Yale University: Aid For International Transfer Students?

Yale University offers financial aid to international students, including those who transfer from other institutions. The university operates a need-blind admissions policy, admitting students without considering their ability to pay and providing need-based financial aid awards to all admitted students, including international students, based on individual needs assessments. Yale's financial aid resources meet the full demonstrated need of every undergraduate for all four years. International transfer students are eligible for the same need-based financial aid as students who begin as first-years, and the university evaluates applications without regard to a student's citizenship or immigration status.

Yale's financial aid for international students

Yale University offers financial aid to international students, including those who transfer from other institutions. The university operates a need-blind admissions policy, admitting undergraduate students without considering their financial capabilities and providing need-based financial aid awards to all admitted students based on individual needs assessments.

All of Yale's undergraduate financial aid is awarded based on financial need, and there are no merit-based or academic scholarships. The university's financial aid resources meet the full demonstrated need of every undergraduate, including international students, for all four years.

For international students, Yale considers the relative differences between the US economy and the economy of their home country when creating financial aid awards. Additionally, Yale does not consider a student's citizenship or immigration status when evaluating applications for admission and financial aid. This policy includes undocumented students living in the US, regardless of their DACA status.

Transfer students, including international students, are eligible for the same need-based financial aid as students who begin as first-years. They will, however, need to enrol at Yale for a minimum of two years (four terms) to qualify for a bachelor's degree.

Yale also offers specific programs for non-traditional students, such as the Eli Whitney Students Program, which provides flexibility in attendance and does not require standardized test scores for admission.

Application process for international students

International students applying to Yale University follow the same procedure and have the same application requirements as all other students. However, some of these requirements may be unfamiliar to international students, so additional information is provided.

First-Year Applicants

All applicants for first-year admission must submit one of the following:

• The Coalition Application with Yale-specific questions
• The Common Application with Yale-specific questions
• The QuestBridge National College Match Application

Additional requirements for all first-year applicants include:

• An $80 application fee or fee waiver. Applicants using the Common Application or Coalition Application may request that the application fee be waived. The fee waiver scale is based on family size and income in US dollars but is applicable to all international students.
• Recommendations from two teachers who have taught core academic subjects and one counsellor.
• A School Report with an official transcript that includes all secondary school courses.
• Standardised test results (ACT, AP, IB, or SAT).
• English proficiency test results for non-native English speakers.
• Mid-Year Report & Final Report.

Transfer Applicants

International students who have completed one year or more at another university (but no more than two years) may apply as transfer students. Yale will consider transfer applications from international students who have not completed more than two years of a university degree programme.

Financial Aid

Yale operates a need-blind admissions policy for all applicants, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Yale admits undergraduate students without regard to their ability to pay and provides need-based financial aid awards to all admitted students based on individual needs assessments. Financial aid is available to all students, including international students, and is awarded based on financial need. International students are evaluated using a needs analysis that takes into account the relative differences between the US economy and the economy of the student's home country.

English proficiency requirements

Yale University offers financial aid to international transfer students on the same basis as any other student. The university operates a need-blind admissions policy for all applicants, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Yale admits undergraduate students without considering their ability to pay and provides need-based financial aid awards to all admitted students based on individual needs assessments.

Now, for the English proficiency requirements:

International students applying to Yale University must provide evidence of English language proficiency if English is not their first language. This requirement is typically waived for applicants who have received their undergraduate degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction for at least three or four years, depending on the school.

For applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency, the following tests are accepted:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Duolingo English Test (DET)
• Cambridge English Qualifications
• InitialView

Yale's most competitive applicants tend to have scores of at least 100 on the internet-based TOEFL, 7 or higher on the IELTS, 185 or higher on the Cambridge English exams, and at least 120 on the DET. These tests may be combined with video interviews, such as the brief video interview component of the DET or the unscripted video interview offered by InitialView.

Application fee and fee waiver

Yale University charges an $80 application fee for all applicants, including international transfer students. However, the university offers a fee waiver option for applicants who meet certain criteria. The fee waiver scale is based on family size and income in US dollars but is applicable to all international students.

To request a fee waiver, applicants can use the Common Application or Coalition Application. The Common Application and Coalition Application websites provide instructions and information on how to request a fee waiver. It is important to note that Yale University has specific requirements and instructions for international transfer students, which should be carefully reviewed before submitting an application.

In addition to the application fee, international transfer students must provide additional documentation as part of their application. These requirements include recommendations from two teachers and one counsellor, a School Report with transcripts, standardised test results (ACT, AP, IB, or SAT), and English proficiency test results for non-native English speakers.

It is important to note that Yale University has a need-blind admissions policy and provides need-based financial aid awards to all admitted students, including international transfer students. The university's financial aid resources are available to meet the full demonstrated need of every undergraduate, including international students, for all four years of their studies.

Transfer student eligibility

Yale University's admissions committee seeks to admit a small number of transfer students each year. The university considers transfer applications from international students who have not completed more than two years of a university degree program. The Transfer Admissions Committee determines eligibility during the application evaluation process.

Eligible transfer students must have completed a minimum of two terms, or three quarters, of college-level enrolment and have earned at least one term's worth of transferable postsecondary credit before entering Yale College. One term is the equivalent of four Yale course credits. Applicants normally have between eight and eighteen transferable course credits at the time of matriculation.

Transfer applicants are normally offered admission to begin as sophomores or first-term juniors. Transfer students will begin in either their sophomore (second) year or junior (third) year and must enrol at Yale for a minimum of two years (four terms) to qualify for a bachelor's degree.

Yale College does not accept transfer applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree. Applicants who will have fewer than eight transferable credits upon entering Yale should consider applying for first-year admission.

Additionally, any college credits earned prior to high school graduation will not be evaluated as transferable credit. Students who are dual-enrolled in both a high school and a college program should apply for first-year admission.

Transfer students are eligible for the same need-based financial aid as students who begin as first-years. Yale's financial aid policies meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all students, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

Frequently asked questions