During the January, May, and September cohorts of CORe, we offer an undergraduate credit option through Harvard Extension School. When you start your application, you can select whether you are seeking admission for the undergraduate credit option. The course content, deadlines, and grading process are all the same, whether you choose to enroll in the undergraduate credit or credential-only version of CORe.
By enrolling in the undergraduate credit option of CORe, you will be enrolled at Harvard Extension School (January or September CORe cohorts) or Harvard Summer School (May CORe cohort) and eligible for student privileges like a Harvard University ID number (to access online library resources), free career and academic webinars, a Harvard Gmail account, and education tax credit and loan deferments.
Upon successful completion of CORe, undergraduate credit option participants will earn eight undergraduate credits from Harvard Extension School (January or September CORe cohorts) or Harvard Summer School (May CORe cohort). Harvard Extension School and Harvard Summer School are fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges—the same accreditation as all other schools at Harvard. Harvard transfer credit is accepted by institutions around the world, but it is always up to the accepting university to determine transferability. Successful undergraduate credit option participants will also receive a Credential of Readiness certificate from Harvard Business School, and an official transcript will be made available to verify your mastery of the program’s content.
Financial aid and financing options available for CORe program participants also vary depending on whether participants have elected the undergraduate credit option or have enrolled in the non-credit version of the program.
Federal Financial Aid - Participants who are U.S. citizens and undergraduate degree candidates at accredited degree-granting U.S. institutions are eligible to use their existing federal financial aid for the undergraduate credit option of CORe. To do so:
- Confirm with your home institution that it will accept eight undergraduate degree credits for CORe and offer you aid.
- Once admitted to CORe, pay the credit cost of CORe
- Contact HBS Online Support for instructions on how to submit your institution’s signed consortium agreement to the Harvard Extension School Student Financial Services (SFS). SFS will then confirm your admission and credit registration in CORe and return the form to your home institution. Once received, your institution will release the funds directly to you.
- Harvard Extension School undergraduate degree candidates may use their existing financial aid award toward the cost of CORe. The eight credits will count toward your enrollment status and should be reflected in the number of credits reported in your aid application supplement.
Financing Options & Grants - More information is available on the Payment and Financial Aid page. Please note that HBS Online does not offer grants for the undergraduate credit option of CORe.