
- Bachelor's degree requiredCompleted baccalaureate before matriculation
Requirements
Applicants must submit the AMCAS application with MCAT scores, then complete Harvard's secondary application and interview. Selection is holistic, with strong weight on academics, research experience, character and motivation.
Entrance Exam
The MCAT is required for all applicants. The median matriculant score is 521; there is no published minimum cutoff and there is no separate university entrance exam.
English Proficiency
The TOEFL is not required, but full fluency in English is expected, as the entire MD programme is taught in English.
Entrance Examination
Admission is based on the MCAT and a holistic review of the whole application, not on category-wise minimum marks.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) | Required for all applicants. Median matriculant score 521 out of 528. No fixed minimum — reviewed holistically alongside the full application. |
| Undergraduate GPA | Median matriculant GPA is 3.96 out of 4.00, with strong performance expected in the pre-medical sciences. |
Required Documents
To apply, students submit essential academic, testing and identification documents:
- Completed AMCAS application
- MCAT scores (submitted through AMCAS)
- Official undergraduate transcripts (at least one year of US/Canadian study for international applicants)
- Letters of recommendation
- + More
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
MD Curriculum & Clinical Structure
Students follow a structured four-year MD curriculum built around three phases that balance medical science with real clinical exposure, taught entirely in English across Harvard's affiliated teaching hospitals.
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program
Total Duration:
4 Years (Pathways); HST track ~4.5 Years
Degree:
MD (Doctor of Medicine, equivalent to MBBS)
Curriculum Phases at Harvard Medical School
Pre-clerkship (~14 months)
Foundations & Practice of Medicine
Integrated basic and social sciences taught through active, case-based learning, with a weekly Practice of Medicine course introducing the physical examination, communication and interprofessional skills:
AnatomyGeneticsBiochemistryPhysiologyImmunology & MicrobiologyPharmacologyPathologyPractice of MedicineHealth SystemsSocial SciencesPrincipal Clinical Experience (12 months)
Core Clerkships
A twelve-month core clinical year of immersive clerkships across the major specialties at Harvard's affiliated teaching hospitals, including a longitudinal primary care clerkship:
Internal MedicineSurgeryPaediatricsObstetrics & GynaecologyPsychiatryNeurologyRadiologyPrimary CarePost-PCE (~19 months)
Advanced & Individualised Study
A flexible advanced phase with a required subinternship in medicine, advanced clinical electives and a scholarly project; HST students complete a research thesis:
Subinternship in MedicineAdvanced Clinical ElectivesScholarly ProjectResearch Thesis (HST)Licensing-exam Preparation
Clinical Rotations
Clinical training takes place across Harvard's network of affiliated teaching hospitals in Boston, beginning with early patient contact in the pre-clerkship phase and building to full core clerkships and advanced electives.
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Pre-clerkship | Clinical skills and early patient contact through the weekly Practice of Medicine course |
| Principal Clinical Experience | Core clerkships in internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics-gynaecology, psychiatry and neurology across affiliated hospitals |
| Post-PCE | Subinternship, advanced electives and a scholarly project; HST students complete a research thesis |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free guide to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Clinical Network
Harvard-Affiliated Teaching Hospitals & Institutions
Harvard Medical School is a US school and does not run the EU Erasmus+ exchange programme. Instead, it teaches through one of the largest networks of affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes in the world, where students complete their clinical training. The institutions below are among Harvard's principal affiliates.
| Institution | Focus / Role |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Largest teaching hospital; broad clinical training and research |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | Major clerkship site; internal medicine, surgery and women's health |
| Boston Children's Hospital | Paediatrics and paediatric subspecialties |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Internal medicine, surgery and clinical research |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Oncology and cancer research |
| Massachusetts Eye and Ear | Ophthalmology and otolaryngology |
| McLean Hospital | Psychiatry and mental health |
| Cambridge Health Alliance | Community medicine and primary care |
| Spaulding Rehabilitation Network | Rehabilitation medicine |
| Joslin Diabetes Center | Diabetes and endocrinology |
| VA Boston Healthcare System | Veterans' care and clinical training |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (HST) | Joint MD track in Health Sciences and Technology |
Explore Harvard's Clinical Network
The list above highlights selected teaching hospitals and institutions where Harvard Medical School students train. Get the full picture from our experts.
