A concentration, not a separate admission
Harvard says students at the College choose a concentration, its word for a major. The pages read describe no separate application to Applied Mathematics.
Undergraduate · Harvard College
Harvard Applied Mathematics: mathematics paired with an area of application
Harvard College admits students to the College, not to a concentration, and Applied Mathematics is one of the concentrations they can choose once they are there. Harvard describes it as a quantitative liberal arts degree in which mathematical thinking is combined with a chosen area of application, from government and psychology to astrophysics and theoretical neuroscience. For an A-level or IB applicant, the questions are what the degree actually is, how it differs from Statistics or Mathematics, and what Harvard's pages say about mathematics preparation and testing for admission. This guide does not claim any application route to Applied Mathematics itself.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Harvard says about Harvard Applied Mathematics
Taken from Harvard College's Concentrations, Applied Mathematics and Application Requirements pages, read on 31 October 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Harvard's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Mathematics plus an area of application
Harvard calls it a quantitative liberal arts degree, and says the area of application is an integral part of it. Chosen areas range from government and psychology to astrophysics and theoretical neuroscience.
The AB/SM is for current students
The concurrent master's degree is open to currently enrolled Harvard College students only; it is not part of the application.
Calculus is not an admission requirement
Harvard says no specific math course is required, and that students can start with an introductory calculus class with no high school calculus prerequisite.
The SAT or ACT is required
Harvard requires one of them; other tests count only in exceptional cases. A-level and IB school reports carry predicted grades.
Official sources
- Harvard College: Concentrations (Liberal Arts & Sciences)college.harvard.edu
- Harvard SEAS: Bachelor's in Applied Mathematicsseas.harvard.edu
- Harvard SEAS: Applied Mathematicsseas.harvard.edu
- Harvard College: Application Requirementscollege.harvard.edu
Read on 31 October 2026 on Harvard College's Concentrations, Applied Mathematics and Application Requirements pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Harvard's course catalogue, the Applied Mathematics concentrator guide and requirement pages, the Applied Mathematics and Economics track, fees, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The concentration
What Harvard says Applied Mathematics is
Harvard's concentrations page says applied mathematics is a quantitative liberal arts degree that combines mathematical thinking with any subject where mathematics can be productively applied. The foundation is computation, probability, and discrete and continuous mathematics, and the page lists gateway courses including APMTH 10 (Computing with Python) and the Math 21 and Math 22 sequences. The concentration page adds that the area of application is integral, not optional. Harvard also notes that combining the degree with physics gives a programme quite similar to studying physics, whereas psychology or government gives a quite different one.
Is it the right concentration?
Applied Mathematics, Statistics or Economics
Harvard's pages describe each as its own concentration, so the choice is one you make after admission, not before. Avandy's comparison is general: it does not claim a path between them.
Applied Mathematics fits if
you want to learn mathematical modelling and then apply it to one field you care about, and are willing to pick that field.
Statistics fits if
your interest is in collecting and analysing data and quantifying uncertainty. Harvard describes Statistics as a separate concentration with its own gateway courses.
Economics fits if
you want to study markets and institutions; Harvard's Economics concentration lists mathematics and statistics requirements of its own.
Admission and testing
A College application with an SAT or ACT, and predicted grades
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, and says other tests, including the IB and A-level results, can meet the requirement only in exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible. For students on the IB or A-level curriculum, Harvard expects the school to send predicted grades. On mathematics, Harvard recommends four years of high school math, views the record holistically and says calculus is not required for admission. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Harvard's.
Which area of application do you care about?
Harvard treats it as an integral part of the degree, so a vague answer matters later.
Are you comfortable choosing a concentration after you arrive?
Admission is to the College; the concentration is chosen within it.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB?
Harvard requires one of them for first-year applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Harvard's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Harvard's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 31 October 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Harvard has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Harvard for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Decide which area of application interests you, read the concentration pages and plan the SAT or ACT.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Harvard College or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Harvard College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Harvard Applied Mathematics?
The pages read describe admission to Harvard College, not to a concentration. Students choose a concentration, Harvard's word for a major, once at the College.
What is the area of application?
Harvard says it is an integral part of the concentration; chosen areas have ranged from government and psychology to astrophysics and theoretical neuroscience.
Do I need calculus before applying?
Harvard says calculus is not a requirement for admission and that students can start with an introductory calculus class with no high school calculus prerequisite.
Do I need the SAT or ACT with A levels or the IB?
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, and accepts other tests such as IB or A-level results only in exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible.
Is the AB/SM part of the application?
No. Harvard says the concurrent master's programme is for currently enrolled Harvard College students only.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Harvard's wording with no entry-year label. Check Harvard's pages again when Harvard publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Harvard Applied Mathematics
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics, the area of application they would pair it with and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.