International Students | YSOA | Yale School of Architecture

Admission Requirements for International Students

All international student applicants for the 2010–2011 academic year at the Yale School of Architecture must complete the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Program (see page 96).

In addition, all applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Internet-based test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), a test that includes a section on spoken English (see page 96).

Any transcripts, letters of reference, or other application material written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

In order to receive visa documentation, international students must submit proof that income from all sources will be sufficient to meet expenses for that year of study. Each student accepting admission to the School must submit an International Student Certification of Finances Form for I-20 Visa Application. This form is due April 15 with acceptance of the admission offer. It must be completed and signed by the parents (and spouse, if applicable) of an international applicant, and must include all bank and tax information.

Language Skills

All course work at the School is conducted in English. Enrolled students who have difficulties with the English language, whether written or spoken, will be required to take extra courses in its use before they are promoted within their program. Students requiring such courses are responsible for any added tuition cost(s). Financial aid for such English language courses is not available.

Financial Aid for International Students

International students wishing to apply for financial aid are required to complete two financial aid applications: (1) the International Student Financial Aid Application (pdf) and (2) the International Certification of Finances (pdf).

If no parental information is included in the two financial aid applications, a student will be considered for only an Individual Resource Scholarship. If a student would like to be considered for a Family Resource Scholarship, parental asset and/or income information must be included when completing the applications or may be submitted separately. For students whose parents do not wish to reveal their financial information to the student, or for students with separated or divorced parents, parents may submit information separately by completing a Parent’s Financial Statement (pdf) and submitting it to the School’s Financial Aid Office. Parental information submitted separately will not be released to students without parental consent.

The deadline for completing the International Student Financial Aid Application and the International Student Certification of Finances is February 1, 2010. Students who miss this deadline may jeopardize their eligibility for need-based scholarship. Students who complete their applications in a timely manner can expect to receive notice of a financial aid determination with an offer of admission.

Through Yale’s International Student Loan Program, the School may offer loans to international students who are unable to obtain a loan in their home country. Although the Yale loan may not meet a student’s entire financial need, it does not require a co-signer. Yale International Student Loans have a ten-year repayment period, a 5% origination fee, a six-month grace period following separation or graduation from the University, and a fixed interest rate of 7.75%. Interest from these loans accrues during the in-school period and can be capitalized at the end of the grace period.

After admission to the Yale School of Architecture, students are required to complete a verification process, which includes submission (translated into English) of the student’s tax returns or alternative documentation of income and, if a Family Resource Scholarship is awarded, also the submission of the parents’ tax returns or alternative documentation of income. The School reserves the right to adjust a student’s scholarship award if the actual income or asset information of the student, parent, or spouse is different from the original information estimated on the financial aid application(s).

Students on financial aid are required to reapply for need-based scholarship each spring for the following academic year. Barring any significant changes in a student’s financial circumstances (including parental and spousal information), students can generally expect their scholarship awards to be renewed in subsequent years. However, scholarship awards continue only through the normal length of time required to complete the program of study to which the student was admitted.

Additional Sources of Funding

All students are encouraged to aggressively seek additional funding beyond what is available from the School of Architecture. One of the most helpful Web sites to search for third-party scholarships is www.finaid.org.

Students must advise the Financial Aid Office of all additional awards received (scholarships, grants, loans, teaching assistantships, teaching fellowships, etc.) in order to comply with federal regulations as well as University policy. As a general rule, gift assistance up to $5,000 can be received without affecting the student’s need-based scholarship from the School of Architecture, although it may be necessary to reduce the student’s loan(s). Outside assistance in excess of $5,000 may affect a student’s need-based scholarship from the School of Architecture.

Office of International Students and Scholars

The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) coordinates services and support for Yale’s international students, faculty, staff, and their dependents. OISS assists members of the Yale international community with all matters of special concern to them and serves as a source of referral to other university offices and departments. OISS staff provide assistance with employment, immigration, personal and cultural adjustment, and family and financial matters, as well as serve as a source of general information about living at Yale and in New Haven. In addition, as Yale University’s representative for immigration concerns, OISS provides information and assistance to students, staff, and faculty on how to obtain and maintain legal status in the United States, issues the visa documents needed to request entry into the U.S. under Yale’s immigration sponsorship, and processes requests for extensions of authorized periods of stay, school transfers, and employment authorization. All international students and scholars must register with OISS as soon as they arrive at Yale, at which time OISS will provide information about orientation activities for newly arrived students, scholars, and family members. OISS programs, like the international coffee hours, Community Friends hosting program, daily English conversation groups and conversation partners program, U.S. culture workshops, and receptions for newly arrived graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scholars, provide an opportunity to meet members of Yale’s international community and become acquainted with the many resources of Yale University and New Haven. OISS welcomes volunteers from the Yale community to serve as hosts and as English conversation partners. Interested individuals should contact OISS at 203.432.2305.

OISS maintains an extensive Web site (www.oiss.yale.edu) with useful information for students and scholars prior to and upon arrival in New Haven. As U.S. immigration regulations are complex and change rather frequently, we urge international students and scholars to visit the office and check the Web site for the most recent updates.

International students, scholars, and their families and partners can connect with OISS and the international community at Yale by subscribing to the following e-mail lists. OISS-L is the OISS electronic newsletter for Yale’s international community. YaleInternational E-Group is an interactive list through which over 3,000 international students and scholars connect to find roommates, rent apartments, sell cars and household goods, find companions, and keep each other informed about events in the area. Spouses and partners of international students and scholars will want to get involved with the organization called International Spouses and Partners at Yale (ISPY), which organizes a variety of programs for the spouse and partner community. The ISPY E-Group is an interactive list of over 300 members to connect spouses, partners, and families at Yale. To subscribe to any list, send a message to oiss@yale.edu.

Housed in the International Center for Yale Students and Scholars at 421 Temple Street, the Office of International Students and Scholars is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesday, when the office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tel. 203.432.2305.

International Center for Yale Students and Scholars

The International Center for Yale Students and Scholars, located at 421 Temple Street, across the street from Helen Hadley Hall, offers a central location for programs that both support the international community and promote cross-cultural understanding on campus. The center, home to OISS, provides a welcoming venue for students and scholars who want to peruse resource materials, check their e-mail, and meet up with a friend or colleague. Open until 9 p.m. on weekdays during the academic year, the center also provides office and meeting space for student groups, and a space for events organized by both student groups and University departments. In addition, the center has nine library carrels that can be reserved by academic departments for short-term international visitors. For more information about the International Center, call 432.2305 or visit the center at 421 Temple Street.