This guide holds the wisdom of many students from over the years, organized into three parts. The first is a tour of the GSD campus, the second explores student life opportunities, and the final part outlines the basics of academic life at the GSD. If you're a prospective student, this guide illustrates what it might be like to study at the GSD. If you're a new student, you'll find helpful information about GSD services and how to navigate life in Cambridge. You can print or download a copy of the 2020 Student Guide. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
The GSD campus includes Gund Hall, the Sackler Building, 7 Sumner Road, and “The Houses” on Kirkland Street and Sumner Road.
If you’re in a studio-based program, you’ll get a desk in “the trays.” The basic layout for desk spaces is a cubicle with two desks one for you and one for your “buttmate.” From minimal to cluttered, your GSD desk space is your space to do with as you wish. Desk arrangements include a computer-height surface and an under-desk storage locker, castered and topped with a cutting mat.
The Frances Loeb Library houses a book and journal collection of some 300,000 volumes and hundreds of thousands of individual images as well as original materials related to the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design and planning. In addition, hundreds of web-based resources are available. The library is home to the service desk, the Visual Collections, the Materials Collections, and Special Collections. There are several other Harvard libraries the GSD students have complete access to as well.
In many ways the Chauhaus is the heart of the GSD. Much more than a school cafeteria, it is visited by virtually everyone at the GSD and used for informal meetings. Just behind the Chauhaus, there’s an outdoor courtyard called The Back Yard where students study, eat lunch, and hang out.
In addition to participating in more formal exhibition events, students may apply to exhibit work in the two student-run exhibition spaces, Kirkland Gallery and Second Floor Exhibition Wall. Kirkland Gallery is student-run and occupies two rooms on the first floor of 40 Kirkland house. All GSD students are invited to submit proposals for exhibitions and other events. In addition to work produced at the GSD, the gallery welcomes projects pursued elsewhere–even things you make in your free time.
This space, complete with a collection of equipment, is available for students to photograph their models and other work.
Experimentation with materials, prototyping, testing, physical mock-ups, and the exploration of new fabrication processes are integral parts of design culture at the GSD. In support of these pursuits, the Fabrication Lab features a wide range of equipment, include most of the campus’ laser cutters. The Shop Store provides convenient access to consumable materials and tools for use in the Fab Lab.
The core of the Fab Lab is the Project Room, it’s open 24-hours and acts as the primary workspace. However, when working with certain materials you’ll find yourself needing to utilize the Wood Shop, the Metal Shop, or the Machine Shop.
The robotic devices that are also available in the machine shop allow for unprecedented flexibility in terms of application and programming. We have a larger six-axis robotic manipulator, an ABB IRB 4400L-30 as well as a smaller six-axis robot, an ABB IRB 140. Because of the flexible nature of industrial robots, programming files can be generated in a variety of ways for applications with an endless number of tools.
For rapid prototyping purposes, there are three types of 3D printing machines available that will allow complex physical geometry to be realized–especially valuable for stuff that can’t be created with traditional techniques or tools.
Student groups are an essential part of life at the GSD. Each year, newly formed groups join long-standing groups in contributing to the academic and social discourse of the school. There are more than 50 student groups at the GSD. What’s great about our groups is that they’re not easily categorized–cultural and social groups spark rigorous academic discussions, advocacy and academic groups know how to party, and a publication or exhibition can do both in an instant. Everything kicks off at the Student Group Fair.
The GSD produces several publications on various themes, including Harvard Design Magazine, The Incidents, New Geographies, Platform, and Studio Reports. In addition to these, there are a number of student-produced publications, including Open Letters.
Student groups sponsor a variety of academic and social events throughout the year. Popular gatherings include Beer n’ Dogs, the Halloween Party, Thanksgiving Dinner, and the GSD’s quasi prom, the Beaux Arts Ball.
The Office for the Arts at Harvard offers several programs available to GSD students, like Learning from Performers, Arts First, and the Public Art Program. Other programs centered around jazz, dance, and ceramics are also available.
In addition to museums around the city, Harvard’s museums includeThe Harvard Art Museums, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard Museum of Natural History, The Harvard Semitic Museum, The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, and the Harvard Film Archive.