Legacy
Prominent Graduates of Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School has trained some of the most influential figures in modern medicine, from the founders of entire specialties to Nobel Prize winners.
Elliott P. Joslin
Graduated in 1895 and became a pioneer of diabetes care. He championed patient self-management and the disciplined use of insulin, and founded the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
Sidney Farber
Graduated in 1927 and is regarded as the father of modern chemotherapy. He achieved the first temporary remissions in childhood leukaemia using antifolate drugs, opening the era of cancer chemotherapy.
Joseph E. Murray
Graduated in 1943 and performed the first successful human kidney transplant in 1954, laying the foundation for modern transplant medicine and earning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990.
Judah Folkman
Graduated in 1957 and pioneered the concept of tumour angiogenesis, opening an entirely new field of anti-angiogenic cancer therapy that has since produced widely used treatments.
Michael Crichton
Graduated in 1969 and became one of the best-selling authors in the world, writing Jurassic Park and creating the medical television series ER, bringing science and medicine to a global audience.
Atul Gawande
Graduated in 1995 and is a practising surgeon, public-health researcher and author of The Checklist Manifesto, one of the most influential voices in improving the safety and quality of health systems worldwide.
Faculty
Harvard Medical School's teaching is delivered by a very large faculty spread across its affiliated hospitals and research institutes, including practising physicians and surgeons, basic scientists and Nobel-laureate researchers. This combination of world-class research and hospital-based clinical teaching is central to the Harvard MD.
Academic Expertise
Nobel-laureate researchers
Physicians and surgeons at world-leading hospitals
Faculty with major international publications
Scientists across basic and clinical science
Student Support & Mentorship
Small-group, case-based learning
Faculty advising and mentorship
Clinical supervision during clerkships
Research mentorship, especially in the HST track
About University
History Information
Historic Faneuil Hall and the Boston skyline, near Harvard's teaching hospitals
Founded in 1782
Growth in Boston
The Boston skyline at dusk along the Charles River
Building Modern Medicine
A World Leader Today
Get all information about Harvard Medical School in our free guide
Read on to find out how the Harvard MD pathway works and what it realistically takes for Indian students.
Role in medicine
Role in medical education
Aerial view of Boston's medical and research district
Nearly 250 Years of Medical Teaching
The Boston skyline across the Charles River in autumn
Research from Bench to Bedside
An International Medical Community
Get all information about Harvard Medical School in our free guide
Read on to understand the Harvard MD pathway and how it fits an Indian student's plans.
Cost of studying
MD Living Cost in Boston
Boston is a high-cost US city, and living expenses are considerably higher than for MBBS destinations in Europe or Asia. Here is an approximate monthly breakdown for an MD student, quoted in Indian rupees.
Monthly Living Cost
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (rent, Longwood / Boston) | ₹1,45,000 – ₹2,10,000 |
| Food | ₹48,000 – ₹67,000 |
| Transportation (MBTA pass) | ₹8,500 – ₹14,000 |
| Health Insurance & Other (utilities, internet, personal) | ₹48,000 – ₹77,000 |
Get Free MBBS Guide
Average monthly living cost
₹2,50,000 – ₹3,70,000
Housing
Accommodation
Harvard Medical School offers on-campus housing at Vanderbilt Hall on the Longwood quadrangle, alongside a wide choice of off-campus rentals in Boston and neighbouring towns. On-campus housing places students steps from classes, the library and the teaching hospitals.
Vanderbilt Hall (On-Campus)
Vanderbilt Hall is Harvard Medical School's residence hall on the Longwood quadrangle, home to MD and other HMS students just steps from lecture halls and the library.
On-Campus Community
Living in Vanderbilt Hall offers a close-knit community of medical students, which many first-year students value while adjusting to a demanding programme in a new city.
