Visiting Assistant in Research (VAR)

Prospective applicants should first contact the research advisor to which they hope to apply for more information and specific eligibility requirements. You must have permission from the department with which you wish to affiliate before you can submit an application.

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Question section for YSM Visiting Assistants in Research.

• All documents must be in English.
• You must have an invitation from the YSM VAR program and permission from your proposed Yale adviser.
• You may apply to enroll for up to one year. You may apply to extend your initial enrollment for up to one additional year after the first year is complete. VAR appointments have a maximum cumulative time limit of two years.
• VARs are not eligible for financial aid from Yale School of Medicine and must demonstrate sufficient financial support at the time of application.
  

Your period of study at Yale is flexible and should be discussed with your Yale advisor prior to submitting your application. Your start date must always begin on the first of the month. If the first falls on a weekend or holiday, your enrollment will begin the next business day.

• International Applicants: your application must be submitted no later than 90 days prior to your intended start date.
• US Citizens/Permanent Residents: your application must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to your intended start date.

To submit an application, you will be asked to provide the following:

• Proof of current and continuing enrollment in a graduate or medical training program (Master’s, PhD or MD) at another institution provided by your university registrar, which may take the form of a letter from your home institution confirming your academic standing.
• A Statement of Purpose of 250-500 words describing your past work and your proposed research at Yale.
• A letter of support from your current academic advisor.
• A recommendation form from your proposed Yale Adviser. Your proposed Yale Adviser must hold a faculty appointment in the Yale School of Medicine.
• A transcript of your grades from your current graduate program (Master’s, PhD or MD)
• Proof of health insurance or intention to obtain health insurance. Please note that obtaining health insurance while at Yale can be costly and completing all health requirements prior to your arrival is recommended. Additional information will be shared about health insurance upon acceptance into the program.
• All VAR applicants must provide proof of sufficient funding to cover living expenses while at Yale, as outlined below.
• International applicants must also provide proof of English Language proficiency.
  

All documentation must be in English.

VARs are not eligible for financial aid from Yale and must demonstrate sufficient financial support for living expenses at the time of application. The July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027 living expenses are as follows:

• $3,863 per month if single
  
• $4,663 per month if married
  
• $575 additional per month for each child
  

• All required materials in support of your application must be uploaded to the application prior to submission. Letters of recommendation must be received from your advisers before you will be able to submit your application.
• Official transcripts or documents in a language other than English must be translated into English by a certified English translator.
• GRE scores are not required.
• The application process is online only. There is no paper application.
• You may not enroll in or audit coursework while at Yale.
• Your proposed Yale adviser must hold a faculty appointment in Yale School of Medicine.
• The VAR program is a full-time program.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English unless they have graduated, at the bachelor's degree level, from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. There are two options. Option 1: The results of a TOEFL/IELTS test. Option 2: Your Yale adviser provides an attestation to your English language ability.
• The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) will issue documentation to assist with obtaining a visa to non-U.S. citizens who are accepted and can demonstrate sources of funding to cover the estimated monthly cost of living expenses as well as sufficient health insurance coverage. Consult the Office of International Students and Scholars page for more information.
• Yale will sponsor accepted international students for J-1 visa status. To be eligible for a J-1 student visa, at least 51% of the student’s financial support toward tuition and living expenses must be from an external (non-personal, non-family) scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship.
• All admission decisions are communicated in writing by Yale School of Medicine, not by individual departments or programs. Only letters sent directly from Yale School of Medicine may be considered official notifications of admission.