Non-Degree Visiting Students

Overview

Students from other institutions may enroll at the University of Chicago as a Non-Degree Visiting Student (NDVS) at the invitation of a faculty member in the Physical Sciences Division. NDVS students do not enroll in classes; instead their time is focused on completing research under the supervision of a faculty member.

All NDVS students must comply with the University’s general policies on non-degree visiting students and are responsible for NDVS tuition and fees. The Dean of Students Office manages the process for NDVS students’ admission to the University and can connect NDVS students to campus resources.

Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to the anticipated start date at the University. The faculty host and visiting student should select a start date that aligns with the University’s academic calendar. Recommended start and end date ranges are available online

Please see below for more information about undergraduate and graduate non-degree visiting student policies and procedures.

Arrival and Departure Dates

Absent exceptional circumstances, NDVS students should select a visit start date that aligns with the start of a University of Chicago academic quarter. For international NDVS in particular, mid-quarter arrivals can lead to visa delays, administrative processing or questioning at the border specific to why the student is arriving after the quarter start date. Recommended start and end date ranges are available online

Graduate Non-Degree Visiting Students

Students must be enrolled in M.S. or Ph.D programs at another university to be eligible for NDVS status at the University of Chicago. A student may be enrolled in NDVS status for up to four quarters.

Faculty interested in hosting a graduate NDVS student should contact the Dean of Students Office, which will work with the faculty and prospective visiting student to make arrangements.

Undergraduate Non-Degree Visiting Students 

Undergraduate students in advanced undergraduate degree-seeking status at their home institution are eligible to enroll as NDVS students at the University of Chicago at the invitation of a faculty member. An undergraduate NDVS may be enrolled in NDVS status for up to four quarters.

As part of the application process through Slate, applicants will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Name(s) of the faculty member(s) with whom the applicant will be conducting research
  • The start and end dates of the student’s visit
  • The quarter(s) during which the student will be in residence
  • A statement of research goals
  • One letter of recommendation from someone other than the faculty member(s) at the University of Chicago with whom the student will be working

International Students

International students should plan to apply for their visit at least three months in advance of their preferred start date to allow adequate time for visa processing.

International students who obtain the appropriate visa are eligible to enroll as NDVS students at the University of Chicago. International applicants will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Proof of financial resources to cover anticipated tuition, fees, and living expenses
  • A copy of the passport ID page
  • Satisfaction of the English Language Requirements by one of the following methods:
    • Waiver of English Language Requirement (if you are able to meet the criteria) or 
    • TOEFL or IELTS test scores that meet minimum score requirements or 
    • Obtaining a result of “Basic” or better on the Academic English Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) conducted by the Office of Language Assessment. In cases where it is required, the AEPA will be arranged once an application has been submitted. For more details, please review the AEPA website

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for 2023-24 consist of $1,456 per quarter in tuition, $466 per quarter in required fees, and $1,639 per quarter for the University Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP). The U-SHIP premium in Summer Quarter 2023 is $1050. Students may also satisfy the insurance requirement by providing proof of comparable coverage, in which case they are eligible to waive the U-SHIP requirement. International applicants must provide financial documentation that shows available funding for all NDVS costs (tuition, fees, health insurance, estimated living expenses). 

Tuition and fees are not prorated for shorter visits, so we recommend choosing start and end dates that adhere to the University’s academic calendar whenever possible.

Students who are covering part or all of their own costs will receive emails notifying them to pay their student bill at their University of Chicago email address. Information for self-payment options is available on the Bursar's website.

Housing

NDVS students are responsible for making their own arrangements for housing during their visit. The University does not have dormitories available for non-degree visiting students. Incoming NDVS students should explore the Housing Resources page available online as they plan their visit.

Contact for Questions

Aleksandra Ninova-Parris