Residence

The RSEA program ordinarily entails two full academic years in residence. The minimum Harvard Griffin GSAS requirement for A.M. candidates is one year of full-time residence at the full-time tuition rate. During the year(s) of full-time residence, students must follow an RSEA-approved plan of study consisting of at least eight courses that satisfy the basic RSEA course requirements (as defined below); pay the required tuition costs; and make satisfactory academic progress by maintaining at least a minimum grade “B” average in each of the two years of study. In rare cases, a student may complete the RSEA degree requirements in less than two years. See below for more on the One-Year A.M. Degree.

After the first year of residence, some RSEA students may choose — with the prior approval of their faculty academic advisor and the RSEA Committee — to spend time away from campus as a Traveling Scholar to do primary research for their thesis or to study language (see the Harvard Griffin GSAS Policies for details and the required form https://gsas.harvard.edu/policies). 

Please note that Massachusetts Law requires medical insurance coverage for all Massachusetts residents, including students. Traveling Scholars are charged for health insurance each semester unless they submit a waiver request.