Visitor Information
Please note that all information listed below is subject to change at any time. Please contact the department administrator to confirm visitor titles, requirements, and funding amounts.
Researchers
These are the most common inquiries that FMS receives. They can contact any of our faculty members and have no defined deadlines to apply to FMS.
Visiting Fellows
Doctoral recipients or accomplished individuals whose presence at Yale for a limited duration will be of mutual benefit. They have outside employers and are paid by their employer while at Yale. These applicants are the most common for FMS. There is no defined deadline for applying. They must have a faculty sponsor and approval from the department. The maximum term is 1 year but can be as short as several weeks.
Required Degree: Doctorate
Funding Source: Outside employer
Maximum Term: 1 Year
Visa: J-1 (The visa process takes 3 - 6 months in advance of the start date)
Requirements: CV, Proof of External Funding, Proof of External Health Insurance, Yale faculty sponsor, approval from the department, submission of completed LA/VF application to Postdoctoral Affairs.
Application Process:
- Need a Yale faculty sponsor and approval from the home department before continuation.
- Complete a Laboratory Assistant/Visiting Fellow (LA/VF) application and provide a CV. The department administrator submits to Postdoctoral Affairs for approval.
- If the application is approved by Postdoctoral Affairs, the department administrator will submit a formal invitation/new hire letter to the candidate.
- The candidate will return the signed formal invitation/new hire letter to the department administrator, as well as proof of funding, and proof of health insurance.
- The department administrator will submit the signed invitation/new hire letter, proof of funding, and proof of health insurance to Postdoctoral Affairs.
- The Department Administrator will begin the Workday record and assist OISS with the visa process, if necessary.
Visiting Faculty
Doctoral recipients or accomplished individuals whose presence at Yale for a limited duration will be of mutual benefit. They have outside employers but are usually paid by Yale. They must have approval from their home institution. They must first be invited by a program or department. The Dean’s Office must approve the appointment and create an offer letter, signed by the FAS Dean, Chair and the Candidate. They are then hired through the same processes as other faculty in Workday and through the FAS Dean’s Office.
Graduate students who have not yet received a degree.
Non-Degree Programs: Qualified individuals who wish to study at the graduate level but not pursue a degree may apply to be admitted to the Division of Special Registration (DSR) through the Graduate School.
Exchange Scholars
The Yale Graduate School has formal exchanges with several institutions internationally. Doctoral students who wish to engage solely in coursework or a combination of coursework and research may be admitted to the Division of Special Registration (DSR) as Exchange Scholars. Admission as an Exchange Scholar varies from 1 month up to 1 year. Exchange Scholars are enrolled in the Graduate School and have all the student privileges, including receiving a Yale transcript with coursework and grades listed. Students enrolled as Exchange Scholars may enroll in up to 4 courses per term, for a maximum of 2 terms (1 year). They are not eligible for financial aid or student loans.
For more information and to apply, visit Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Visiting Assistant in Research (VAR)
Students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at another university and who wish to pursue full time dissertation research at Yale may be admitted to the Division of Special Registration (DSR) as a Visiting Assistant in Research (VAR) through the Yale Graduate School. The maximum time they may apply for is 1 year with the possibility of 1-year extension. They may not enroll in classes (but often unofficially audit courses). They must contact the program, have permission from the program, and have an advisor appointed from the program before submitting an application to the Graduate School.
Deadline: Students may enroll on a month-to-month basis.
Maximum Term: May apply to enroll for up to 1 year. You may apply to extend your initial enrollment for up to 1 additional year after the 1st year is complete. VAR appointments have a maximum cumulative time limit of 2 years.
For more information and to apply, visit Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Visiting Student
Students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree or equivalent may be admitted to the Division of Special Registration (DSR) as Visiting Students. Visiting students, previously known as “special students” are engaged solely in coursework or a combination of coursework and research. Visiting students may enroll in up to 4 courses per term, for a maximum of 2 terms (1 year). Enrollment carries no commitment for further study. 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. You must contact the department with which you wish to affiliate and receive permission to apply before submitting your application through the Graduate School. Applications are accepted only for the fall and spring terms.
For more information and to apply, visit Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Graduate students who have received a degree.
Postgraduate Fellows
Recent Bachelors or Masters degree recipients who come to Yale to further their education and training. Postgraduate fellows must have their own funding source.
Required Degree: Bachelors or Masters
Funding Source: External Fellowship
Maximum Term: 2 years
Visa: J-1
Postgraduate Associates
Recent Bachelors or Masters degree recipients who come to Yale to further their education and training. Postgraduate associates are funded by Yale.
Required Degree: Bachelors or Masters
Funding Source: Yale (grant, contract, endowment, etc.)
Maximum Term: 2 years
Visa: J-1
Postdoctoral Fellows
Recent Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree recipients who seek advanced research training under a faculty mentor. Postdoctoral Fellows are trainees, but they are not Yale employees. They may be funded either from training grants or external fellowships.
Required Degree: Doctorate
Minimum Funding: $53,760* per year
Funding Source: External Fellowship or NIH training grant
Maximum Term: 6 years (Postdoctoral experience at other institutions is included in this 6-year limit)
Visa: J-1
Postdoctoral Associates
Recent Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree recipients who seek advanced research training under a faculty mentor. Appointees funded from research grants, contracts, or other University sources are Postdoctoral Associates; they are employees of the University even though they are considered trainees.
Required Degree: Doctorate
Funding Source: Yale (grant, contract, endowment, etc.)
Maximum Term: 6 years (Postdoctoral experience at other institutions is included in this 6-year limit)
Visa: J-1 / H-1B
For International Applicants:
Please note that your appointment is contingent upon approval of your immigration visa application and that the exact start date of your appointment may change if visa approval is delayed. It is your responsibility to apply for and obtain visa approval to enter the U.S. In addition, federal regulations require that all exchange visitors (J1) and their dependents (J2) maintain health insurance at specified levels of coverage for the duration of their visit. If you provide your own insurance, please be sure that it meets the requirements listed on the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) website. Upon arrival, you must register at the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) at 421 Temple St.
*Minimum funding requirements are subject to change. Contact your department administrator to confirm funding amounts.