Furnished Rooms
The hall offers furnished single rooms and shared suites, with common lounges and study spaces for residents.
Shared Kitchens & Amenities
Residents have access to communal kitchens, fitness and social spaces, making it easy to cook and to build a support network.
Cost
On-campus housing is charged at HMS rates and is included within the official cost-of-attendance budget. Confirm the current room rates with the HMS housing office.
How to Apply
Housing is applied for through Harvard Medical School after admission. Capacity is limited, so students should apply early once they receive an offer.
Longwood Location
The hall is within walking distance of the quadrangle, the teaching hospitals and the MBTA, making the daily commute short and simple.
Off-Campus and Private Housing
Many students rent privately in Boston, Brookline and Cambridge neighbourhoods such as Mission Hill, Fenway and Longwood. Rooms in a shared apartment typically start higher than European cities; private studios cost more. Use university housing listings and reputable local rental platforms, and begin the search early, as demand is high.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
100% Veg Options and Indian Food, Always Available
Indian and vegetarian food is easily available in cafeterias and restaurants across Boston and Cambridge.
Harvard Medical School and the surrounding Longwood Medical Area have cafes and dining halls serving affordable daily meals near the quadrangle. Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available.
Location
How to Reach Harvard Medical School
Address
25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, United States
Nearest Airport
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Local Transport
The MBTA Green Line (Longwood Medical Area stops) and several bus routes connect the campus across Boston
Your Roadmap to Success
Career Pathways After the MD at Harvard Medical School
On completing the programme, graduates earn the MD (Doctor of Medicine) from the world's top-ranked medical school, a degree recognised internationally and equivalent to the MBBS.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
FMGE & NExT Details
To practise medicine in India after earning the Harvard MD, Indian students follow a clear licensing path set by the National Medical Commission. An MD from an LCME-accredited US school is accepted for this route, provided the graduate meets the NMC's foreign medical graduate criteria.
Step 1
Screening Examination (FMGE / NExT)
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. This is currently the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which is transitioning to the National Exit Test (NExT).
Step 2
Clinical Internship (CRRI)
After qualifying, students complete a one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, gaining supervised clinical experience across the major departments.
Step 3
Medical Registration
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council, after which the graduate can practise as a doctor in India.
Student Life Style
Student life at Harvard Medical School
Studying for the MD is a mix of intensive academics, clinical exposure and personal growth, set in one of the great university cities of the world. With nearly 250 years of history and a large hospital network, Harvard offers a rich and demanding student experience.
The swan boats in Boston Public Garden, a favourite student spot in the city
Academics
Boston's downtown skyline in the evening
Campus and Facilities
Challenges and Growth
Social Life
Overall Experience
Scholarship & Financial
Scholarship & Financial Aid
Harvard Medical School runs one of the most generous MD financial-aid programmes in the United States, based on financial need. Students should note that international students are generally not eligible for US federal aid.
Harvard Medical School awards need-based scholarships in which financial need is the only criterion. Around 80% of MD students receive need-based aid, and for students with full financial need, HMS scholarships can cover the entire cost of tuition and mandatory fees.
- Need-based tuition support
- Full-need awards covering tuition and mandatory fees
- Financial need the only criterion
Ratings
Reviews & Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at Harvard Medical School.
4.9
150 reviews
Academics5
Infrastructure4.9
Housing4.6
Campus Life4.8
Value for Money4.4
Compare
Compare Colleges
Compare Harvard Medical School with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Harvard Medical School vs AIIMS Delhi
| University | Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, USA | AIIMS DelhiNew Delhi, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Private, non-profit | Public (Institute of National Importance) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 4 years (MD, graduate-entry) | 5.5 years (MBBS, incl. internship) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹70.9 lakh ($73,874) | ~₹1,600 (nominal government fees) |
| Admission | Bachelor's + MCAT + AMCAS (no NEET) | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | LCME / WDOMS; NMC-eligible via screening | NMC-recognised |
| Global Ranking | QS #1 in the world for Medicine (2026) | India's top government medical college |
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Our blog
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Articles that turn complex medical-education-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying the MD at Harvard Medical School.