Credit for Year or Term Abroad

Note:COVID-19 Application Considerations for Fall 2021 & Full Year 2021-2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of international travel. While we're excited to work with you on the possibility of studying abroad, we cannot guarantee that study abroad will be permitted. At a minimum, Yale College must lift its universal travel restriction, your intended location must be eligible under the Yale University Travel Policy for Yale College Students (“Travel Policy”), and your courses must be offered at least 50% in-person. If you have not already done so, please visit our COVID-19 Updates page for additional information and resources.

TOC: Application Steps

Before You Apply 

• Check your eligibility
• Review how credit works
• Review the Travel Policy and our COVID-19 Updates page
• Explore programs
• Review the CDC travel recommendations
• Refer to your intended country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and/or Embassy website for detailed entry requirements. In some cases, even if Yale’s travel policy allows for travel to a particular location, the country itself may limit entry based on the traveler’s citizenship and where the traveler has been, including transit countries.
• Learn about how your intended country has responded to COVID-19 (e.g. testing availability, social distancing, mandatory face masks, quarantines, the availability to purchase PPE, lockdowns, positivity rate, the treatment facilities, and the capacity to respond to an increased outbreak).
• Check directly with your intended institution/program to confirm that they will be accepting applications for your intended term abroad. If so, ask them how they are preparing to host study abroad students and what may look different (e.g. housing changes, travel restrictions, hybrid in-person/online courses). Programs must meet in-person at least 50% for approval.
• Meet with a study abroad adviser to discuss your plans, ask questions, and receive support for choosing a program that matches your goals and interests
• Consider the program cost
• Ensure you have a passport that is valid at least six months beyond the end date of your program

Year or Term Abroad Application Process

Applying for program admission and for Yale approval and credit transfer is a simultaneous, 2-pronged process:

Apply for admission into your intended program:

• Apply directly to the program abroad you would like to attend for admission. You can access the programs' applications directly from their websites.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all application materials are submitted to your desired program by their deadline. Program application deadlines may be earlier or later than Yale’s application deadline.
• You do not need to have already secured Yale's approval for study abroad when you apply for admission into your intended program. However, you should not commit to a program until after you have received Yale's approval.

Apply for Yale credit and approval:

• Submit a Year or Term Abroad application to earn Yale transfer credit for your participation in a designated study abroad program
• Late applications for study abroad credit cannot be accepted.
• You do not need to have already been admitted to your intended program when you apply for Yale transfer credit.

Note: Application Exceptions:

• If applying to one of the two following programs, complete the appropriate application instead of the Year or Term Abroad application:
  • Balliol College, Oxford University
  • Università Bocconi
• If your intended program is not on Yale's Designated List, please review the petition process for Year or Term Abroad.

Yale's Application Timeline & Review Process

Ready to Apply for Credit

The button below will lead you to the Year or Term Abroad application for programs that appear on Yale's Designated List. Please review the application process above to ensure that you are completing the correct application.