
Stanford University occasionally allows students from other universities to engage in research at their campus and use their research facilities. These students are known as Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) and are appointed as non-matriculated graduate students. VSR appointments can last from one to twelve months, with a possibility of extension. To be eligible, students must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to that of Stanford graduate students, and their research must benefit Stanford as well as the visitor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who are Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs)? | Graduate students currently enrolled at other universities who are allowed to engage in research at Stanford using Stanford research facilities. |
| When is VSR allowed? | When the research is in a field of interest to a Stanford faculty member or when the student is doing a laboratory rotation as part of a larger research study or grant. |
| VSR appointment duration | 1 to 12 months. |
| VSR appointment extension | An extension of 1 to 3 months can be requested by the sponsoring faculty with department chair approval. |
| VSR fees | VSRs will be charged a monthly VSR fee, the quarterly Campus Health Services Fee, and Cardinal Care student health insurance unless they have comparable coverage with another carrier. |
| VSR intellectual property | VSRs are required to sign a Stanford Patent and Copyright Agreement (SU-18). |
| VSR eligibility | Students must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to that of other Stanford graduate students. |
| VSR academic conduct | VSRs must adhere to Stanford's academic conduct and behavioral standards or risk termination of their appointment. |
| VSR international students | International VSRs must have a DS-2019 (certification for J-1 visa status) issued by the Bechtel International Center prior to their arrival in the US. |
| Non-matriculated student researchers | Stanford departments and faculty members occasionally invite students from other academic institutions to participate in university-sponsored research activities. |
| Undergraduate Visiting Research Intern (UGVI) | Undergraduate students from other universities can be invited by a Stanford faculty member to work under them in a Stanford research lab or research project. |
| UGVI eligibility | To be eligible, students must be currently enrolled in a bachelor's-level degree program for at least two years at an accredited U.S. or international college or university. |
| UGVI duration | The UGVI status is only valid during the Summer Quarter, from June 1 to August 31. |
| Continuation of doctoral programs for students of new Stanford faculty | Current doctoral students of faculty newly hired by Stanford have options for continuing their doctoral programs. |
Explore related products
$13.94 $15.95
What You'll Learn

Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs)
Stanford University occasionally invites students from other academic institutions to participate in university-sponsored research activities. These students are not enrolled in any Stanford degree programs and are identified as non-matriculated student researchers. Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) are appointed as non-matriculated graduate students and are permitted to engage in research at Stanford using Stanford research facilities.
Eligibility
To be eligible to become a VSR, a student must be enrolled at another university and engaged in research in a field of interest to a Stanford faculty member. Alternatively, they could be a student who is doing a laboratory rotation as part of a larger research study or grant. Students sponsored as VSRs must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to that of other Stanford graduate students, and the research must benefit Stanford as well as the visitor.
Appointment Period
VSR appointments can be for one to twelve months and do not need to begin at the start of an academic quarter. An extension of up to three months can be requested by the sponsoring faculty with department chair approval if the student is in good academic and financial standing with their home university and Stanford. Any subsequent or longer extension requires a statement describing a compelling reason for the extension and is subject to review and approval by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education.
Fees and Requirements
VSRs will be charged a monthly fee comparable to Terminal Graduate Registration, set annually by Stanford's Board of Trustees. They will also be charged the quarterly Campus Health Services Fee and, unless they have comparable coverage, Cardinal Care student health insurance. International VSRs must have a DS-2019 (certification for J-1 visa status) issued by the Bechtel International Center prior to their arrival in the United States, and they must have sufficient funds to pay the required fees and live in the country.
Intellectual Property and Academic Conduct
VSRs are required to sign a Stanford Patent and Copyright Agreement (SU-18) and are subject to Stanford's academic conduct and behavioral standards. The sponsoring faculty member is responsible for ensuring compliance with these policies and providing any necessary health and safety training.
