We welcome applications from Greater Boston area residents who have completed or are winding down their careers and are ready to commit to ongoing study with post-retirement peers. A previous connection to Harvard University is not necessary.
The most important criteria for admission are:
- Intellectual curiosity
- A breadth of interests
- The capacity to participate actively and collegially in our community
- The potential to contribute to the program, especially through course leadership
We encourage prospective applicants to read the Courses page and also take a look at the sample catalogue posted there. Each semester the course offerings will vary based on what Participants leading the courses have proposed, but the sample is representative of the kind of courses offered by and for the HILR community. Please note, HILR does not offer enrollment by the course or by the semester. Lifelong learners apply to HILR for ongoing engagement in our academic community.
| Admission season | Application deadline | Notification of decision |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2025 start | Monday, October 28, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET | By December 2, 2024 |
| Fall 2025 start | TBA | TBA |
The application period for Spring 2025 closed on October 28, 2024.
Please check back in mid-December for the opening date of the application for Fall 2025.
Program Perks and Privileges
For a fee of $525 per semester, program participants enjoy the following:
Academic Privileges
- Enrollment in HILR courses (up to three per semester)
- Eligibility for an HILR scholarship for one non-credit open enrollment Extension School course per semester
- Harvard University Library Special Borrower privileges
Activities and Events
- Admission to HILR speaker events and concerts
- Participation in HILR extracurricular activities
- Access to events open to the Harvard Community
Discounts and University Access Privileges
- Eligibility to ride the Harvard shuttle buses
- Discounted parking rate at Harvard’s Everett Street garage
Our Location
Our community gathers for courses and activities at our historic building at 34 Concord Avenue in Cambridge, Mass.
Situated amid a beautifully landscaped quad, the renovated building houses 10 classrooms, a computer room, a lunchroom, the Dunlop Library, a colloquium room with a grand piano, and common spaces for informal meeting and collaboration.
Requirements for New Program Participants
Before you apply, we ask that you consider if it’s the right time in your life to make the commitment. Once accepted into the program, you must be able to start in the upcoming semester and able to meet the enrollment requirements outlined below, in order to take up the offer.
- In your first semester, you must take at least one class throughout the entire semester, whether a full-semester course, or one first-half followed by one second-half course.
- In your second semester, you must take at least one half-semester course.
- After that, you may take up to a one-semester leave of absence during your first three years at HILR. Please note, the full semester fee is still due when taking a leave of absence in order to retain one’s place in the program.
How to Apply
We strongly recommend that you use Google Chrome or Firefox browser for the best experience completing the application form. Before you begin, we recommend that you view this tip sheet on application submission. If you have questions, please contact us at HILR@Extension.Harvard.edu.
Decisions are not made on a rolling basis. Rather, applicants will be notified by email when the review of all applications for the admission cycle is complete.