I am a leading member of xDesign, a collaborative group made of students from Harvard Graduate School of Design, The Harvard Business School, and Harvard College. It explores design and technology in pursuit of innovation through means of conferences, workshops, and other creative events. I hope to create a greater emphasis on social innovation and incorporate the Harvard Kennedy School.
My greatest extracurricular commitment is the GSD’s African American Student Union, which I now serve as President. This group has not only served as a support system for me, academically and personally, but it has also provided a unique opportunity for its members to further individualize our experience here at the GSD. The AASU also has a packed social calendar, helping to ensure a little extra fun in our time here.
The Community Development Project was a great forum for meeting Kennedy School students and work with a real community outside the Boston area. The MUP Student Recruitment Committee has been a great way to help guide prospective students through the difficult grad school application/decision process.
The Harvard International Office can help you decipher the complexities of immigration, working in the US, and adjusting to living as an international student. In addition to a special orientation, the HIO offers weekly sessions international students and their families. The office also keeps a list of enrolled international students who have volunteered to be a resource for other students.
Through playgroups, outings, and potluck dinners, many families have found the Harvard Students Spouses and Partners Association (HSSPA) to be a nice resource for building a community. Check out our Resources for Partners and Families page or visit the HSSPA website for more information.
The Harvard Divinity School, just across the street from the GSD, organizes a wide variety of religious and spiritual activity for the Harvard community. They host speakers from various religious traditions, hold occasional retreats, and can refer seekers to many retreat centers and spiritual organizations around New England. Private Prayer Space, Harvard Chaplains, and weekly service are also available.
Graduate school is an intense and rigorous experience that can be stressful or overwhelming at times. We are committed to the mental and physical well being of all GSD students and offer a number of resources and activities free of charge. Join us for yoga sessions twice a week, pop-up massage and reiki sessions throughout the year, or for one of our weekly meditation sessions. A number of other services are provided on an individual basis through the Center for Wellness and Harvard Health Services. We also offer a number of fitness opportunities. Enroll in a Harvard gym membership for complete access to all of the campus athletic facilities or join one of the graduate club sports teams.
There are many ways to earn money as a student. From teaching opportunities to research, to work-study, take some time to explore your options.
Live as close to the GSD as possible. GSD students have a lot of late nights and early mornings, and winter weather can make relying on public transportation tricky. The closer you are to your apartment, the more likely you are to stop at home for a quick meal, shower, or nap. We recommend trying to find a place within a 15-minute walk of Gund. Harvard housing is available to a limited number of GSD students, but renting will give you the the greatest variety of options in terms of location, price, roommates, and pets. You can search online or try to find a room from another GSD student. Check out our guide to living in the vibrant city of Cambridge for tips on shopping, entertainment, and more.
The MBTA is your answer to public transportation – the subway and bus are the easiest way to get around the city year round. Biking is another great option, just be sure to gear up. There are a number of advantages to owning a car, but parking can be a challenge. Harvard Transportation is free to students, but of course serving a narrower radius than public transit. Otherwise, Uber, Lyft, Zipcar, and taxis are all widely available in the area.
Davis Square , equal parts Cambridge and Somerville, is a bit far from Gund, buts students living here make it work by cycling and taking the T. A mix of trendy new restaurants and working-class diners surround the historic Somerville Theatre. Photo Credit: "Somerville Theater" by Steven Isaacson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Porter Square is another great option for GSD students looking for an affordable place to live. It's a five-to-ten minute bike rider away or one T stop outbound from Harvard Square. What it lacks in charm, it makes up for in a convenient grocery store, hardware store, gyms, etc.–and the fantastic Japanese food at the Shops at Porter.
Kirkland Crossing is the intersection of Kirkland/Washington Street and Beacon Street. It's densely populated with GSD students due to its relative affordability and proximity to the GSD.
Union Square is just up Kirkland/Washington Street. It's not on the T, but buses and bicycles make the commute quite quick. It's got a good selection of music venues, restaurants, and specialty grocery stores. Photo Credit: "Union Square Farmer's Market" by Todd Van Hoosear is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Harvard Square is very close to the GSD, but its proximity to campus also makes for a high cost of living. Restaurants, bars, chain stores, and local boutiques fill the square’s commercial spaces. Students make up the majority of the surrounding neighborhood’s inhabitants, while tourists usually populate the square itself.
