International Students

Application Information

The following materials are required for international student applications:

• Online Application
• Official Transcript of grades in English (Three years of grades required. This can be a combination of high school & university grades, to equal three years). Must be sent directly from your school to Yale Summer Session.
• Proof of English Proficiency (not needed for ELI programs)
• Financial Documentation in English (to issue an I-20 for your F-1 student visa)
• Copy of identity page of passport 
• Pre-college students only: two letters of recommendation

Please refer to the Dates & Costs section of our site for all of the relevant deadlines. All supporting documentation must be received on or before the application deadline.

Point: International students must enroll in a full-time course of study which is two course credits per session. A minimum of one chosen course must be taken while in residence at Yale.

Immigration Matters

Students will need to enter the United States on an F-1 Student Visa. Students who do not hold a F-1 visa may not attend classes at Yale over the summer. Individuals cannot study on a B-1, B-2, or tourist Visa. All international students will be required to check-in with the Office of International Students and Scholars once on campus to confirm their visa status and register with the Department of Homeland Security. All new students on an F-1 immigration status, other than those already studying in the US, must pay a $200 SEVIS fee at least three days prior to the Visa interview. Click here to learn more about it and to pay the SEVIS fee online. Students will have the opportunity to print out their receipt at the end of the payment process. Students must bring one of the SEVIS receipts to the Visa interview.

Tip: International students taking only online courses from their home country will not be issued an I-20. To waive the requirement of a statement of financial support, please contact us.

Canadian citizens do not need visas to study or participate in an exchange program in the U.S. However, Canadian students do need to obtain an I-20 (or DS-2019) Certificate of Eligibility from the university, school or exchange program they plan to attend. Students also need to be full-time and enroll in 2 course credits. A science course plus a lab (1.5 credits) is also considered full-time. Click here to read more.

Fees for Visiting International Students

A non-refundable Visa Processing Fee is required at the time of application submission. Please note that the SEVIS and Visa processing fees are two different fees.

English Proficiency

Students at Yale Summer Session must be able to express themselves fluently in spoken and written English.  For applicants who are not native English-speakers who have not had at least two years of secondary education where English is the medium of instruction, Yale Summer Session requires taking any one of the proficiency tests listed below.

TOEFL (link is external)

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), is offered in two formats and requires pre-registration for available testing dates. Yale Summer Session requires:

• 100 on the internet-based TOEFL iBT
• 75 on the paper-and-pencil TOEFL Paper-delivered Test

Please note that results must reach Yale Summer Session by the application deadline date relevant to the program. Be sure to include Yale’s CEEB code on all test registrations.

IELTS (link is external) and Pearson Test of English (link is external)

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE) offer proficiency tests in locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale Summer Session applicants will have IELTS scores of 7 or higher and Pearson Test scores of 70 or higher.

Duolingo English Test (link is external)

Applicants may also submit the Duolingo English Test, which combines an English proficiency test with a brief video interview. Duolingo’s technology and format allows applicants to complete the test at any time or place, as long as they have Web access. The interview portion of this test is not scored, but Yale Summer Session applicants should have scores above 75 in the multiple-choice answer portion of the test.

Financial Information

Students must include proof at the time of application that they have sufficient financial resources to meet the tuition and living expenses of Yale Summer Session. Such proof can be an original letter from a bank stating specifically that the student has sufficient resources, a current one-page bank statement issued by the bank (monthly transaction statements are not acceptable), or a letter from a scholarship organization that will pay for expenses. Students must upload a copy of the financial documentation with the application and keep the letter for the visa application. The dollar amount certified should meet or exceed the cost to attend Yale Summer Session.

Part-time study is generally not permitted for international students. However, students who already have F-1 or J-1 status and are currently studying at another U.S. college or university, may study either full or part time. Students must speak with their international student adviser or an adviser at Yale's Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) to determine whether they need to obtain a Yale I-20 form for study in Yale Summer Session.

Visa Issuance

Students should allow plenty of time for the visa issuance process after submitting the application. In addition to the time required to process the Yale Summer Session application, which is generally two to three weeks, a visa may take anywhere from three- to six weeks or more to be approved. Check with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for time frames.

Students must take the I-20 form to a U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for an F-1 student visa. Some processing fees may apply. Students will also need to present the SEVIS fee receipt and an original financial certification letter from a bank at the embassy. Note: This step does not apply to Canadian citizens, who may present an I-20 form and proof of financial support at the point of entry to be issued F-1 status. Canadians must present the I-20 form at the border to avoid entering in visitor's status (B-2). Make certain that the Canadian authorities issue an I-94 card at the border.

Once students are admitted to Yale Summer Session and have demonstrated that they have sufficient funds to cover the full cost of the program, Yale will send an I-20 form through courier mail such as FedEx or DHL.

Students who decide to withdraw their Yale Summer Session application must inform the Summer Session office immediately so that Yale can cancel the I-20.

Tip: Check the Office of International Students and Scholars website for more information about visas.

Health Insurance

All international students living on campus, who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and to whom Summer Session gives an immigration document to (I-20), will be charged an additional fee by Yale Summer Session for comprehensive U.S.-based health insurance with hospitalization coverage.

Residential Information for Visiting International Students

Students taking part in Yale Summer Session may choose to live in one of the summer residential colleges.Yale students serve as residential counselors and provide support and assistance.

International Pr​e-College Students

Please visit our pre-college page for further information for international high school students.

Question: Please contact us if you have further questions about attending Yale Summer Session!