We warmly invite international students to apply to Yale Summer Session!
[star]The application will open in mid-January 2026.
Join a diverse community of learners from around the world and experience the academic rigor and vibrant campus life that Yale has to offer. Our program provides a unique opportunity to study alongside peers from different backgrounds while earning Yale credits. We look forward to welcoming you to an unforgettable summer at Yale!
Before you apply, read the application requirements and information for visiting international students below.
[date]2026 Yale Summer Session Dates
Session A: May 25 - June 26, 2026
Session B: June 29 - July 31, 2026
Application Requirements
Below is a list of the required documents for your application, along with additional details on specific requirements for international students applying to attend in-person courses.
[cal] Please refer to Dates and Deadlines for all of the relevant deadlines. All supporting documentation must be received on or before the application deadline. Below the requirement list, we provide further explanation about some of the requirements.
Required materials for visiting international student applications
- Online Application
- Academic Transcript in English. The specific requirements for university students is on the Visiting College Students application page. The specific requirements for pre-college students is on the Pre-College Students application page.
- Proof of English Proficiency: required for applications for Yale Courses for Credit. See below for the exams we accept. Not required for applications for an English Language Institute program.
Additional application requirements to attend in-person courses
[point] You are required to get a student visa to attend Yale Summer Session. We will issue you an I-20 to support your F-1 student visa application. Items 1 & 2 below are the supporting documents we need to issue your I-20.
You must provide financial documentation in English with your name clearly listed on the document. This documentation should prove that you have sufficient financial resources to cover all program expenses, including tuition, room and board, fees, and living expenses. The documentation must be less than six months old and must show that you have an amount that meets or exceeds the total cost of attending the Yale Summer Session.
If the financial documentation is from your parent or guardian's bank account, you must also include a letter from them stating that they will cover your expenses, and the letter must clearly include your name.
Acceptable forms of financial documentation include:
- An official letter from your bank stating specifically that you have sufficient funds to cover all program expenses, including a dollar amount that meets or exceeds the total cost of attendance.
- A bank statement showing that you have sufficient resources, with a dollar amount listed that covers all program expenses.
- An original letter from a scholarship organization confirming they will cover your expenses, including the specific dollar amount.
- Identity page of your passport
- Immunization records
Be sure to read about Yale Summer Session's immunization requirements for students applying to take in-person courses and live on or off campus. This requirement will need to be fulfilled after admission but before arrival to Yale.
Academic Information for Visiting International Students
In the online application, you'll choose whether to enroll in courses for credit or in a program. We recommend reviewing course descriptions on the YSS Courses for Credit site first to select the courses right for you.
Once admitted to your course(s) or program, you are considered officially enrolled in Yale Summer Session.
For courses for credit, full-time study is defined as taking two courses (2 credits) per session, which is the maximum allowed. If you are attending online courses remotely from your home country, you may choose one or two courses per session. However, non-U.S. citizens studying remotely will not be issued an I-20 and should not be in the U.S. on a visitor visa (B-1/B-2 or ESTA) during the session, as studying is not permitted on these visas.
For in-person study, you must enroll in two courses (2 credits) per session to maintain full-time status, as required by the F-1 student visa. You may take two in-person courses or one in-person course and one online course in the same session. If you plan to take a science course with a lab (1.5 credits), you'll need to enroll in an additional 1-credit course to meet the F-1 visa requirement (totaling 2.5 credits). Since Yale Summer Session considers this combination to be an overload, please consult first with the Dean of International and Summer Programs for Yale College about your circumstances.
[point] If you're applying to an English Language Institute (ELI) program, please note that you cannot apply for courses for credit also. The ELI program is a full-time commitment if attending in-person.
If you hold a different type of U.S. visa, please upload the relevant documentation to your online application for review.
If you decide not to attend after admission, you must withdraw by submitting the Change Form on the YSS website. We will cancel your I-20 if you withdraw.
What kind of transcript do I submit?
An unofficial transcript or academic record in English is required as part of your application to Yale Summer Session. The online application enables you to upload an unofficial copy of your academic transcript.
Currently enrolled university students: please review the requirements on the Visiting College Students application page.
Current or graduating pre-college students: please review the requirements on the Pre-College Students application page.
[point] All academic transcripts must show your name, the name of the institution, dates of enrollment, and the subjects or courses taken, together with the units of credit or time allotted to each subject and the final grade.
Applications are evaluated holistically, therefore, we do not have a G.P.A. requirement. You should be an academically strong student, and be prepared to undertake rigorous academic study at Yale in English. You should be prepared to be part of the class discussion. Remember, one semester's worth of work is condensed into each course during the 5-week session.
What can I submit for proof of English proficiency?
Because English is the language of instruction at Yale Summer Session, students must be able to:
- Understand spoken English in the classroom
- Communicate clearly and fluently in speech and writing
- Read and comprehend English with ease
International applicants whose first or primary language of instruction is not English must submit valid English proficiency test results (taken within the past two years).
Applicants may be asked to take the Duolingo English Test if the Admissions Committee requires additional proof of English proficiency.
