How to Apply to Biology at Harvard University: No Single Biology Concentration but Several Life Science Concentrations Such as Molecular and Cellular Biology and Integrative Biology, Declared in Sophomore Fall, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Harvard’s undergraduate education is carried out by Harvard College, which calls majors concentrations. The concentration list has no single “Biology” concentration; the life sciences are split across several concentrations, which this guide groups under “biology” as Harvard’s website does. It covers domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science and other concentrations are outside this guide; the list also includes engineering concentrations such as Biomedical Engineering, and medicine and law are postgraduate programs in the United States, none of which are covered here, so see Harvard’s website. The departments’ own websites were not used, so details such as the number of required courses, labs, thesis and honors requirements are marked as not published on the pages cited here; check each department directly.

1. Concentrations and tracks

• Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB, B.A., Sciences): the concentration list says it is rooted in the investigation of biological processes through molecules and their interactions in cells and tissues, and how the genome orchestrates cell behavior; learning objectives include investigating biological processes at the level of cells and molecules, applying the scientific method inside and outside the lab, and critically reviewing the scientific literature.
• Integrative Biology (IB, B.A.): the page says evolution ties together all of biology, from the adaptive specifics of a membrane pore to the Cambrian Explosion; the concentration is inherently interdisciplinary, spanning mathematical and computational biology, functional and genetic approaches to morphology and development, genetics, evolution and ecology; courses emphasize learning and critical thinking and may include research and field experiences.
• Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology (HDRB, B.A.): the page describes a life science concentration on how humans develop from a fertilized egg, are maintained and repaired through adulthood, and age; it emphasizes hands-on research in all four undergraduate years, with students doing experimental research in HSCRB laboratories.
• Human Evolutionary Biology (HEB, B.A.): the page says it explores human biology and behavior from an evolutionary perspective as part of the life sciences cluster; its core covers evolutionary biology, human and nonhuman primate genetics, physiology, anatomy, behavioral biology and paleontology, and students are encouraged to take part in research.
• Neuroscience (B.A.): the page says the field spans genetics, chemistry, molecular biology, mathematics, cell and systems biology, computer science and cognitive science, giving students broad training as a biologist and many opportunities for hands-on laboratory work and independent research.
• Chemical and Physical Biology (CPB, B.A.): the page says it links classical approaches to studying biology with the chemical tools and physical methods needed to understand complex biological systems; it also borders chemistry and is only noted here.
• Harvard’s system: the liberal arts and sciences page says Harvard offers 51 undergraduate fields of study (concentrations); students may pursue a double, joint or special concentration, and there are 49 secondary fields. About half of students choose an honors track and most of these write senior theses or complete research projects.
• Number of required courses, labs and thesis requirements: not listed on the concentration page cited here and not published there; check each department’s website.

2. How admission works: admitted to the college, declare in sophomore fall

• What you apply to: the applications described on the first-year page and the application requirements page go to Harvard College. The admissions statistics page classifies enrolling students by “intended field of study”, which shows the application has an intended-field item; the pages cited here do not say whether it affects admission or describe a separate admission process or seat limit for life science concentrations.
• When you declare: the advising page says students can talk to a department’s advisors at any time and declare their concentration during the fall of sophomore year, after which the department assigns a primary academic advisor. Concentration advising has three phases: introductory courses, advanced work, and, where applicable, a final project or thesis in senior year.
• Moving in later: declaration procedures and any prerequisite or grade conditions are not stated in the pages cited here; check each department’s website.

