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Seeking General Graduation Credit for your Light Fellowship program?
While applying for Study Abroad credit is not required by the Light Fellowship, students seeking general graduation credit for your time abroad as a Light Fellow must apply for credit by the relevant deadline. If you have any questions regarding studying abroad for credit on a Light Fellowship, please email or set up an appointment with Kripa Bhagat.
Summer Credit for Light Fellows
Currently, all Light-approved summer programs are approved for Study Abroad credit, except:
- IUC Yokohama
Students interested in earning up to two general graduation credits must complete an application for Credit for Non-Yale Summer Abroad.
The Light Fellowship does not require that you transfer credit, however, due to policy changes in 2025, students may transfer 2.00 credits from multiple summers of international summer experiences. Students who are considering transferring credit must apply by the deadline.
Deadline for Summer Abroad credit applications can be found here.
Tip: Credit for Domestic Programs: Students completing a domestic summer program are also eligible to receive up to two general graduation credits upon completion of the program. Note that there is a credit transfer limit for domestic programs. There is no separate application to fill out prior to the start of the program (unlike Study Abroad credit). The process for transferring credit from a domestic program is as follows:
- Upon successful completion of the program, send an official transcript to your college dean’s office
- Visit the Registrar’s Forms & Petitions page and logs onto the Request to Add Course Work Completed Outside Yale
- Upload course syllabi from the domestic program
Please see the Yale College Programs of Study for full details on Yale’s policy for transferring credit from other U.S. institutions.
Term-time Credit for Light Fellows
Light Fellows who plan to study abroad during the fall, spring or academic year have the option of 1) taking a Leave of Absence for the duration of their fellowship (effectively delaying graduation), or 2) applying for Year or Term Abroad (YTA) in order to receive general graduation credit for one or two semesters abroad.
Students who apply for Year or Term Abroad can earn 4 general graduation credits for one term abroad or 9 credits for an academic year abroad. Those studying abroad for a summer and one term (but not the full academic year) can apply for credit for both the summer and term (for a total of up to 6 credits)
To apply for general graduation credit for your semester or year abroad, you must complete an application for Credit for Year or Term Abroad.
Deadline for Fall & Academic Year Abroad credit applications: April 1
Fulfilling Major Requirements or Language Distributional Requirement
The YTA and Summer credit applications are for general graduation credit only. At the discretion of the relevant DUS, it is possible (but not guaranteed) to fulfill major and/or distributional requirements through Light Fellowship programs. Please note that this process is handled entirely by the DUS of the relevant department and not by the Light Fellowship office.
Figuring out your Visa application process?
If your participation in a program requires a visa, you should start with your program. Your program will be the best resource in helping you navigate the visa process. Please note that each country may have different regulations depending on the nation from which you hold your passport. As such, you want to do thorough research in understanding what is required in your particular situation.
You can also refer to the Consular Affairs' website of the country you wish to visit below:
Fellowships as Taxable Income
Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, most fellowship monies are considered taxable income. Certain fellowships are "qualified," in which case specific portions of the funds awarded may be deductible. Fellowship recipients are advised to consult an accountant regarding the declaration of fellowship funds and to review carefully Chapter I of the IRS Publication 970 - Tax Benefits for Education. While the Office of Fellowships cannot offer tax advice, the IRS Tax Office on Court Street offers free tax advice. International students may reach out to the International Tax Office for additional resources.
Health Insurance & Property Insurance
You can find more information on navigating your physical and mental health abroad here.
The university strongly encourages students to invest in personal property insurance, especially for more expensive items in case they are lost, stolen or damaged.
Packing, Preparing, and Figuring Life Out
Light Fellowship Alumni have graciously worked together to assemble a Student Advisory Guide to help you navigate life in the country you're traveling to! You can find these under "Resources For... Fellows Abroad"