Examinations In Absentia

Students, who for sufficient reason cannot be within 500 miles of Cambridge at the time of a final, midyear, or makeup examination, may request to take the examination at another location. All examinations in absentia must be approved by the Administrative Board. Undergraduates must contact their Resident Dean to initiate this process. Graduate students should contact the Deputy Registrar. A petition to take an examination in absentia will not be accepted without the course head’s signature, acknowledging the requirement to provide an early copy of the examination. Student applications for in absentia exams should be submitted by the last day of classes. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Administrative Board may grant examinations in absentia after the deadline has passed.

An in absentia examination is administered at the same time and date as the examination in Cambridge and must be proctored by someone approved by the Office of the Registrar. After determining that these conditions can be met, the Office of the Registrar will work with the course head to facilitate the administration of the examination. For reasons of equity, the examination given to the student in absentia must be identical to that given at the regular examination in Cambridge. The examination should be returned to Cambridge immediately after it has been administered.

Students are charged $100 for each examination taken in absentia to cover administrative costs. The in absentia fee may be waived for students who are participants in varsity competition where Harvard University is being officially represented. Additionally, the in absentia fee may be waived for students who are studying abroad for Harvard degree credit with prior approval from the Office of International Programs.