Inman Square is home to a number of bars and restaurants that are worth the short walk from Gund. Inman's diverse resident population of locals, families, and students lends it a neighborhood feel. Photo Credit: "Cambridge - Inman Square" by Niklas Tenhaef is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Central Square lies one T stop inbound from Harvard Square and anchors a cluster of live venues that host dance parties and rock shows, not to mention a plethora of bars, eateries, and clubs. Photo Credit: "Central Square from above" by Eric Kilby is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Kendall Square is MIT turf, but a number of GSD students live around there, too. For the past decade, MIT and the CIty of Cambridge have invested heavily in making this area a destinatio
The studio method is central to design education at the GSD. Students enrolled in studio-based programs take one studio course each semester and it will meet 2-3 times a week. If you don’t come from a design background, studio is probably unlike any other class you’ve ever taken. A studio is composed of a dozen or so students under one critic’s tutelage. Student desks are organized by studio and are located in Gund above the lobby on the five terraced levels known as “the trays.” They are home-base for desk crits. Throughout the semester students will share their work and get feedback during pinups, midterm reviews, and final reviews.
After all core studio courses are completed, students begin to takeoption studios. There are about 40 offered each year, one is offered abroad. Students indicate their preferences in a lottery system after option studio presentations. Visiting critics and site visits are highlights of the semester.
While studio courses are a large component of the GSD’s professional degree programs, nonstudio coursework constitutes the academic backbone of the school and the basis for research-based programs. Professional degree candidates also take required and elective nonstudio courses. Formats include lectures, seminars, and workshops and cover an extraordinary range of research concerns and methodologies. Some operate on an ordinary liberal arts model (assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, student presentations, term papers, etc.), while others are more like ministudios with field trips, semester-long projects, and final reviews. Students are even able to take nonstudio courses outside of the GSD.
The thesis is an opportunity for students to pursue a project that is researched and developed independently. The completion of a thesis is required of all MArch I and MArch I AP students and is optional for all other studio-based programs. Students of any degree program may also pursue a nonthesis, faculty-advised independent research project.
This series of workshops is for developing skills and techniques for the studio environment. The modeling software programs that are mostly used in studios are taught, including Rhino, 3ds Max, Catia, and Digital Project. Morespecialized applications are also taught in the context of seminars or lectures.
This course is offered to first-year students wanting to improve their comfort with the English language with an emphasis on design discourse at the GSD.
Whether you are still improving your English or a native speaker, everyone can use extra help in the area of research, writing, and even mapping. Research Support Services has a variety of integrated opportunities to help define and refine your academic narrative.
During the first two weeks in January, a set of free workshops and non-credited courses are offered as an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to hone skills, learn new ones, or just have fun. Courses are taught for the GSD community, by the GSD community..
The GSD sponsors a lively public lecture series that provides prominent designers, artists, and thinkers with an opportunity to present their work. The series of exhibitions and events transform the lobby, library, and many areas of the school into places to discover new knowledge and work.
With a tradition of groundbreaking innovations, research at the GSD forms interdisciplinary bridges to the university and beyond. Interests usually fit into three general areas of focus–technology; urbanism and landscape; and history, theory, and design–and take shape through a blend of sponsored research initiatives, design labs, affiliated centers and institutes at Harvard, and faculty-led projects. Thus, the wealth of opportunities to collaborate with both faculty and students is founded upon the integration of design education and research. These programs provide a lot of research jobs for students, check out project websites for Research Assistant positions.
People here are nice! I love my classmates, I sing their praises on a daily basis and to anyone who asks! It is truly a supportive and collaborative learning environment. I feel so lucky to be a part of this community.
My peers are extremely passionate and take their studies seriously, but they’re also really fun people to work and hang out with. Turns out, the school is very artsy and design-focused.
One of my favorite parts of the GSD is the lectures/speakers/exhibitions. These reflect and produce a critical part of the broader interdisciplinary conversation going on throughout the building and the wider professional worlds.
The Harvard Graduate School of Design offers a dynamic setting for the exchange of ideas across the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and design, and design studies – united in the pursuit of a more just, coherent, and beautiful world.