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 degree 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 weeks and no longer than one year.
Special students receive academic credit for courses taken at MIT. Please note that special students are charged tuition fees.
Students from the following universities:
Berkeley, Brown, Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, Yale
can visit as part of an exchange program. More information here.
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 at MIT requires that Visiting Students have at least $2,454 (married students, $3,155) per month for living expenses. Since Visiting Students cannot register for classes for credit, no tuition fee is assessed. These amounts are subject to change at any time.
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 also responsible for the following fees:
Registration Fee (assessed per term):
Fall Term (5 months): $1,500
Spring Term (4 months): $1,200
Summer Term (3 months): $900
Visiting Students are charged for each term regardless of arrival date, e.g. arrival on November 1st requires $1,500 in fees.
Student Activities Fee:
$140 assessed per term.
Like all students at MIT, a Visiting Student must either purchase the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan or provide proof that their insurance meets the requirements specified by Federal Regulations for J-1 student visa holders (for international students). MIT Student Health Plan Office requires all Visiting Students insurance to cover preexisting conditions. Visiting Students wishing to purchase the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan may do so upon arrival on campus. For more information, please visit MIT Medical.
Please email all insurance related questions to stuplan@med.mit.edu (MIT Health Plan Office).
Visiting Students are not entitled to on-campus housing and, in most cases, should plan to find accommodation off-campus. However, they may apply for any vacancies that exist in the dormitories after the needs of regular students have been met.
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 should be submitted at least four months in advance of your anticipated start date. N.B. Early Visiting Student applications are more likely to be accepted. 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