How long does the Harvard MBA program actually take to complete?
I'm starting to look into different business school options, and Harvard's MBA keeps coming up as a top choice. I'm just a bit confused about how long the program is supposed to take.
Is it a standard two-year thing, or is there any way it could be shorter (or longer) depending on your schedule or courses? Also, is there a summer break in between years, or is it continuous? I know some programs have weird timelines so I wanted to see if any current students or recent grads could share what the actual calendar looks like. I'm trying to figure out how this would work for my future plans and if there is anything I should know that isn't super obvious from their website.
Is it a standard two-year thing, or is there any way it could be shorter (or longer) depending on your schedule or courses? Also, is there a summer break in between years, or is it continuous? I know some programs have weird timelines so I wanted to see if any current students or recent grads could share what the actual calendar looks like. I'm trying to figure out how this would work for my future plans and if there is anything I should know that isn't super obvious from their website.
6 months ago
•
931 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 6 months ago
Advisor
Harvard Business School’s full-time MBA program is designed to be completed in two academic years—so yes, it is a traditional two-year program, and it closely follows the typical academic calendar you might expect from graduate programs in the U.S.
The academic year is divided into two terms (the fall and spring), with classes usually starting in late August or early September and running through mid-May each year. After your first year, there is a summer break (about 10-12 weeks) between the first and second years. Many students use this time for internships, which is considered a crucial part of the MBA experience. The expectation is that all students will take advantage of the break for career exploration, travel, or other professional development.
Harvard’s MBA doesn’t have official part-time or accelerated (shortened) options. Everyone progresses through the first-year core curriculum as a cohort, which is part of what makes the program’s network and class experience unique. There are some opportunities for cross-registration with other Harvard schools, special projects, or exchange programs during the second year, but these don’t affect the length.
The only common reason the MBA would take longer than two years would be if a student takes a formal leave of absence, possibly for personal reasons, unforeseen events, or on rare occasions for entrepreneurial pursuits. But this isn't baked into the program in the way that some dual-degree options or flex-time MBAs are at other schools.
Bottom line: plan for two academic years with a large break over the summer. Unless you run into a significant personal situation that requires pausing your studies, you won’t be able to finish sooner—or extend beyond two years—just by adjusting your own pace.
If you’re thinking of working part-time or have unique scheduling needs, Harvard’s format is rigid compared to some other schools, so make sure this structure fits your goals before you apply.
The academic year is divided into two terms (the fall and spring), with classes usually starting in late August or early September and running through mid-May each year. After your first year, there is a summer break (about 10-12 weeks) between the first and second years. Many students use this time for internships, which is considered a crucial part of the MBA experience. The expectation is that all students will take advantage of the break for career exploration, travel, or other professional development.
Harvard’s MBA doesn’t have official part-time or accelerated (shortened) options. Everyone progresses through the first-year core curriculum as a cohort, which is part of what makes the program’s network and class experience unique. There are some opportunities for cross-registration with other Harvard schools, special projects, or exchange programs during the second year, but these don’t affect the length.
The only common reason the MBA would take longer than two years would be if a student takes a formal leave of absence, possibly for personal reasons, unforeseen events, or on rare occasions for entrepreneurial pursuits. But this isn't baked into the program in the way that some dual-degree options or flex-time MBAs are at other schools.
Bottom line: plan for two academic years with a large break over the summer. Unless you run into a significant personal situation that requires pausing your studies, you won’t be able to finish sooner—or extend beyond two years—just by adjusting your own pace.
If you’re thinking of working part-time or have unique scheduling needs, Harvard’s format is rigid compared to some other schools, so make sure this structure fits your goals before you apply.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years