Incoming Students
Welcome New Graduate School Students!
We are very excited that you are joining our community of scholars and leaders this year. We look forward to meeting you in person and sharing your academic and personal journey in the coming years.
Jump to the new student Orientation Schedule
Jump to a list of academic dates and deadlines for the 2025-6 academic year
2025 Important Dates and Deadlines
The information below will be updated and new information will be added in the coming months. Please check back frequently leading up to your arrival on campus.
March-April
Receive your Yale NetID and PIN to activate your Yale Account.
April 2
Please visit the Yale Graduate Housing website for more information about on-campus graduate housing, including a webinar for the 2025-2026 academic year scheduled for Wednesday, March 26 at 11:00am ET. The on-campus housing application will open on April 2, and room selection will take place during the week if April 21. On-campus housing is limited, so plan to apply and choose your room early.
April 15
Deadline to respond to offer of admission.
May 1 to June 30
Upload a photo for your Yale ID card on the ID Card Photo Upload web page by June 30. New Student ID cards will be distributed through your department.
If you were previously a student or employee at Yale, you may not be able to use the photo upload option. Please contact the ID Center directly for a replacement ID.
July 15
Official transcripts from each institution you have attended are due to Graduate School Admissions by July 15. Specific instructions for submitting your transcripts will be sent to you in May. For more information, please see FAQs on Transcripts.
August 1
Deadline for uploading vaccination, immunization, and health history documentation to Yale Health. Please review the instructions on the New Student Health Requirements webpage. Once completed, the packet must be uploaded directly to the Health on Track System.
On-campus Graduate Housing occupancy licenses begin; contact Yale Housing with questions.
August 15
Yale Health coverage begins for new students.
August 15-17
Schedule I-9 verification appointment.
Departmental ID pick up - consult your department for more information. If you have a health or transcript hold, you will not be able to pick up your ID. You can check the status of your registration holds through the Yale Hub.
August 18
GSAS Matriculation Ceremony. GSAS Orientation Week begins (more info below).
Deadline to complete three required online trainings in the GSAS New Student Orientation course on Canvas (Log into Canvas with your NetID and password and complete the assignments in the “GSAS New Student Orientation FY25” course found in your dashboard.)
August 25
Course registration opens for new students. Please consult with your department about course requirements and selections before finalizing your course schedule online.
August 27
Fall term classes begin.
August 31
First stipend payments for new PhD students.
September 15
Due date for Yale Health Coverage Waivers.
Due date for Yale Health Family Member (spouse or children) Enrollment.
Due date to signup for optional Dental and/or Eye Care coverage from outside providers and pay associated premium fees.
September 30
Deadline for Family Support Policy enrollment for PhD students with children, for fall term.
Orientation Schedule
New student orientation will take place during the week of August 18-22, 2025. Please check back frequently for the most up to date information. Many other social activities and tours will be posted in the GSAS New Student Orientation group on Yale Connect.
August 11-15
Departmental ID pick up. Please contact your department to see when they will be distributing new student IDs. Some departments may have additional orientation activities planned during this time.
August 18
8:30am - Arrival for GSAS Matriculation Ceremony (Cross Campus)
9:00am - Matriculation Ceremony begins (Cross Campus)
10:30-11:30am - Mandatory In-person Training I: Advising and Mentoring (Individual assignments will be sent by email)
1:00-2:00pm - Mandatory In-person Training I: Advising and Mentoring (Individual assignments will be sent by email)
2:15-3:15pm - Local 33 Union Orientation (Marsh Hall – Yale Science Building)
3:30-4:30pm - Surviving and Thriving at Yale Panel (Marsh Hall – Yale Science Building)
5:00-7:00pm - Grad Night In/Grad Night Out (More info to come on Yale Connect)
NB: If you miss the mandatory in-person trainings, information about make-up sessions will be sent in September
August 19
8:30-9:30am - OISS Orientation for International Students (Marsh Hall - Yale Science Building)
10:00-11:00am - Mandatory In-person Training II: Conduct Standards and Community Expectations (Individual assignments will be sent by email)
11:00am-12:00pm - Mandatory In-person Training II: Conduct Standards and Community Expectations (Individual assignments will be sent by email)
1:00-2:00pm - Understanding Your Funding - PhD (Marsh Hall - Yale Science Building)
2:00-3:00pm - Understanding Your Funding - Master's (Marsh Hall - Yale Science Building)
3:00-5:00pm - Student Information Fair (Commons - Yale Schwarzman Center)
August 20
8:30-9:30am - OISS Orientation for International Students (Davies Auditorium)
10:00am-12:00pm - Yale Scavenger Hunt
1:00-2:00pm - Staying Well in Graduate School Panel (Davies Auditorium)
2:00-3:00pm - Campus Free Speech (Davies Auditorium)
3:00-5:00pm - Student Activities Fair (Commons - Yale Schwarzman Center)
August 21-22, 25-26
Some departments will hold supplementary orientation events on August 21-22 or 25-26. Please reach out to your department directly to find out more information.
Academic dates and deadlines, 2025-6
August 18: Registration opens for incoming first-year GSAS students. Consult registration.yale.edu for information on how to register and enroll in courses.
August 27: Fall term classes begin
September 1: Labor Day; classes do not meet
September 5: Add/drop period closes, 5:00pm
September 10: Final day to request a leave of absence for the fall term
October 14 (after last academic obligation)-20: October Recess; classes do not meet
October 24: Midterm
November 21 (after last academic obligation)-December 1: November Recess
December 11: Classes end
December 11-December 17: Final examination period
January 5– January 21: Spring term add/drop period
January 12: Spring term classes begin
January 26: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; classes do not meet
March 6: Midterm
March 6 (after last academic obligation) – March 23: Spring break
April 30: Last day of classes
April 30 – May 6: Final examination period
May 18: Commencement
Additional Resources
Featured Resource
Yale Housing
https://housing.yale.edu/
The Graduate Housing segment of the Yale Housing office is responsible for providing graduate housing options on and around the Yale campus. They manage a limited number of on-campus, Yale-owned and operated dormitories and apartments for graduate and professional students only. They also offer information for off-campus living options.
Featured Resource
Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS)
https://oiss.yale.edu/
The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) provides a wide variety of resources to international students, including support for immigration, travel, and visas, as well as opportunities for community building. OISS has dedicated advisers for GSAS students: Luca Lipparini (Biological and Physical Sciences PhDs); Kira Bellucci (Engineering PhDs); and Veronika Eriksson (Humanities and Social Sciences PhDs; all divisions Master's).
Featured Resource
Registration Information and Dates
https://registration.yale.edu/
Students must register every term in which they are enrolled in the Graduate School. Registration for a given term takes place the semester prior, and so it's important to stay on top of your academic plan. The University Registrar's Office oversees the systems that students use to register. Instructions about how to use those systems and the dates during which registration occurs can be found on their registration website.
Yale Health
https://yalehealth.yale.edu/student-coverage
Yale Health is the comprehensive, on-campus, full-service health center and health care plan for students and their family members. For information about your particular coverage, you should contact Member Services.
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