Can I attend this program as a part-time student?
The MMSCI is a full-time program that requires a 75% time-commitment over a period of two years in order to ensure successful mastery of the subject material and completion of the mentored research project. If you intend to continue working while attending the program, we require a letter from your Department Chair, Division Chief, or similar supervisor guaranteeing that you will have 75% protected time.

Is this an online course or will I have to move to the USA?
Although the MMSCI program has online components, it is a residential program — you will be studying on the Harvard Medical School campus in Boston, and working on mentored research in a Harvard-affiliated laboratory. The coursework will be delivered using a blended-learning approach that incorporates online lectures and in-person classroom sessions. In addition, three intensive workshops will be held on the HMS campus.

Where will I live once I move to Boston?
There are several housing options available to MMSCI students. Vanderbilt Hall (http://hms.harvard.edu/content/vanderbilt-hall) houses students attending Harvard’s Medical, Dental, and Public Health Schools, and the Harvard University Housing Office (www.huhousing.harvard.edu) manages approximately 3,000 student housing units. Finally, there are many resources for finding off-campus housing in the Boston area, including unofficial rental listing sites such as https://www.harvardhousingoffcampus.com/.

What is the financial commitment expected from participants?
The tuition for the 2017-2018 academic year is US $40,000 per year; rates are subject to change from year to year. Further details on estimated costs can be found here.

Will financial aid be available if I am accepted?
MMSCI students are eligible to receive financial assistance from certain government programs. In addition, there are program-specific resources available for both need and merit awards. Prospective students are encouraged to review the Harvard Medical School Financial Aid Guidebook for information regarding the financial aid process: http://hms.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/assets/Sites/Financial_Aid/files/Guide.pdf.

Will health insurance be provided for me and my family?
All Master’s students are charged a Student Health Program fee of $1,042 per year, which covers most outpatient care at Harvard University Health Services (http://hushp.harvard.edu/). In addition, the Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan (http://hushp.harvard.edu/student-health-insurance-plan) costs $2,390 per year and can also be purchased for your spouse and children. This insurance plan is mandatory for all students, but can be waived for those who verify that they are covered by an equivalent medical insurance plan.

When will I be notified of acceptance?
Applications will be reviewed when all required documents have been received. You will be notified regarding your application within eight weeks of the application closing date.

Do I have to be a resident of the USA to participate?
No, you do not need to be a resident or citizen of the USA.

What employment opportunities are available after completing this program?
As an educational program only, there are no associated opportunities for employment.

Will a translator be available if I do not speak English?
There will be no translators. The program is in English and fluency in English is required to participate. Participants who are not native English speakers and who have not graduated from an English-language institution will be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores along with their application.

Will there be an opportunity to choose the statistical software?
The course will be conducted using the R and Stata software package, which MMSCI students can purchase at a discount.

After the program is concluded, for how long will I be able to view the online lecture videos?
The online lectures will be accessible for 1 year after graduation.