University Students' Thanksgiving Break: How Long is It?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

VSR fees and finances
Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) at Stanford are charged a monthly VSR fee comparable to Terminal Graduate Registration, set annually by Stanford's Board of Trustees. They are also charged a quarterly Campus Health Services Fee and, unless they can prove comparable coverage elsewhere, a fee for Cardinal Care student health insurance. The monthly registration fee for the 2024-2025 academic year was $1,324.
VSRs are not eligible for financial support from their host department, nor can they receive funding from university scholarships or fellowships. Departments are not required to provide financial support, and funds designated for matriculated Stanford students cannot be used for VSRs. However, departments may choose to pay VSR fees or provide stipends for living expenses, but this must be done through the GFS system using unrestricted funds. VSRs may also be employed on an hourly basis to perform work, including on sponsored projects, as long as the work is appropriate and funds are available.
International VSRs must have their visas paid for by the faculty sponsor. Stanford charges a $125 fee for the preparation of the initial and transfer DS-2019 documents for J-1 Visiting Scholars and family members, which the faculty member may request to be reimbursed by the VSR upon their arrival. As part of the DS-2019 process, departments must verify that international VSRs have sufficient funds to pay required fees and live in the US. Evidence of this must be retained for at least three years after the end of the J-visa program.
VSRs are granted certain Stanford University privileges. They are provided with a Stanford campus ID, which permits entry to and borrowing privileges from Stanford libraries, as well as access to the Stanford University network and some university systems. They are eligible for on-campus housing, on a space-available basis, and can apply for housing from the date their appointment starts.
Black Student Enrollment at the University of Texas
You may want to see also
Explore related products

VSR intellectual property
Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) at Stanford
Stanford University permits graduate students from other universities to engage in research at Stanford under certain conditions. These students are called Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) and are appointed as non-matriculated graduate students. Stanford faculty may agree to sponsor a VSR if the research is in a field of interest to them, or if the student is doing a laboratory rotation as part of a larger research study or grant. The research must benefit both Stanford and the visiting student, and the student must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to Stanford graduate students.
VSR Appointments
VSR appointments can range from one to twelve months and do not need to align with the start of an academic quarter. The sponsoring faculty can request an extension of one to three months with department chair approval, provided the student is in good academic and financial standing. International VSRs must have a DS-2019 certification for J-1 visa status before arriving in the United States.
VSR Fees and Requirements
VSRs are charged a monthly fee comparable to Terminal Graduate Registration, as well as the quarterly Campus Health Services Fee. They are also required to have health insurance, either through Cardinal Care or by documenting comparable coverage with another carrier. VSRs are not allowed to enroll in or audit classes at Stanford.
VSRs are required to sign a Stanford Patent and Copyright Agreement (SU-18) to protect Stanford's intellectual property. In special circumstances, they may sign the SU-18A agreement instead. The sponsoring faculty is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy and providing any necessary safety training. VSRs who violate Stanford's academic and behavioural standards may have their appointment terminated.
History of Intellectual Property
The concept of intellectual property has a rich history dating back to ancient times. One of the earliest known references to intellectual property protection is from 500 B.C.E. in the Greek colony of Sybaris, where chefs were granted monopolies for creating specific culinary delights. Roman jurists in the first century C.E. discussed ownership interests in intellectual works, and the Florentine patent statute of 1421 recognised the rights of inventors. The English case Miller v. Taylor (1769) affirmed the inherent rights of authors to control their work, which became a foundation for Anglo-American intellectual property protection. International treaties like the Berne Convention and TRIPS agreement have expanded protection globally.
Temple University Fall Admissions: Who Gets Accepted?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$17.4 $22

Undergraduate Visiting Research Interns (UGRIs)
Stanford University occasionally invites students from other academic institutions to participate in university-sponsored research activities as Undergraduate Visiting Research Interns (UGRIs). These students are not enrolled in any Stanford degree programs and are identified as non-matriculated student researchers.