Accepted Tests and Typical Minimum Scores
- TOEFL (including iBT Home Edition): 100 minimum; 105+ most competitive
- IELTS: 7.0 minimum; 8.0+ most competitive
- Duolingo English Test: 120 minimum; 130+ most competitive
- Cambridge English (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency): 185 minimum; 191+ most competitive
Official test results must be uploaded directly to the application portal.
Certification Letter (Medium of Instruction Form)
If English has been the primary language of instruction for at least the past 2.5 years, you may submit a Medium of Instruction (MOI) Form instead of test scores. A school official (principal, counselor, or registrar) must complete and submit the form through our application system. Transcripts or certificates are not accepted as proof of English instruction.
Applicants whose secondary education was not primarily in English must submit an approved English proficiency test score.
Interviews (by invitation only)
Interviews cannot replace an English proficiency test. They are evaluative opportunities to share additional information with the Admissions Committee and are offered only by invitation after all materials are submitted.
Applicants cannot request interviews; selected students will be contacted directly. All interviews are conducted via Zoom with the camera on. Learn more about Zoom's system requirements.
For In-person Study: Insurance, Student Visa & Vaccinations
Required Travel Health Insurance
If you receive an I-20 from our office, Yale Summer Session will purchase and bill you for U.S. based health insurance for the duration of your Yale Summer Session program. We work with a company called Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This will be required if you live on or off campus. Learn more about the health insurance fee.
Yale Summer Session students who are U.S. citizens whose primary residence is outside of the United States, and traveling to the U.S.A on a U.S. passport may elect to purchase our health insurance during your in-person study at Yale Summer Session whether you live on or off campus. If you meet these qualifications and you'd like to request purchasing our insurance, please indicate so in our online application.
If you will be traveling with a spouse or dependent child/children, and you'd like them enrolled by the same insurance company, you may contact us to inquire about registering your dependents after you are admitted and after you are enrolled in the health insurance. Enrollment generally happens about one week prior to arrival to campus.
Required F-1 Student Visa
Studying with us in-person generally requires entering the United States on a valid F-1 visa. You may not attend Yale Summer Session on a B-1 or B-2 (tourist visa) or an ESTA. If you are in the United States on another visa category, you will need to upload your current U.S. entry documents with your Summer Session application, and we will review it to determine whether you need to apply for an F-1 visa.
Upon admission to Yale Summer Session, our office will process the Form I-20 and email it to you with instructions for proceeding to obtain your F-1 visa. You will receive the emailed I-20 about 3 weeks after you are admitted to the program.
After receiving the I-20, you'll need to pay the SEVIS fee online and make an appointment to visit the local U.S. embassy or consulate for the F-1 visa. Visa appointments in some countries have a wait time of a few weeks. All new students on an F-1 immigration status, other than those already studying in the U.S., must pay a SEVIS fee at least three days prior to the visa interview. 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. Visit the SEVIS website to learn more about the SEVIS receipts and to pay the SEVIS fee online. Please apply early so that you have plenty of time to get your visa and book your flights. Summer is a time of high demand for the airlines, too.
When you arrive on campus, you are required to check in with the Office of International Students & Scholars to be registered with the SEVIS Department of Homeland Security.
If you are a Canadian citizen, you require an I-20 to participate in Summer Session. Your application process is the same as other international students, and you are required to be in a full-time course of study (2 course credits). But you do not need to get a visa stamp on your passport. Learn more about Canadian requiring visas.
Students who decide to withdraw their Yale Summer Session application must inform Yale Summer Session immediately by submitting the Change Form on the YSS website. We will cancel your I-20 upon your withdrawal.
The Yale Office of International Students and Scholars has more information about visas.
Visa Fees for Visiting International Students
In addition to the application fee, a Yale I-20 processing fee is required at the time of application submission to Yale Summer Session. Please note that the SEVIS and Yale visa processing fees are two different fees. There will also be a separate visa fee for the F-1 visa. Read more about applying for an F-1 student visa. The Yale I-20 processing fee is nonrefundable. Below is a summary of the visa fees:
- Yale I-20 processing fee (Yale)
- SEVIS fee (U.S. government)
- F-1 student visa fee (U.S. government)
Required Vaccination & Immunization Records
After admission, you will be required to upload proof of vaccinations if you will be attending classes in-person or living on or off campus. After admission, you will be emailed a link and information about where to upload your vaccination records (this process is managed by another office at Yale). Review all vaccination information and the relevant deadlines to submit your information and to be verified. Any delay in providing this information may cause you to have to switch to online courses (if available), or cancel your travel and withdraw from Yale Summer Session. Your I-20 will be cancelled if you are not verified by the deadline.
Residential Information for Visiting International Students
During the summer, select Yale Residential Colleges (dormitories) are open, with Yale undergraduates serving as residential counselors to provide support and assistance. All students aged 18 and older are housed together. For more details about living on campus, be sure to visit the Experience section.
For International Pre-College Students
Please visit our pre-college page for further information and requirements for international high school students.
