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Petition for Credit: Summer Programs not on Yale's Designated List

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Credit Petition Process for Summer Programs

Yale Study Abroad will consider petitions for a program not on Yale's designated list on a case-by-case basis. Early planning is essential to ensure that you complete all steps by the deadline. You may only petition for one program per application cycle.

Note:COVID-19 Application Considerations for Summer 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. Your intended location must be eligible under the Yale University Travel Policy for Yale College Students (“Travel Policy”), and your courses must be offered in-person. If you have not already done so, please visit our COVID-19 Updates page for additional information and resources.

Step 1: Review Program Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for petition, programs must meet certain Yale eligibility requirements. Research your intended program to ensure that it meets these criteria. 

Study Abroad Program Minimum Criteria:
  1. ​The location of the study abroad program cannot be restricted by the Yale Travel Policy
  2. Program will issue an official program transcript with a course title(s), grade(s), and credit(s) from an accredited university
  3. The subject(s) you would like to study is offered as a discipline taught at Yale College
  4. Each summer course teaching length is at least 4 weeks and has at least 32.5 contact hours

Note:Yale does not award credit for internships. For this reason, you can only submit a petition for a summer program with an internship component if you will be enrolled in 2 credit-eligible courses. If you are seeking a full-time summer international internship instead, we suggest visiting the Office of Career Strategy website.

Step 2: Note the Petition Deadline

The deadline to petition for a Non-Yale Summer Abroad program is April 1. You should plan to complete the steps below well in advance of this deadline.

Note: Students planning to apply for a program that appears on the designated list will complete the credit application, not the petition. The petition is only for programs not found on the designated list.

Step 3: Meet with a Study Abroad Adviser

Before the petition application deadline, make an appointment with the study abroad adviser responsible for the area of the world where your intended program is located. If you cannot find an available appointment time that works with your schedule and is before the petition deadline, email the relevant adviser directly.

In your appointment request, include the link to program website.

During your appointment, the adviser will discuss the program with you and confirm whether it is eligible to be considered for a petition. Be prepared to discuss why you believe this program is better suited to you academically and personally compared with other programs on the designated list.

Step 4: Request Support from the Relevant DUS

Ideally, 2-3 weeks in advance of the petition deadline, discuss your intended study abroad courses(s) with the relevant Yale Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) based on your intended study abroad course(s).  It is recommended to have received confirmation from a study abroad adviser that your intended program is eligible for petition before you contact the DUS.

The relevant DUS is determined based on the study abroad course subject. For instance, if you intend to take a History course abroad, you will contact the DUS of History even if your major is Biology. If you will be petitioning to take courses in multiple departments, you will need to have the support of each relevant DUS.

Provide the DUS with the following program information:

  1. Link to program website
  2. Course syllabus (or description if no syllabi are available)

The DUS will determine if the course is eligible for general credit—it does not need to count toward major requirements.

As part of the online petition, you will send the DUS an electronic form to indicate their support.

Step 5: Complete and Submit your Petition

By April 1, complete and submit the online petition. The petition is reviewed for approval to study abroad on the program, transfer graduation credit, and receive Yale funding (if applicable).

As we cannot guarantee that your petition will be approved, we strongly recommend that you include a second-choice program from the designated list as a back-up (question #11). You do not need to complete a separate Credit for Non-Yale Summer Abroad application to have a back-up.

The Study Abroad Committee will consider the following when reviewing a petition:
  1. Relevance of the program to your academic plan at Yale and your study abroad goals
  2. Quality of the program's academics and student support services
  3. Support of the relevant Director(s) of Undergraduate Studies

Pin: Don't forget to apply to your program for admission by the relevant deadline.