To be eligible for a UGVI position, a student must be invited by a Stanford faculty member and currently enrolled and matriculating in a bachelor's-level degree program for at least two years at an accredited U.S. or international college or university. Additionally, they must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to Stanford undergraduates, and the research must benefit Stanford and their academic career.
UGRIs are typically sponsored by specific schools and departments and work under a faculty member in a Stanford research lab or on a research project. The specifics of the UGVI internship, including duties and responsibilities, are determined by the sponsor and provided when they invite the student to the position.
There are various ways to find research opportunities at Stanford as a visiting undergraduate student. Stanford professors often advertise research assistant positions over email, on departmental mailing lists, in the Academic Advising Newsletter, on SOLO, or on Handshake. Students can also reach out directly to faculty members in their areas of interest by visiting office hours or sending an email.
Stanford also offers several summer research programs for undergraduate students, such as the Stanford Neurodiversity Project (SNP), the Sustainability and Earth Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SESUR), and the Stanford School of Medicine Summer Scholar Program in Storytelling & Medicine. These programs provide structured research opportunities, mentorship, and the chance to present research findings at symposiums.
Additionally, the DSURP program pairs students without easy access to research at their home institutions with mentors and faculty members to conduct research in data science over eight weeks during the summer.
Overall, while Stanford primarily focuses on providing research opportunities to its matriculated students, there are avenues for undergraduate students from other universities to engage in research at Stanford through visiting research internships and summer research programs.
Exploring Andrews University's Student Population
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Doctoral student options
Stanford University occasionally invites students from other academic institutions to participate in university-sponsored research activities. These students are known as Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) and are appointed as non-matriculated graduate students.
Requirements
To be eligible to join Stanford as a VSR, you must be currently enrolled at another university and engaged in graduate-level research in a field of interest to a Stanford faculty member. Additionally, you must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to that of other Stanford graduate students, and your research must benefit Stanford as well as your academic career.
Duration
VSR appointments can be for one to twelve months and do not need to begin at the start of an academic quarter. The appointment can be extended by one to three months with department chair approval if the student is in good academic and financial standing with their home university and Stanford.
Fees and Privileges
VSRs will be charged a monthly fee comparable to Terminal Graduate Registration, set annually by Stanford's Board of Trustees. They will also be charged the quarterly Campus Health Services Fee and Cardinal Care student health insurance unless they have comparable coverage with another carrier.
VSRs are entitled to receive a student photo identification card and are required to sign a Stanford Patent and Copyright Agreement (SU-18 or SU-18A in special circumstances). They are not allowed to enrol in or audit classes at Stanford.
Opportunities for Doctoral Students of New Stanford Faculty
If you are a current doctoral student of a faculty member who has been newly hired by Stanford, you have options to continue your doctoral program. Discussions about these options should take place early in the faculty recruitment process. You are encouraged to consult with the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education for more information.
Other Opportunities
Stanford offers various research programs for undergraduate and graduate students, such as the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, the Sustainability and Earth Summer Undergraduate Research Program, and the Stanford School of Medicine Summer Scholar Program. Additionally, Stanford departments and professors often advertise research opportunities over email, on the Academic Advising Newsletter, or on the SOLO and Handshake platforms.
Freelancing on an F1 Visa: What International Students Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Stanford faculty can, in limited instances, permit students from other universities to engage in research at Stanford. These students are known as Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) and are appointed as non-matriculated graduate students.
A VSR appointment can last from one to twelve months. It cannot be longer than one calendar year and does not need to begin at the start of an academic quarter.
To become a VSR, a student must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to that of other Stanford graduate students. The research must benefit Stanford as well as the visiting student.
VSRs will be charged a monthly fee comparable to Terminal Graduate Registration, as well as the quarterly Campus Health Services Fee and Cardinal Care student health insurance (unless they have comparable coverage with another carrier). VSRs are entitled to receive a student photo identification card and are required to sign a Stanford Patent and Copyright Agreement (SU-18 or SU-18A in special circumstances).










































