Occasionally an applicant will demonstrate a particular need to study at the Graduate School of Arts and Science without entering a degree program. A few students are permitted to register each year as non-degree or visiting students. Students may enroll for a maximum of 12 points of credit over no more than three consecutive semesters.

Non-Degree and Visiting Applicants to General Biology, Computer Science, and General Psychology

1. U.S. citizens applying to General Biology, Computer Science and General Psychology must use the online application for admission.



2. Applicants to these three programs who are not U.S. citizens must consult with Graduate Enrollment Services to see if your academic plans will be viable given your visa circumstances. If approved, you will be asked to complete and mail in the paper Non-degree Application for Admission.



3. Read the "Program-Specific Application Requirements" section of your department’s listing in Application Requirements and Deadlines for specific information as to what is required in your application for non-degree study, including letters of recommendation, the GRE, the personal statement and other items.



4. Refer to the general instructions section below for additional application instructions.

Non-Degree and Visiting Applicants to Math and Math in Finance

1. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must consult with Graduate Enrollment Services to see if your academic plans will be viable given your visa circumstances. If approved, you will be asked to complete and mail in the paper Non-degree Application for Admission.



2. Applicants who are U.S. citizens should contact Graduate Enrollment Services to request the paper Non-degree Application for Admission.



3. Refer to the general instructions section below for additional application instructions.

Non-Degree and Visiting Applicants to All Other Programs

1. Contact the department in which you are interested to see if they accept non-degree or visiting students and to learn what they require in the application materials. Note that not all of the programs/departments in the Graduate School accept applications from non-degree or visiting students.



2. If the department agrees that you may apply for admission, then you will need to ask them to send you an email message that indicates they will permit you to apply as a non-degree or visiting student. Please save a dated version of this message since you will need to include it with your application.



3. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must consult with Graduate Enrollment Services to see if your academic plans will be viable given your visa circumstances. If approved, you will be asked to complete and mail in the paper Non-degree Application for Admission.
   
   Applicants who are U.S. citizens and who have received department approval to apply for non-degree or visiting student study should contact Graduate Enrollment Services to request the paper Non-degree Application for Admission.



4. Refer to the general instructions section below for additional application instructions.

General Instructions for all Non-Degree and Visiting Applicants

• Complete the application for admission according to the instructions above.



• Applicants must meet the same application deadline date as students who seek degrees. Refer to Application Requirements and Deadlines.



• If you are applying for non-degree or visiting study in a department other than biology, computer science, math/math in finance, or psychology, include with your application a copy of a dated email stating that the GSAS department permits you to apply for admission as a non-degree or visiting student.



• Include the $90 application fee.



• Provide undergraduate transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree and/or the equivalent. If you attended an international college or university, English-language translations must be provided (if necessary). The Graduate School will evaluate the credentials for equivalency before granting permission to register.



• Write a personal statement, outlining your anticipated course of study in the department, including why you wish to study in the department, the courses you plan on taking, and the faculty member, if known, who will be advising you.



• Provide official TOEFL scores, if you are not a native English speaker (refer to FAQ on testing in our Application Resource Center).



• Some departments have additional requirements, e.g., recommending the GRE, so be sure to check with the department for details.



• A letter of recommendation is optional.

General Information About Non-Degree and Visiting Study

Non-Degree Students: If a non-degree student ultimately enrolls in a degree program, courses taken at the Graduate School may sometimes, but not always, be credited toward the degree.

Visiting students: Visiting students must be eligible to register in a master’s or doctoral degree program in their home institution.

Financial aid: Non-degree and visiting students are not eligible for University financial aid programs. There is also no financial aid available from the Graduate School.