AMDP begins every July.

AMDP Terms are cumulative and each term builds on educational objects, therefore, a new class begins every July. The class will stay together throughout the year to stay connected for three terms, including Summer Term I, Winter Term, and Summer Term II.

No. Summer is one of the busiest terms at Harvard with students arriving from all over the world for Summer School. Our students make their own arrangements either in hotels, bed and breakfasts, Airbnb rentals or elsewhere near campus.

The fourth AMDP term is the Elective Week. The Elective Week must be taken in Executive Education here at the Harvard Graduate School of Design or in our joint programs that we offer at the other Harvard schools. The Elective Week allows you to take advantage of our programs where you seek more information on that subject or something new that you seek to explore.

Many AMDP applicants actually complete their AMDP Elective Week before they begin the AMDP and don't realize it. They usually learn about the AMDP when they are in one of our other programs. We allow you up to five years before you begin the AMDP to use your previous Harvard GSD Executive Education programs as credit to your AMDP Elective Week.

Local residency is a requirement during all AMDP terms. You must be present in the classroom here on Harvard Campus and you cannot take the AMDP online.

Because AMDP is an intensive educational program, we discourage family members from traveling with you to your trip to Harvard. All AMDP socials are closed to guests and are for AMDP participants only.

Once all AMDP requirements have been completed and tuition has been paid in full, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be awarded Harvard Graduate School of Design alumni status.

If you are offered acceptance to the program, a $2,000 non-refundable deposit will be due within 10 days in order to reserve a class seat. The tuition balance will be due within 60 days of acceptance (or upon receipt of the invoice if admission is within 60 days of the start of the program). If your deposit or tuition balance are not received on time, we unfortunately will need to offer your seat to another candidate.

For more information, please read our AMDP Payment Policy.

There are no books that need to be purchased for the AMDP. The majority of reading for the AMDP are case studies, articles, and other readings. All AMDP materials will be posted on-line to an iSite and available to those in the class who have paid their tuition in advance.

Once you have paid your AMDP tuition and approximately one month before the AMDP term begins, we will send you your Harvard ID Number and the access link to the AMDP on-line iSite which will be complete with all readings and further information for the term. You can either print your readings or use your laptop.

We give you three categories to complete your Independent Project, including: a Business Plan, an Educational Case Study, or a Community Project. This project gives you the opportunity to use Harvard resources and to delve into a new business or a subject that you are passionate about but have never had the time to concentrate your research. The Independent Project does not necessarily have to be real estate related.

In Summer Term I, we will give you the information regarding the Team Project which will be a real world project. From the time you leave campus in July to when you return in February, you will be expected to connect with teammates regarding the Team Project and present your findings to instructors and site-local representatives in a Team Project Competition in the Winter Term.

If you have been accepted and you must withdraw your AMDP application, we allow a one year deferment to next year's class. If you elect this one-year deferment, we require payment of a $2,000 non-refundable deposit within 10 days. This deposit will be applied to your tuition balance. The remaining tuition balance will be due by January 31st of the following year.

Due to our privacy policy, we do not circulate the Class List until the day the program begins.