Harvard LL.M. Financial Aid Application: Strategies to Maximize Your Funding

Harvard awards financial aid based on need. Decisions about financial aid are made after admissions. This means that by the time HLS reviews your financial aid application, they have already concluded that you have proven your academic and professional merit. It is also presumed that everyone who gets into Harvard is equal in merit, and at this stage, the only concern is the financial ability to pursue the degree.

Generally, a graduate application like an LL.M. is a process of making claims and providing evidence to support those claims, and financial aid is no exception. Here, the claim you are making is that you do not have the financial resources to pay for your education. Your evidence needs to demonstrate that this is true.

Think of your application mathematically. A need-based application requires you to prove that the desired education is not accessible to you in any other way except through financial aid. Your task is to provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

The proof you provide to establish your financial need will be highly personal and specific to your circumstances.

A need-based aid application typically contains two categories of content:

1. "Hard" proof in the form of contracts, statements, etc.
2. "Soft" proof in the form of a motivation letter or an explanation.

Before addressing the mechanics of a need-based application, consider two key points:

1. What is obvious to you is obvious to you.

It does not matter how well-covered something is in the media. The things that are obvious to you because they are part of your day-to-day life are not necessarily obvious to the admissions committee. It is especially unclear how a major event that affected your region translates into your daily life.

The admissions committee does not know the world you live in. You do.

It is your job to explain your circumstances clearly, coherently, and concisely in a way that makes sense to someone who has no firsthand experience of your life.

Do not assume that what is common knowledge to you is common knowledge to them.
Be as clear and specific as possible.

2. Your job is to help the admissions committee decide.

The people on the admissions committee are busy. For you, this application can change your entire life. For them, it is another day of sifting through dozens of applications while juggling other commitments.

Your task is to help them do their job—make their decision easier. You do this by presenting a clear, uncluttered picture of the key factors affecting your ability to fund your education.

If they have two comparable applications in front of them, and one provides key information in a readable, concise form while the other is convoluted, consists of multiple documents, and lacks a clear connection between them, they will favor the clearer one.

They will not dig through a pile of documents only to discover on page five that you mention a life-altering event that is key to your entire case.

Why? Two simple reasons:

1. You made their job harder, not easier, and wasted their already limited time.
2. More importantly, if you cannot explain your own circumstances in a way that is easy to understand, they may question whether you are as strong a candidate as you claim to be.

Keep these two considerations in mind when preparing your application.

Mechanics of Proving Financial Need

The "hard" proof in your need-based scholarship application will relate to two sides of your financial life: income and expenses.

Income Side: Examples of Relevant Documents

• Employment contract
  Provide your employment contract or an extract from it. Make sure it clearly shows key details, such as your employer, your name, and the time frame—e.g., to prove your employment status and salary.
  If your documents are not in English, it is usually enough to translate only the relevant sections rather than the entire document. Unless explicitly required, a certified translation is not necessary—simply translate it to the best of your ability and in good faith.
• Bank statements
  These serve as basic proof of your financial status. They demonstrate that you are not a secret millionaire hiding behind a small salary but someone in genuine need of financial aid.
• Statement from your employer confirming they will not fund your degree
  In some cases, employers finance their employees' education, often on the condition that they return to work afterward. If this is not your case, a statement from your employer confirming they will not fund your studies reinforces your need for a scholarship.
• Statements from your parents' employers regarding their income
  Some applicants receive financial support from their parents. For this reason, some programs—including Harvard—require evidence of parental income. For instance, Harvard Law School mandates this for applicants under 30 years old.
• Since financial situations vary widely based on socioeconomic background, when in doubt, provide more evidence rather than less.
• Translations of laws that establish salaries for government workers
  If you work in the public sector and your income is determined by law, translating an excerpt from the relevant legislation can serve as proof.
• Example: In my need-based applications, I demonstrated my Ph.D. income at Lomonosov Moscow State University (a public university) by translating an excerpt from a government resolution establishing stipends for all Ph.D. candidates at public universities in Russia.
• Links to relevant websites
  If you receive a publicly listed grant, provide a link along with a brief explanation of its purpose, timeframe, and amount.
• Proof of unsuccessful loan or grant applications
  If you applied for loans or grants but did not receive them, provide supporting documents.

Expense Side: Examples of Relevant Documents

• Taxes
  Translate an excerpt from a legal instrument (e.g., national tax code) that establishes your applicable tax rate. In the accompanying letter, explain how much of your income remains after taxes.
• Housing expenses
  Provide proof of rent or mortgage payments. A lease or mortgage contract can help. If not in English, translate the relevant sections.
• Existing loans, especially student loans
  If you are repaying loans, provide documentation, including translations if necessary.
• General living expenses
  You typically do not need to document daily expenses in detail. Instead, refer to publicly available data on the average cost of living in your city and include links to relevant websites.

The "Soft" Proof: Motivation Letter & Explanation

In addition to hard financial documents, you will usually be asked (or given the opportunity) to submit a motivation letter or an additional statement to explain anything not evident from the numbers.

Your specific life circumstances should guide your arguments. Consider key financial factors that impact your ability to pay for education, such as:

• Are you a parent? Do you have children or other dependents?
• Are you solely responsible for yourself, your partner, or your family?
• Are you a single parent?
• Did you have to take time off work to care for a child, partner, or elderly family member?

This is not an exhaustive list. If other circumstances have significantly impacted your financial situation, explain them clearly. Do not assume the admissions committee will infer them based on your background.

Your application should make these points clear:

• Your sources of income
• Your monthly and annual income (converted to the target country's currency)
• Your biggest expenses (e.g., taxes, housing, loans, dependents)
• Key life circumstances that have impacted your ability to pay and save for education

For free-form statements, use the opportunity to clarify factors that may not be obvious, such as:

• Why an education loan is not an option for you (e.g., high interest rates, unstable currency, ineligibility).
• Any financial hardships you faced (e.g., supporting your parents, covering unexpected medical costs, fleeing a conflict zone).

The admissions committee will not assume anything. If in doubt, explain it.

You are the only one who truly understands your financial situation. Use that to your advantage.

Hope this helps and good luck! ☺️