A concentration, not a separate admission
Harvard says students choose a concentration, its word for a major. The pages read describe no separate application to Economics.
Undergraduate · Harvard College
Harvard Economics: a concentration with its own prerequisites, chosen at the College
Harvard College does not admit students to an Economics department; it admits them to the College, and Economics is a concentration they choose there. Harvard's pages describe a ladder of requirements: Principles of Economics, which is open to all, Math 1a or equivalent, a basic statistics course, intermediate micro and macro, econometrics and a Sophomore Tutorial. For an A-level or IB applicant, the points worth knowing are the IB credit rule for Principles of Economics, what Harvard says about calculus for admission, and the SAT or ACT requirement. This guide claims no separate application to Economics.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Harvard says about Harvard Economics
Taken from Harvard College's Concentrations page, the Department of Economics undergraduate page and the Application Requirements page, 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.
Principles of Economics is open to all
ECON 10a and 10b have no prerequisites, and students interested in economics are encouraged to take them in the first year.
Mathematics and statistics sit before the core
Math 1a or equivalent is required of all concentrators, and a basic statistics course comes before the Sophomore Tutorial and econometrics.
An IB rule for Principles of Economics
Appropriate AP or IB scores in economics may let a student skip a semester of Ec 10ab, but each skipped semester must be replaced with an economics elective.
The SAT or ACT is required
Harvard requires one of them, says calculus is not required for admission and expects predicted grades from IB and A-level schools.
Official sources
- Harvard College: Concentrations (Liberal Arts & Sciences)college.harvard.edu
- Harvard Department of Economics: Undergraduateeconomics.harvard.edu
- Harvard College: Application Requirementscollege.harvard.edu
Read on 31 October 2026 on Harvard College's Concentrations page, the Department of Economics undergraduate page and the Application Requirements page, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Harvard's course catalogue, the Economics concentrator guide, honours and thesis pages, fees, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The concentration
What the Economics concentration asks of you
Harvard's concentrations page lists the gateway sequence: Principles of Economics (ECON 10a and 10b), Math 1a or equivalent, one statistics course, intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, econometrics (ECON 1123 or 1126) and the Sophomore Tutorial (ECON 970), plus ECON 50, which does not require prior economics. The department's undergraduate pages also describe an Economics secondary field earned with six courses. Harvard's learning objective is to teach basic principles, introduce subfields and build a foundation for carrying out research.
Is it the right concentration?
Economics, Applied Mathematics or Statistics
All are concentrations Harvard describes separately, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Economics fits if
you want to study markets, institutions and decisions, with mathematics and statistics as tools.
Applied Mathematics fits if
you want mathematical modelling first and economics as one possible area of application. The Harvard pages mention Applied Mathematics and Economics as a track; this guide did not read it.
Statistics fits if
your interest is data and inference. Avandy's Harvard Statistics guide covers that concentration.
Admission and testing
A College application, an SAT or ACT, and an IB credit rule
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, and says IB or A-level results can meet the requirement only in exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible. Schools on the IB or A-level curriculum send predicted grades. Harvard says calculus is not required for admission and views math records holistically. Once enrolled, IB students should note the rule that appropriate scores in economics may exempt a semester of Principles of Economics but that the semester must be replaced by an elective. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Harvard's.
Are you comfortable with the required mathematics and statistics?
Math 1a, a statistics course and econometrics are all in the gateway list.
Do you want economics as a discipline or as an application?
That is the difference between Economics and Applied Mathematics at Harvard.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with 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
Read the Economics requirements, check your mathematics 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 Economics?
The pages read describe admission to Harvard College. Students choose a concentration, Harvard's word for a major, once enrolled.
Do I need to have studied economics?
Harvard says Principles of Economics is open to all students with no prerequisites.
Can IB economics give credit?
Harvard says appropriate AP or IB scores in economics may let students skip a semester of Ec 10ab, but each skipped semester must be replaced with an economics elective.
Do I need calculus before applying?
Harvard says calculus is not a requirement for admission. Once in the concentration, Math 1a or equivalent is required.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Harvard requires one of them; other tests count only in exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible.
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 Economics
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics, how they would approach the Economics prerequisites 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.