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Policies and FAQs

Discover additional details of signing up for our programs and learning with us.

Program Registration

Enrollment is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and solely done online. We encourage early registration, and do not accept registrations over the phone or via email. Our programs are interactive and one person may attend per registration.

If you are seeking to register multiple individuals for our programs, please email us for details on this process.

For in-person programs, registration closes 24 hours prior to the start of a program. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

Program Confirmation

Upon registration, you will receive an enrollment confirmation by email, including access to the program’s private website, which will have all the necessary details of your program.

Program Cancellation

Executive Education reserves the right to cancel a program before the first session. In the event of a program cancellation by Executive Education, all tuition and fees will be refunded in full. Executive Education is not responsible for cancellation fees related to a participant’s travel arrangements.

Certificate of Completion

With your full participation in a program (workshops are not eligible) and your paid tuition, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Executive Education indicating the title of the course and course dates. 

We are proud to offer Certified Electronic Certificates (CeCertificate) to participants who complete our programs. Look out for an email from [email protected] following your program that will give you access to this certificate, where you can download, print a hard copy, or post to your LinkedIn profile. The email will be titled “GSD Exec Ed Certificate Information: Download your Digital Certificate Now”.

Also, the Harvard Graduate School of Design is a registered provider of continuing education credits for members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Please see the descriptions of our programs for available credits.

Tuition, Refunds, Withdrawals

Tuition must be paid in full upon registration. Notice of withdrawal must be submitted by email to [email protected].

  • For Online Programs:
    • No penalty for withdrawals received more than 7 days before the program start date.
    • Withdrawals received within 7 days of the program start date will incur a charge of $75.
    • No refunds on or after the first day of the program.
    • All of Harvard’s schools have procedures in place to resolve complaints from students enrolled in online programs. Please email us at [email protected] for more details.
  • For On-Campus Open Enrollment Programs:
    • Withdrawal from all programs is subject to a minimum $75 charge.
    • Withdrawals received 15 to 30 days before the program start date will incur a charge of 10% of the program tuition.
    • Withdrawals received within 14 days of the program start date will incur a charge of 30% of the program tuition.
    • No refunds on or after the first day of the program.
  • For AMDP:
    • Please see the AMDP withdrawal policy here.

Discounts

We offer program discounts to the following groups:

  • GSD Alumni
  • AMDP Alumni
  • Individuals registering for multiple programs at once
  • Organizations registering for multiple individuals at once (this can be for the same, or different programs)
  • Individuals who have completed more than 10 programs with us

Please email us with any questions you may have about registration discounts, including if you would like to sign up a group.

For common questions specific to our one-year AMDP program, please click here.

You may register online for all of our programs. Please see the list of programs for which you may currently register here.

The quickest way to secure your seat in the program is to pay online with a credit card. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, and your seat is not confirmed until your tuition has been received in full.

Credit cards or e-checks are the preferred form of payment. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted online at the time of registration.

If online payment is not an option for you, we can provide you with a tuition invoice after you create a participant profile in our registration portal. Once you have completed this step, please email us at [email protected] to request an official invoice.

Payment by wire transfer or ACH is also accepted, however the transfer must be issued at least three weeks prior to the start of the program. Therefore, we highly recommend that you pay first with a credit card in order to ensure your seat in the program and then, if possible, seek reimbursement from your employer. When your wire transfer or ACH has been received and applied to your account, you will receive a registration confirmation email. Please note that since many programs do fill quickly, it is possible that the program may fill before your payment is received.

Since programs often fill quickly, we recommend completing payment online whenever possible. Often participants pay with their personal credit cards and later seek reimbursement directly from their employer in order to ensure a seat in the program.

Please consult your consulate/embassy to verify whether a visa is necessary for your stay in the U.S. Because the time required to obtain a visa can be lengthy, we encourage you to consult your consulate/embassy as soon as possible.

Tuition includes reading materials, morning and afternoon refreshments (in-person programs only), and, where applicable, fees for local tours and outings.

Once you have paid your tuition and approximately one to two weeks before the date of the program, we will send you a detailed agenda and readings. 

Our programs are held on the campus of Harvard University and online.

Yes! Please refer to this page on our website to see upcoming online programs.

Online Open Enrollment programs are recorded for internal use only and will not be rebroadcast or shared.

Our programs are interactive and only one person may attend per registration. If you are interested in signing up multiple people for the same program, please contact us.

Unfortunately, there is no on-campus housing. Our participants make their own arrangements in hotels, bed and breakfasts, Airbnb rentals, or elsewhere near campus. Please see our suggestions of where to stay here.

Each program consists of full-day sessions as well as additional readings. If your family accompanies you there are many local camps and attractions in the Cambridge/Boston area.

Please note program events are open to enrolled participants only.  Please consider the time commitment of the program when determining whether to have your family join you.  

Please see our transportation resources here.

English proficiency (spoken and written) is required so that you can engage fully in exercises and class discussions.

Full participation in a program means that a participant is present and engaged at all sessions, with no lengthy absences. For online programs, this also includes having your video on during class sessions. Participants who fail to meet the participation requirements of a program will not be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion or any applicable CEUs.

Please see our fees and policies here.

Assistance is available for Executive Education participants with disabilities, which may include mobility, vision, hearing, and other physical impairments or health conditions, as well as learning disabilities. Anyone with disabilities who requires assistance is encouraged to contact us at least two weeks before the program start date.