Program for Visits at Other Law Schools Financial Information

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Program for Visits at Other Law Schools is available to HLS students who desire to study out of residence at another ABA accredited law school due to serious personal hardship or for academic enhancement. Interested students must petition the HLS Administrative Board through the Dean of Students Office by the deadline listed in Section IX of the HLS Handbook of Academic Policies.

Students who are Visiting OUT (from HLS attending another school) will apply for aid from HLS as usual. We will charge each student visiting out 10% of HLS tuition and will work with each student and the other institution to make sure all required payments are made to their institution on time (see details below).

Students who are Visiting IN (from another school attending HLS) will not receive any aid from HLS. All requests for aid should be made to your home school. We will complete any pertinent forms your school requires. We will also be responsible for receiving any payments from your school and crediting them to your Harvard Law School Student Bill.

Financial Aid (Visiting Out Students)

  • Application Process

    Once you have been accepted into this program, you will apply for and receive all of your aid from HLS in the same manner as you have in previous years. In addition to the regular financial aid application forms, you will need to download the ConsortiumAgreement and complete the student section. Once you have completed the student section, you will need to submit it to the school you will be attending (the Visiting School). The Visiting School will then complete the necessary sections and return the Consortium Agreement to us in Student Financial Services.

  • Your Student Account

    You will receive two bills: one from HLS and another from the institution you will be visiting.

    • On your Harvard student account, you will be charged 10% of current year HLS tuition (equal to $6,772 in 2021-22). Additionally, Harvard will charge you both the University Health Service Fee and the Blue Cross/Blue Shield (HUSHP) Insurance. In order to waive the Health Service Fee you will need to contact the Harvard University Insurance Office. If you have appropriate medical coverage, you may also waive the Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance by going to the same web site. NOTE:  If you do not take action to waive one or both of these fees by the cancellation due date, you will be required to pay the fees in full.
      • Additionally, under Federal Student Aid regulations, an allowance for the Harvard Student Health Insurance Plan may be included in the student’s budget only for students who enroll in the plan. For students who waive this coverage, the allowance will not be given, and the total student budget will be reduced by the amount of the plan fee. This means that if you are an HLS grant recipient, your HLS grant will be reduced by the fee amount as well.
    • The Visiting School will charge you 100% of their current year tuition and possibly other fees, including health insurance. You will want to review all of your health care options and take the appropriate action to either secure or cancel the coverage of your choice. Please note, if you have financial aid, we will pay the bill due to the Visiting School from your HLS award. In mid-August and again in mid-January, HLS will cut a check to your Visiting School. You will need to pay the Visiting School any other charges you incur throughout the semester. If you choose the visiting school’s health coverage, we will include this amount for HLS grant assistance if you qualify, however, only one insurance will be used in your student budget.

    You will be held to the same HLS payment deadlines as listed on your HLS student account.

  • Your Student Budget

    Your student budget will be based largely on the information received from the Visiting School on the Consortium Agreement. To this we will add the 10% HLS tuition and one health insurance fee based on your choice of insurance coverage (i.e. HLS insurance or the visiting school’s insurance program). Additionally, a budget increase of $1500 (prorated if attending for less than a full academic year) will be added to your budget to compensate for the extra expenses related to this program of study. This increase is eligible for grant assistance, if you are found eligible for HLS grant assistance. See 2021-22 example below.  Please note that these numbers reflect a full academic year.  If, in the rare case, you visit for less than a full academic year, the numbers will be pro-rated.

    21-22 HLS STANDARD STUDENT BUDGET EXAMPLE 21-22  VISITING SCHOOL + HLS CHARGES
    Tuition $67,720 Tuition (other school $60,545 + 10% HLS) $67,317
    Mandatory Health Service Fee & Waivable Insurance Fees $1,242 and $4,020 Health & Other Fees $3,985
    Books & Supplies $1,600 Books $1,300
    RoomBoardPersonal $27,923 Room and Board $22,340
    Travel Allowance $1,675 Travel Allowance $1,500
    Visit Allowance $1,500
    Total: $104,200 Total: $97,942
  • Student Contribution and Summer Work Requirement

    You will be held to the same work requirement the summer before you enroll at your Visiting School as in previous years. See the Student Contribution from Income  section of this web site for details on the summer work requirement.

  • Cash Advances and Refunds

    After we pay all of your billed visiting school expenses, we will request a cash advance for any remaining credit on your HLS student account. If you are eligible to receive a cash advance, you will receive all of your Cash Advance checks via direct deposit. We require you to sign up for direct deposit, if you have not already done so, by going to your student account.

  • Other Considerations
    • Mandatory Meeting: You will need to attend a meeting with the Student Financial Services Office prior to leaving HLS at the end of your second year.
    • Graduation Requirement: In May of your last semester, we will contact you regarding an Exit Interview. The Exit Interview is required for all graduating students with student loans. You will receive materials via the web. You will also have an exit counseling session over the phone.