MIT philosophy: program:
information for visitors
Types of Visitors | Requirements | Useful Information | How to Apply
Visiting scholars generally have their Ph.D. degree in philosophy. Visiting scholars are not enrolled in a degree program elsewhere.
Visiting student status is available to qualified students enrolled in a Ph.D. program at another university. Normally, such visiting students are engaged in their dissertation research or are writing their dissertations. In addition, federal regulation requires foreign visiting students to show financial support from a university or other institution covering at least half of the cost of their stay in order to be issued a "certificate of eligibility" for the J-1 visa. In other words, more than 50% of funding must come from a source other than personal or family.
Visiting students are not awarded academic credit for courses taken at MIT and are not eligible for on-campus student housing. Visiting students must be at MIT for at least three months and no longer than eighteen months.
Special students receive academic credit for courses taken at MIT. Please note that special students are charged tuition fees.
Visitors must meet current funding levels. These are subject to change at any time:
| Family Status | Yearly Amount | |
| Single | $30,000 | |
| Married/No Children | $33,000 | |
| Married One Child | $35,000 | |
| Single One Child* | $33,000 | |
|
* add $1,200 more per year for each additional child |
||
The international students office requires that visiting students should have at least $2,150 a month for living expenses including housing. Since Visiting Students cannot register for classes for credit, there is no tuition fee. These amounts are subject to change at any time.
Visitors must have valid health insurance. If you are a J-1 exchange visitor, you must meet the exchange minimums. You can find these minimums at http://web.mit.edu/scholars/insreqs.html. For more information regarding health insurance please visit http://web.mit.edu/scholars/healthinsopts.html.
As you may have heard, living in Boston can be quite expensive. The quality of accommodations at every price level compares unfavorably with housing in most other communities in the United States. Newcomers are strongly advised to budget carefully and realistically to include the high rents prevalent in this area and surrounding suburbs.
Single family houses usually rent for $2500 - $4000 per month, plus the cost of heat and utilities. Furnished rooms, with or without cooking facilities will range from $700 - $900 per month depending on quality and location.
Estimates for monthly rents of apartments, unfurnished, not including utilities or heating costs are as follows:
one bedroom
apartment $1200-$2000
two bedroom apartment $1100-$2900
Unfortunately the department cannot help in your search for housing. For more information regarding housing, please visit MIT's off-campus housing website. (Note: we cannot give you access to the current listings portion of this website.)
international
scholars office
http://web.mit.edu/scholars/index.html
international
students office
http://web.mit.edu/iso/www/
housing and student life programs
http://web.mit.edu/housing/och/
Visiting Scholar applications should be submitted at least four months in advance of your anticipated start date. Visiting Student applications are due on December 1 for the following academic year (Fall and Spring semesters). To apply, you must submit the following information:
1. Statement of Purpose
Please include the exact beginning and end dates of your visit and the faculty member you would like to work with during your stay.
2. CV
3. Writing Sample
4. 2-3 letters of recommendation
Please send the application by email to Chrissy Graham (cgraham@mit.edu), or by regular mail at:
chrissy graham
department of linguistics and philosophy
massachusetts institute of technology
77 massachusetts avenue, 32-d808
cambridge, ma 02139-4307
usa