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Master'sUnited States · Business / Finance
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
Harvard University
✓ Last verified Oct 4, 2026
Entry requirements
- English(Any one of these tests)
- TOEFL — Typical 109Preferred
- IELTS — Typical 7.5Preferred
- PTE — Typical 75Preferred
- DUOLINGO — Typical 145Preferred
- Tests
- GMAT or GRERequired
- Prior degree
- Bachelor's degree equivalent to a US bachelor's degree, any fieldRequired
- Work experience
- 2 yearsPreferred
- Other
- InterviewRequired
- EssayRequired
- Accepted English tests
- TOEFL iBT (new 1-6 scale: 5; traditional 0-120 scale: 109), IELTS, PTE or Duolingo. HBS says it has no minimum score but 'discourages' candidates below TOEFL 5 / 109, IELTS 7.5, PTE 75, Duolingo 145. Required if your undergraduate institution's sole language of instruction was not English; recommended (not required) even with an English-taught graduate degree. TOEFL code 3444.
- How grades are compared
- No China-specific rule published. Equivalent of a US bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required (international three-year bachelor's accepted); 'There is no minimum GPA to apply' (https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/application-process)
- Other requirements
- Three essays for the Class of 2029: Business-Minded (300 words), Leadership-Focused (250 words), Growth-Oriented (250 words). Two recommendations. Transcripts from all institutions. Interview by invitation only (30 min, with an Admissions Board member, on campus, in hub cities or via Zoom), then a written post-interview reflection within 24 hours. GMAT/GRE score date windows for 2026-27 cycle: Round 1 9 Sep 2021-9 Sep 2026; Round 2 5 Jan 2022-5 Jan 2027. Round 1 deadline (9 Sep 2026) has passed as of 2026-10-04; Round 2 is 5 Jan 2027 (decision 25 Mar 2027). 2+2 deferred admission for final-year college/full-time master's students (deadline 28 Apr 2027). Class profile (Class of 2027): average GPA 3.76 (US 4.0 schools only), average 4.9 years of work experience, middle 80% 3-7 years. Two-year full-time programme. Tests: GMAT required (GRE accepted instead; no minimum, no preference); GRE required (or GMAT instead); INTERVIEW required (by invitation only); ESSAY required.