Employer Reimbursement

Are you a working professional interested in enrolling in a Harvard Business School Online course? Many employers support their staff in continuing education opportunities by covering the costs of online business courses. In fact, approximately one-third of HBS Online participants report receiving financial support from their company. If you know who and how to ask, you might be able to get your company to pay for your HBS Online program, too. Use our guide to learn how to ask your organization to cover the cost of your course and get learning.

Step 1: Do Your Research

Learn about your organization’s professional development policies and the types of funding that may exist for these opportunities. Look into any criteria required to take advantage of these opportunities, which might include:

• Grading Policies: Do you need to receive a certain grade? Is a pass, fail, or complete sufficient?
• Payment Policies: Do you have to front the cost, or will your company pay directly?
• Type of Institution: Does the provider have to be accredited? Can you take an online option?
• Additional Requirements: Is there a minimum length of employment or hours worked per week to qualify?

Step 2: Gather the Appropriate Documents

If you want to request reimbursement from your employer for an HBS Online course, there are a few documents that will help make this process easier.

• Course Syllabus: Navigate to the individual page via the Course Catalog
• Acceptance Letter*
• Letter of Enrollment*
• Letter Confirming Course Completion*

*Can be provided on request from hbsonlinesupport@hbs.edu.

Step 3: Talk to Your Manager

Get your manager on-board with your plan. It’s critical to have the support of your boss when making a request, as they can help advocate for you and support you while you're continuing your education. If your organization doesn’t have a formal professional development policy, that doesn’t mean opportunities aren’t available. Work with your manager to determine the best option. Good managers want to help you, and you never know if you don’t ask.

Step 4: Present Your Case

Determine who approves professional development requests in your organization. Is it your manager, or human resources? If your organization has a team dedicated to professional development, that would be a good place to start.

Once you know who you’re asking, make sure you know why you want to take the course and how it will help both you and your organization. Will you be able to negotiate for more favorable terms, or have a better grasp on how to gauge market demand before launching a new product? Help your employer understand how their support will benefit the organization in the long run.

Step 5: Be Proactive

You may not always be your organization’s top priority, especially if you work for a large company with thousands of employees. Make sure to provide all necessary information so that your company doesn’t have to go searching for it. If you don’t hear anything back, follow-up to make sure the process is moving along. You are your own best advocate.