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Visiting HKS
Visitors to Harvard Kennedy School are welcome to meet with an admissions representative, take a tour of our campus, attend a class, meet a current student, (or all of the above) and/or attend a fall Open House. We recommend visiting during the academic year to obtain the full experience of life as a student at HKS. Harvard Kennedy School is not open on the weekends or federal holidays. Please check the academic calendar for details and contact us prior to your visit, as we may be closed on rare occasions due to school wide meetings or weather emergencies.
Tours and Information Sessions
The Admissions Office is part of the Enrollment Services Office. We are located at 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 165 in Cambridge. During the fall and spring semesters, we host information sessions for visiting students and offer a student-led tour for prospective applicants.
Information sessions and tours
During the months of May-August, information sessions will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 am. There will be no information sessions the week of May 27, on June 19 or June 26.
Student led tours have concluded, and will resume in September.
The information sessions provide information about the admissions process and HKS degree programs. Highlights of the tour include the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, the library, the computer lab, the Office of Career Advancement, and some of our research centers. The student provides a first-hand account of the degree programs, the student body, housing options, and other aspects of academic and extracurricular activities.
Reservations are not required to attend an information session or campus tour. A self-guided tour is also available in the Admissions Office. A virtual tour is also available.
MPA/ID prospectives
If you plan to apply to the MPA/ID program, please contact the MPA/ID Office at mpaid_program@hks.harvard.edu to arrange your visit.
MC/MPA prospectives
If you plan to apply to the MC/MPA program, you are welcome to attend the MC/MPA seminar held Thursdays during the academic year from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm in Starr Auditorium. The seminars are student organized and led. It is a great way to meet and connect with MC/MPA students. The seminars have concluded for the semester, and will resume in the fall.
Please visit the Office of Admissions' Contact page for directions.
Attend a class
Prospective applicants who are interested in attending a class must contact the professor by phone or email prior to visiting. Please note that very few classes meet on Fridays. The best time to visit is from mid-September through November and mid-February through April. HKS does not offer summer courses.
To view the current offered classes, see the Course Listing.
To view the current faculty, see the Faculty Listing.
Meet a Current Student
The Harvard Kennedy School's Dean’s Ambassadors Program is a student-run organization that places prospective students in contact with current HKS students. Each year the ambassadors assist hundreds of prospective applicants with questions and concerns about student life at HKS.
Prospective students who wish to meet with a current student may do so by completing the Dean's Ambassadors Request Form. Providing this information will enable the Dean’s Ambassadors’ Co-chairs to find a current student who is best-suited to respond to your interests and background.
Please note that students are not on campus during the summer or school breaks. Also, it may be harder to schedule a meeting during reading period and final exams. Please allow extra time for a response during these time periods.
More Information
If you are not able to visit our campus, you can still learn about the school and our programs by:
- Emailing the Office of Admissions at admissions@hks.harvard.edu or calling 617-495-1155.
- Filling out the Dean’s Ambassadors Request form to be matched up with a current student.
- Visiting Life at HKS to learn about student activities and housing options
- Emailing the Office of Admissions to get connected with an alumnus/a. Please include your name, program of interest, future goals, and current location. The Office will forward your information to an alumnus/a who matches your background.
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