BA South Asian Studies at Harvard University

Programme overview

A concentration in South Asian Studies enables students to develop a critical understanding of the diverse cultures, histories, languages and literatures of South Asia, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. South Asia is home to more than a billion people and some of the world’s most fascinating and important civilizations. Its influence has extended historically from Central, East, and Southeast Asia to Europe and North America, which today have vibrant South Asian diasporas.

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

What you will study

Gateway courses include CULTBLF 28: Hindu Worlds of Art and Culture CULTBLF 60: Religion in India – Texts and Traditions in a Complex Society ER 19: The Good Life in Classical India FRSEMR 32X: Topics in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism FYSEMR 37Y: Muslim Voices in Contemporary World.

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

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