3. Prerequisites, gateway courses and AP/IB

• High school courses: see above; Harvard sets no specific courses and recommends four years of mathematics without requiring calculus. Recommended high school biology or chemistry is not published.
• MCB first-year gateway courses (concentration page): mathematics as recommended by placement, up to Math 19A,B, Math 21A,B or Applied Math 21A,B or equivalent; general chemistry from PS1, PS10, PS11 or CHEM 40 (with CHEM 10 also offered in the fall); life sciences either LS 1a (or LPSA) and LS 1b, or LS 50 (LIFESCI 50A and B may replace LS1A-B); in the second year MCB 60 and one of MCB 63, 64, 65, 66, 68 or 80, and organic chemistry starting with CHEM 17 or CHEM 20.
• Integrative Biology: fall LS 1a, Life and Physical Sciences A or LS 50a; spring LS 1b or LS 50b; OEB 10 (fall, typically sophomore year).
• Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology: first year LS 1a (or LPSA) and LS 1b, or LS 50; general chemistry PS11 or equivalent; quantitative reasoning MATH 1B or higher, or STAT 100, STAT 102 or equivalent; second year developmental biology SCRB 10, molecular biology SCRB 50 and organic chemistry CHEM 17/27 or equivalent.
• Human Evolutionary Biology: the listed gateway courses include HEB 142, HEB 39 (spring), HEB 45 (fall), HEB 30 (fall), GENED 1056, Life Sciences 2, GENED 1027 and HEB 130.
• Neuroscience: first-year fall LS 1a, LPS A, CS 50, CS 32 or AM 10; APMTH 10 (Computing with Python for Scientists and Engineers) in the fall; spring LS 1b or CS 51 or 61 and/or a related-fields course; mathematics and statistics Math 1A plus statistics for the neurobiology/molecular track, or Math 21A and B for the computational track; second year Neuro 80 (fall) and one foundational course from Neuro 57, 105, 115, 120 or 125.
• AP/IB credit and placement: not stated in the pages cited here; check the Registrar and the departments.
• Biology competitions: the application requirements page says national or international contests may be submitted as additional academic credentials; how they are weighed is not stated.

4. Timeline and materials

• How to apply: the first-year applicants page says all first-year applicants, international and U.S., use the Common Application with Harvard’s supplements; Harvard is also a QuestBridge partner. You apply to Harvard College, not to a major. Required: the Common Application (with activities list and personal essay), five short-answer Harvard questions (150 words each), the $95 fee (or a fee waiver), the SAT or ACT, the School Report (including a counselor letter) and high school transcript, two teacher recommendations, and the Midyear School Report; admitted students who enroll also send a Final School Report.
• Rounds: Restrictive Early Action is due 1 November with a mid-December decision; Regular Decision is due 1 January with decisions at the end of March; admitted students reply by early May with no deposit. REA is non-binding, but applicants may not apply to other private institutions under Early Decision, Early Action or Restrictive Early Action, or to a binding early program at a public university. Harvard says applying early gives no advantage. The pages do not print a year, so check that these dates are for fall 2027 entry.
• Teacher recommendations: the application requirements page says to ask two teachers in different academic subjects who know you well. It does not say that either must teach a particular subject.
• Testing: Harvard requires the SAT or ACT. Only in exceptional cases where those tests are not accessible can AP results, actual or predicted IB scores, actual or predicted GCSE/A-Level results, or national leaving exam results or predictions meet the requirement. Scores may be self-reported, with official scores required at enrollment. There are no cut-offs and Harvard does not admit “by the numbers”. Official codes: SAT 3434, ACT 1840.
• Mathematics and preparation: the page says there is no “one size fits all” high school curriculum; four years of mathematics are recommended, but calculus is not required and no specific course is required. Students heading into engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, statistics or other calculus fields may benefit from high school calculus, but can still start with an introductory calculus course at Harvard that has no high school calculus prerequisite. Recommended high school chemistry or biology is not published.
• Supplementary materials and contests: the page says scholarly articles or research of which you are the primary author can be uploaded through the Applicant Portal with your mentor or lab identified, and that AP, IB, A-Levels, national or international contests and other academic credentials may be submitted. How contest results are weighed is not stated.
• Admit data (class of 2030): the admissions statistics page reports 55,104 applicants, 2,037 admitted, 1,648 enrolling and 103 admitted from the waiting list; intended fields of study among enrolling students were Natural Sciences 26%, Engineering 23%, Social Sciences 38% and Humanities 11%. It gives no data by concentration.

5. Domestic applicants

• Costs (2026-2027): the financial aid page lists tuition $62,226, fees $6,216, housing $14,250 and food $8,942, a billed subtotal of $91,634; estimated personal expenses $2,500, books $1,000 and transportation $0 to $5,000, for total billed and unbilled costs of $95,134 to $100,134; health insurance of $4,954 is also required unless covered by a family plan.
• Aid: Harvard says admission is need-blind, aid is need-based only (not merit), and it meets 100% of demonstrated need; families with annual incomes below $100,000 have an expected parent contribution of zero, aid covers at least full tuition for families with incomes up to $200,000, and higher incomes are assessed individually; home equity and retirement assets are typically not counted.
• State residency: the pages cited here make no in-state/out-of-state distinction and describe no state-resident priority or guaranteed admission.

