Chemistry

Program Overview

Chemistry is the science of the structure, properties and reactions of matter: a basic science for understanding the world and a practical one with a great variety of applications, fundamental to biology, biochemistry and engineering. How competitive: for the Class of 2029, which entered in fall 2025, Harvard admitted 4.2% of its 47,893 applicants; it publishes no separate figure for international applicants. It sets no IB minimum and no subject requirement, and it requires the SAT or ACT: IB results, final or predicted, count in their place only in exceptional cases. Students apply to Harvard College and choose a concentration, Harvard's name for a major, from 50 fields.