BA Philosophy at Harvard University

Programme overview

Philosophy studies many of humanity’s fundamental questions: how should we live, what kind of society should we strive towards, what are the limits of human knowledge? What is truth? Justice?

Faculty: Harvard College: Arts and Humanities | Department: Philosophy | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cambridge, MA, United States

What you will study

Students develop their own responses to the philosophical problems that attract them in conjunction with their study of philosophical writing. The department’s introductory courses help students to develop their reading, writing, and reasoning skills while acquainting them with broad surveys of major areas and historical periods. Gateway courses include Fall: GENED 1046 Race and Social Justice FRSEM 23c Exploring the Infinite PHIL 3 The True and The Good FRSEM 30q Death and Immortality FRSEM 56F The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful: The Ethics of Art PHIL 6 Ancient Ethics and Modern Morality PHIL 27 Truth,.

Official programme page

Application information

USD 62,226 a year (2026-27). Harvard College undergraduate tuition for 2026-27, one rate for all students; excludes fees ($6,216), housing, food and health insurance. Source

Entry term is fall. Applicants choose Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision; admitted students reply by May 1.

First-year applications through the Common Application: Restrictive Early Action closes November 1 with notification by mid-December; Regular Decision closes January 1 with notification by the end of March. The application fee is $95 (fee waiver available) and can be paid online via the Common Application. Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, with exceptions only where the tests are not accessible.

Apply through the official page: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities