A concentration within the College
Harvard says students choose a concentration, its word for a major. The pages read describe no separate application to Psychology.
Undergraduate · Harvard College
Harvard Psychology: the scientific study of the mind, with statistics early
Harvard College admits students to the College, and Psychology is one of the concentrations they can choose once enrolled. Harvard defines psychology as the scientific study of the mind, requires an introduction and a statistics course early, and says an IB score of 7 in Psychology may count towards the introductory course. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to Psychology.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Harvard says about Harvard Psychology
Taken from Harvard's Department of Psychology undergraduate program page, Harvard College's Concentrations page and Application Requirements page, read on 1 November 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.
The scientific study of the mind
Harvard says research concerns attention, perception, memory, reasoning, decision-making and language, among other processes.
An IB 7 may count
Harvard says a Psychology AP score of 5 or IB score of 7 may count towards the introductory course requirement.
Statistics by the end of sophomore year
PSY 1900, Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, is required by then.
Calculus is not an admission requirement
Harvard says it views math records holistically with no specific course required, and calculus is not required for admission.
The SAT or ACT is required
Harvard requires one of them; A-level and IB school reports carry predicted grades.
Official sources
- Harvard College: Concentrations (Liberal Arts & Sciences)college.harvard.edu
- Harvard Department of Psychology: undergraduate programpsychology.fas.harvard.edu
- Harvard College: Application Requirementscollege.harvard.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on Harvard's Department of Psychology undergraduate program page, Harvard College's Concentrations page and Application Requirements page, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Harvard's course catalogue, the full requirement lists, fees, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The concentration
What the Psychology concentration teaches
Harvard's concentrations page defines psychology as the scientific study of the mind and says most department research concerns basic processes such as attention, perception, memory, reasoning and language. The primary goal is a fundamental understanding of the human mind, with the skill to assess quantitative evidence and bring difficult problems under experimental scrutiny. Students take PSY 1, Introduction to Psychological Science, then statistics and two foundational courses. The department describes pathways that include a Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology Track and a Cognitive Science Track. This guide does not list the full requirements.
Is it the right concentration?
Psychology beside Neuroscience and Philosophy
Harvard lists these as separate concentrations, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Psychology fits if
you want experiments and statistics applied to behaviour and thought.
Neuroscience fits if
you want the brain studied as biology. Avandy's Harvard Neuroscience guide covers it.
Philosophy fits if
you want conceptual argument about mind and knowledge. Avandy's Harvard Philosophy guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A College application, an SAT or ACT, and predicted grades
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, and accepts other results such as the IB or A levels only in exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible. Schools on the IB or A-level curriculum are expected to send predicted grades. Harvard says calculus is not required for admission and no specific math course is required. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Harvard's.
Do you want experiments and statistics at the centre?
Statistics is required by the end of sophomore year.
Did you take IB Psychology at Higher Level?
Harvard says a score of 7 may count towards the introductory course; the Psychology Undergraduate Office advises on this.
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 1 November 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 Psychology entry on Harvard's concentrations page and the department page, and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
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 Psychology?
The pages read describe admission to Harvard College. Students choose a concentration, Harvard's word for a major, once enrolled.
Can IB Psychology count towards the concentration?
Harvard says you may be able to count a Psychology AP score of 5 or IB score of 7 towards the introductory course requirement, and tells students to contact the Psychology Undergraduate Office.
What tracks does Psychology offer?
The department describes a Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology Track and a Cognitive Science Track among its pathways.
Do I need calculus before applying?
Harvard says calculus is not a requirement for admission and that no specific math course is required.
Do I need the SAT or ACT with A levels or the IB?
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT; IB or A-level results meet the requirement 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 Psychology
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their sciences and mathematics, their interest in experiments and statistics 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.