Child Care Support

GSAS Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS)

Students of any gender enrolled in GSAS PhD programs are eligible for the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) program following a childbirth or adoption event.

Eligible GSAS PhD students receive a one-time supplemental stipend payment. This funding is intended to help with the additional expenses associated with a childbirth or adoption event. For the 2024 - 2025 academic year, the award amount is $7,319.

 

HU & HGSU Child Care Subsidy

The contract between Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW) Local 5118 establishes a fund of $830,000 annually to subsidize the costs of childcare expenses of eligible salaried student workers. Read more on how to apply.

 

OGE PhD Child Care Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Be a registered student in one of the six HMS OGE PhD Programs, in good academic standing.
  • Have one or more children under the age of 12.
    • Note: the scholarship is per family, not per child.
  • Have children who must:
    • Be your legal dependent.
    • Live with you in the United States.
  • Have a total household income below $150,000.
    • If your total household income is above $150,000, you can still apply, but depending on the availability of funding, you may not receive the scholarship.
  • Students are eligible to receive the award for a maximum of five years.
  • Those who will be having a child during the academic year are eligible to apply. Please list due date in date of birth field. Due date will determine eligibility for each semester’s scholarship.
  • Those defending during the award year may not be eligible for the entire annual scholarship. Funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

What we require:

 

NIH Childcare Support

For students being paid from a T32  or F31 grant, NIH offers up to $2,500 in support for qualified childcare costs provided by a licensed childcare provider during the term of appointment. Childcare is supported for children up to age 13 (age 18 for children who are disabled). Contact dms_accounting@hms.harvard.edu if you think you qualify.

 

Other Resources for Student Parents

Harvard GSAS Student-Parents Organization
Provide a supportive community for fellow graduate students with children and host a variety of community-building events and initiatives.

Harvard Student Spouses and Partners Association
Promotes social fellowship and intellectual enrichment.

WATCH (Web Access to Care at Harvard) Portal
Connects student parents with providers of long- and short-term childcare, including occasional babysitting.

Office of Work/Life
The Office of Work/Life administers a variety of programs that provide support to the University’s graduate students, staff, and faculty.

Child Care Centers that are Harvard Affiliated (Cambridge and Longwood) 
The ChildCare@Harvard website has a lot of information regarding what to ask and what to look for when you are looking for childcare.  

Care.com
Care.com allows families to search for, vet, connect with, and ultimately select caregivers in a low-cost, reliable, and easy way. The site helps parents identify babysitters, nannies, childcare centers, family day care, camps, tutors, and special needs providers.