Information for Prospective Visiting Scholars and Visiting Student Researchers
The DLCL's departments accept a small number of Visiting Scholars (Stanford's designation for those who have earned a PhD or equivalent) and Visiting Researchers (the designation for visiting graduate students) each year. The Division is unable to offer those who are accepted as visitors any salary or tuition support.
"Visiting Scholar" is an official University designation, which extends the privileges of the University to scholars established in their fields who wish to be in residence at Stanford for a limited period of time (usually from 3 months up to a year). This is a courtesy appointment for scholars with a PhD that comes without Stanford salary support; those who are still working towards a PhD must apply for visiting Student Researcher status outlined below. Visiting Scholars are expected to find their own support from their own universities, grants, or other sources. See also Stanford's official policies regarding this designation.
Application Procedure and Deadlines
Those who are interested in being considered as a Visiting Scholar should write a letter to the Director of the appropriate department describing their research interests and plans for research and study during their visit to Stanford, indicating the faculty members and research groups they expect to interact with and any classes they expect to attend. The letter should indicate the proposed length of stay and the name of a regular faculty member in the Department who would serve as sponsor (see below). The letter should also discuss the ways in which the visitor's research and educational objectives will enhance the Department's. Please include your CV with your letter of application.
The application materials must reach the Department by January 15th prior to September 1st of the academic year to be spent at Stanford. Because the departments often receive more applications than they can accommodate, it is very important that applications arrive by the appropriate deadline; late applications are unlikely to be accepted. Notification of appointment will be made in the spring. The DLCL and its departments have limited resources for visitors, and are unable to accept all who express interest.
All Visiting Scholars must be nominated by a sponsor on the regular faculty of one of the DLCL departments and then be approved by that department's director. It is recommended that prospective visitors contact a potential sponsor from the regular faculty before submitting a formal application. Any contact with the sponsor or other faculty members should be mentioned in the letter of application. Please be aware that no faculty member in the department can sponsor more than one Visiting Scholar in a given academic year, and that sponsoring faculty cannot be on leave during the time of the visit. For finding a sponsor, please write to the Division Manager, Allen Sciutto (allen.sciutto@stanford.edu), or to the department's director, indicating the dates you would like to visit and describing your research interests.
Visa Application-related Fees
Stanford charges a $125 fee for preparation of the initial and transfer DS-2019 (formerly IAP-66) documents for J-1 Visiting Scholars and family members. A fee of approximately $25 is also charged for mailing of the documents via international courier. These fees are payable upon the visitor's arrival. There is also a SEVIS fee of $180 to the US Government which is paid online by the Visiting Scholar before receiving the DS-2019.
Privileges and Associated Fees
Visiting Scholars will have the benefit of the title "Visiting Scholar" and will be accorded library privileges at the University Libraries and sports privileges at the University's sports facilities. Health benefits are not provided.
The DLCL regrets that it has no office space for visitors. It is also unable to provide computers for visitors. It is recommended that visitors who need regular access to a computer for writing or research bring one with them or buy one here. Visitors must pay for copying, postage, long distance telephone calls and faxes, and their own secretarial services. Visitors are welcome to attend classes and seminars during their stay.
Visiting Scholars are eligible to apply for a full-service University e-mail account upon arrival at Stanford. There is a modest cost to the visitor of $16/month.
Spouses do not have library or other privileges, though individual arrangements can on occasion be made for access to sports facilities.
Housing Information
Divisional and departmental staff are unable to assist visitors with finding housing. Visitors are able to view the University Housing office's on-line listings once their names and e-mail addresses are forwarded to the University Housing Office personnel by the DLCL or a department. See also Stanford area housing information or search for listings on Craigslist.
Questions
Questions about becoming a Visiting Scholar can be directed to the department administrator in the relevant department, or to the Division Manager, Allen Sciutto (allen.sciutto@stanford.edu).
