Visiting Students

Visiting Students are enrolled in the Graduate School and have student privileges, including receiving a Yale transcript with coursework and grades listed. Students enrolled as Visiting Students are not eligible for financial aid or student loans.

The first step to apply as a Visiting Student is to contact the department with which you wish to affiliate. 

• You must have permission from the department to apply before submitting your application.
• You may enroll in up to four courses per term, for a maximum of two terms (one year).
• International applicants may only be admitted as full-time Visiting Students (four courses per term) due to visa requirements.
• Visiting Students are not eligible for financial aid from the Graduate School and must demonstrate sufficient financial support at the time of application.
• Applications are accepted only for the fall and spring terms.

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions section for Non-Degree Visiting Students.

Prerequisite:

Prospective applicants to this program should first contact the department to which they wish to apply for more information and specific eligibility requirements. You must have permission from the department to apply before submitting your application.

Before starting your application, please note the following: 

• All documents must be in English.
• You must have permission of the program.
• You may apply to enroll for up to one year.
• All materials in support of your application must be uploaded to the application prior to submission.

Deadlines:

• Fall Term enrollment application deadline: June 1
• Spring Term enrollment application deadline: October 1

Application Requirements:

To submit an application, you will be asked to provide the following:

• Proof of your bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
• A statement of purpose of 500-1000 words describing your past work and your preparation for your proposed study at Yale.
• A list of all prior institutions of study at the higher education level.
• Transcripts for each listed prior institution of study. (Applicants who have attended international institutions from which transcripts are in a language other than English must have those transcripts translated into English by a certified English translator.)
• TOEFL (or IELTS) scores if your native language is not English and the language of instruction of your bachelor's degree was not English.
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate your academic work, intellectual ability, and academic potential for graduate work. Both letters of recommendation must be received (by the application deadline) before you will be able to submit your application. 
• The name of the Yale faculty member who will act as your adviser.
• Proof of health insurance.
• An application fee of $105.00, plus a $25.00 document processing fee for international applicants.
• International applicants must also provide proof of sufficient funding to cover your living expenses and tuition costs while at Yale and proof of English Language proficiency. To be eligible for a J-1 student visa, at least 51% of your financial support toward tuition and living expenses must be from an external (non-personal, non-family) scholarship, fellowship, stipend, or assistantship.

Additional Information

• The application process is online only. There is no paper application.
• All materials in support of your application must be uploaded prior to submission.
• You must have permission of the program.
• The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) will issue documentation to assist with obtaining a visa to non-US citizens who are accepted and can demonstrate sources of funding to cover the estimated monthly cost of living expenses and tuition, as well as sufficient health insurance coverage. 

The Visiting Student application is currently closed. The application for Fall 2025/Spring 2026 will be available in late March 2025.