6. International applicants

• Process and treatment: the international applicants page says admission and financial aid processes are the same for all applicants regardless of nationality; there are no quotas or limits at any point, and everyone is in the same pool. “International admissions” generally means applicants from schools outside the United States.
• Testing and English: the SAT or ACT is required (with the exceptional-case alternatives above); TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo cannot replace it but may be submitted. First-year and transfer applicants are not required to take an English proficiency exam; Visiting Undergraduate Student applicants must take the TOEFL or IELTS.
• Financial aid: international students are eligible for exactly the same aid as American students, and admission is need-blind; students on aid receive a travel allowance in their award.
• Application fee: waivers are available for hardship, through the Common Application or as the page instructs, and do not disadvantage the application; non-U.S. citizens at schools outside the U.S. are typically not eligible for SAT/ACT fee waivers.
• Admit data: the statistics page reports that 15% of the class of 2030 is “international”, defined by permanent address at the time of application rather than citizenship.
• AP/IB credit: the pages cited here do not describe Harvard’s credit or placement for AP and IB; this is not published there, so check the Registrar and the departments.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages cited here do not mention the gaokao. They say national leaving exam results (externally assessed) or predictions can meet the testing requirement only in exceptional cases; whether and how the gaokao is used is not published. Contact the admissions office (617-495-1551) with questions.
• Transcripts and school-exam documents: for IB and A-Level students schools send predicted grades; requirements specific to Chinese transcripts or school-exam documents are not published.
• English: no English proficiency exam is required, but scores may be submitted; the SAT or ACT is required.
• International curricula: AP, IB and A-Level results can be submitted as additional materials (see above); the admissions page warns that taking too many advanced courses can backfire.

8. Research, honors and funding

• Research: HDRB emphasizes hands-on research in all four undergraduate years; Neuroscience cites many opportunities for laboratory and independent research; Human Evolutionary Biology encourages research and offers many small advanced courses; Integrative Biology says courses may include research and field experiences. Each concentration’s specific research projects, thesis and honors standards are not published in the pages cited here.
• Honors and theses: the liberal arts and sciences page says about half of students choose an honors track and most of these write a senior thesis or complete a research project supervised by professors and departmental tutors.
• Master’s pathway: the same page says students can apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for a master’s degree in select fields during their fourth year through the Concurrent Master’s Program; whether the life science concentrations are included is not stated in the pages cited here.
• Outcomes: the pages cited here give no outcome or employment data. The transfer page says Harvard’s academic programs are not pre-professional and give no vocational training, and that many graduates continue to professional or graduate schools.

9. Transfer students

• Scale and timing: the transfer page says Harvard admits about 12 transfer students on average each fall and has recently received more than 2,000 transfer applications a year; it admits for the fall semester only. 1 March is the deadline for all transfer application and financial aid materials, with decisions by June. The page does not print a year, so check that this is for fall 2027.
• Eligibility: the transfer application is for students who have completed at least one continuous academic year and not more than two in a full-time, in-person liberal arts degree program; courses must be analogous to Harvard’s liberal arts curriculum; you may not relinquish credit to restart; applicants with a bachelor’s degree are not eligible.
• Materials: the Transfer Common Application, Harvard College questions and writing supplement, the $95 fee (or a waiver request by email), the SAT or ACT (same exceptional-case alternatives), a College/Dean’s/Registrar’s report, official college transcripts, two college instructor recommendations, and an official high school transcript. The page says the committee looks for strong preparation in the expected field of specialization and a clearly defined academic need to transfer.
• Credit: the Registrar’s Office evaluates credit individually for each admitted transfer student; the admissions office keeps no list of transferable courses. No credit is given for online or hybrid courses, night or extension courses, part-time coursework, technical or professional courses, dual-enrollment courses counted toward a high school diploma, or any credit earned by examination (CLEP, AP/IB), even if the original college credited it.
• Aid: transfer applicants, including international students, can apply for need-based aid.
• Department requirements: the transfer page cited here gives no chemistry or biology requirements for transfer students; contact the relevant department.

Sources: Concentrations; Liberal arts and sciences; Advising; First-year applicants; Application requirements; International applicants; Transfer applicants; How aid works; Admissions statistics. The first-year and transfer deadline pages do not print a year, so check that the dates are for fall 2027 entry; costs are for 2026-2027; the gateway course lists on the concentration page carry no term labels, so check what is currently offered. The departments’ own websites (concentration requirements, labs, theses, honors, AP credit and so on) were not used here, so check each department directly. Check Harvard’s website for the latest.