Graduate students enrolled in PhD programs at other universities may also apply to visit a department for periods ranging from one academic quarter to a year. Visiting students will have the benefit of the title "Visiting Student Researcher" (or "Exchange Scholar" for those students from participating schools; see Exchange Scholar section below). The DLCL and its departments have limited resources for visiting graduate students, and are unable to accept all who express interest.
Normally, Visiting Student Researchers have completed their coursework and are engaged in dissertation research. Visiting Student Researchers cannot register in Stanford University courses for academic credit, and are not permitted to attend classes. Students interested in attending Stanford courses for academic credit must apply for non-matriculated student status, which necessitates a separate application, associated fees, and deadlines.
Application Procedure
The application procedure for visiting students is the same as for Visiting Scholars; the same application materials are required and must be submitted to the appropriate department by January 15th prior to September 1st of the academic year to be spent at Stanford. Like Visiting Scholars, visiting students must also have a regular faculty member to serve as sponsor, as described above. The same visa application fee of $125 is required for non-US citizens, and a fee of approximately $50-75 is also charged for mailing of the documents via international courier. These fees are payable upon the visitor's arrival. (Please note that these fees are separate from the $180 SEVIS fee which is paid online to the US governement before your arrival.)
Tuition Rate and Other Fees
Potential visiting students should be aware that in order to have a formal status, the University requires that visiting students, or "Non-Matriculated Graduate Students - Visiting Researchers" as the University designates them, will be charged a monthly fee for every full or partial month in which they are in residence at Stanford. For AY 2011-12, the VSR fee will be $868 per month. This is one-third of the TGR rate of $2,604 per quarter, because Visiting Student Researchers are here in a role similar to advanced Stanford doctoral students. Visiting Researchers will also be charged for student health insurance, unless they document that they have comparable coverage with another health insurance carrier. Students in this category are not permitted to enroll in classes for credit. Visiting Student Researchers are also required to pay the Campus Health Services Fee. For AY 2011-12, these students will be charged the quarterly Campus Health Services Fee ($173/quarter) and quarterly Cardinal Care premium (if they are enrolled in Cardinal Care) for every full or partial quarter in which they are in residence at Stanford.
Privileges
Those registered as Visiting Researchers are entitled to receive a student photo identification card, which permits use of the University Library at the same level as other non-matriculated students, use of recreational facilities, and use of Vaden Student Health services. Visiting Researchers are eligible for an email account at no charge; they are also eligible to open full-service computer accounts, at a cost of $16/month or $48/quarter. These services are only available during the quarters when the monthly VSR fee has been paid. The DLCL and its departments cannot provide office space for Visiting Researchers.
Housing Information
Graduate student housing is available for Visiting Researchers only after all matriculated Stanford students have obtained housing. Given that student housing is extremely tight, for planning purposes, it is best to assume that student housing will not be available. Visitors are able to view the University Housing Office's on-line listings once their names and e-mail addresses are forwarded to the University Housing Office personnel by the department. For further housing information see Stanford area housing information or search for listings on Craigslist.
Detailed information about Visiting Student Researcher policies can be found with the Office of the University Registrar and in the Research Policy Handbook.
The Exchange Scholars Program
Doctoral students at universities that participate in the Exchange Scholars Program are able to spend up to a year at Stanford under the auspices of this program. The home page for this program describes it as follows: "The Exchange Scholar Program enables a graduate student enrolled in a doctoral program in one of the participating institutions to study at one of the other graduate schools for a limited period of time so as to take advantage of particular educational opportunities not available on the home campus. The academic experience, including courses taken and/or research conducted with particular faculty at the visited institution, will be registered on the academic record maintained by the student's home institution." Currently, this program includes Brown, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, University of California, Berkeley, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University as well as some other universities. This program allows students to be registered and pay tuition at their home university, while visiting Stanford.
Graduate students who wish to visit Stanford under the Exchange Scholar Program apply via the University of Pennsylvania. Application is available here: www.sas.upenn.edu/GAS/PDF/exchsch.pdf.
Questions
Questions from graduate students about visiting Stanford can be directed to the DLCL's Graduate Student Services Officer.