Master, Urban Planning

About University

Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a prestigious private research university. It was founded in 1636 as Harvard College and is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The university's early focus was on training Congregational clergy, but it gradually became more secularized during the 18th century. Harvard emerged as a prominent academic and cultural institution in the 19th century, especially among the Boston elite. Under President Charles William Eliot's leadership from 1869 to 1909, Harvard underwent significant transformation. It developed multiple affiliated professional schools, transitioning into a modern research university. In 1900, Harvard co-founded the Association of American Universities. James B. Conant, who led the university during the Great Depression and World War II, implemented liberalized admissions policies after the war. Harvard is composed of ten academic faculties, including the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate academic disciplines. Harvard has three main campuses: the Cambridge campus, which encompasses Harvard Yard and spans 209 acres; an adjoining campus in the Allston neighborhood of Boston; and the medical campus in Boston's Longwood Medical Area. The university's endowment is valued at $50.7 billion, making it the wealthiest academic institution globally. This financial strength enables Harvard to admit students regardless of their financial need and provide financial aid without loans. Harvard Library, the largest academic library system worldwide, consists of 79 individual libraries holding 20 million items. Throughout its history, Harvard has produced notable alumni, faculty, and researchers. This includes billionaires, U.S. presidents, heads of state, Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, members of Congress, MacArthur Fellows, Rhodes Scholars, Marshall Scholars, Turing Award Recipients, and Fulbright Scholars. The university also boasts a significant number of Academy Award winners, Pulitzer Prize recipients, Olympic medalists, and founders of notable companies. Harvard consistently ranks among the top globally in these categories. It is classified as an "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity."