For Students
We provide a range of opportunities for Harvard language students to connect with global language communities and cultures, from in-person programming to online speaking practice.
Please contact us if you would like targeted support.
Curricular Language Opportunities at Harvard
The FAS typically offers around 80 languages each academic year. To find out more about Harvard's language departments and their offerings, please visit the A&H Language Study webpage.
In addition, you may filter on courses with the foreign language designation by visiting courses.my.harvard.edu, then filtering on "Faculty of Arts & Sciences" → "Arts & Humanities" → "Language Courses."
For more information about each department's requirements for concentrations and secondaries, please visit the APO's Academic Planning webpage.
Language Citations:
Students may declare a citation at any point during their study at Harvard, but determining a course of study in language early allows for students to take full advantage of curricular and study abroad opportunities.
Each language citation program consists of four courses (4 credits per course or equivalent) of language instruction beyond the first-year level and/or courses taught primarily in that language. At least two of these courses must be at the third-year level or beyond. Please visit the OUE's webpage about Language Citations for more information.
The Advising Programs Office hosts an annual Academic Fair in the fall, which allows students to learn more about language departments. Please check the College Calendar for the next scheduled Fair.
The Language Center will be hosting a Language Programs Pre-Registration Language Fair in the Spring. Please check our Events page for more information.
Language Center Room Reservations
Please consult the room calendars for availability and note that your room is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from the room scheduler. Please allow as much advance notice as possible as we may not be able to process reservations made fewer than 24 hours before requested time.
Food is not allowed in B09A. If you have specific technology or A/V needs for this reservation, please email Education Support Services at ess@fas.harvard.edu or call 617-495-9460.
Harvard Language Requirement and Language Exams
There are several different ways in which undergraduates may fulfill the language requirement before entering Harvard. Please see the OUE's website for more information.
Any student who has not met the language requirement upon entrance ordinarily is required to enroll in and complete with a passing letter grade an appropriate year-long language course (8 credits) or two semester-long language courses (4 credits each) in a single language. If you require specific assistance with your case, please reach out to the OUE (oue@fas.harvard.edu).
The Language Center, in conjunction with the OUE, administers exams for language course placement and language proficiency. Please visit the Placement Exam website for language-specific information about policies and scheduling. If you would like to inquire about a language not represented on that page, please reach out to Placement Help (placement-help@fas.harvard.edu).
You can log into your Placement Exam Registration Dashboard to see your current exam list.
Students may fulfill the language requirement in Spanish and French by passing a Language Verification Exam. If you are scheduled to take an LVE in French or Spanish, please come to the Language Center at your appointed exam time (Science Center B06). This is a web-based exam, and you will only need to bring your Harvard ID and phone (for Okta/Duo authentication).
Language Speaking Practice
The Language Center hosts a speaking practice program called the Language Exchange. After registering in the Language Exchange database, students can request a match with a partner with whom they can "exchange" language practice.
Harvard language departments, College houses, and other Harvard groups frequently host language tables around campus. We update this listing each semester, but please contact us if you would like to add a table to this list.