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.

Visiting Students must be at MIT for at least three weeks and no longer than one year. MIT requires standardized program start and end dates. Appointments should begin on the 1st or 15th of a month and end on the 30th or 31st of a month. If the 1st or 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the visit should start on the next business day (e.g. if the 1st falls on a Saturday, the official visit start date should be the following Monday, on the 3rd.) Visit start dates should coincide with business days.

The Visiting Student category is very competitive, so it is important to get your application in before the deadline.

Funding Requirements for Visiting Students

Since Visiting Students cannot register for classes for credit, no tuition fee is assessed. These amounts are subject to change at any time.

All Visiting Students will be charged a monthly fee of $625. This monthly fee entitles Visiting Students to conduct research, use MIT’s fitness facilities, participate in student life programming at the Institute, and includes the required purchase of the MIT Student Medical Plan (details below under Health Insurance).

This fee will be charged per month regardless of a start date of the 1st or 15th and will be required to be paid in full for the entire appointment prior to arrival.

International Visiting Students:
In order to issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (Form DS-2019), international visiting students must demonstrate financial support to meet or exceed the following minimum funding requirements for the entire academic appointment. At least 51% of the total funding must come from a source other than personal or family funds.

Estimated Monthly Expense (September 2023-August 2024):

Single Student
Average Living Expense Per Month: $3,400
Student Health Plan Insurance Per Month*: Included in monthly Visiting Student Fee
Visiting Student Fee Per Month: $625

Total Expenses per month: $4,025*

Married Student
Average Living Expense Per Month: $4,183
Student Health Plan Insurance Per Month*: $427
Visiting Student Fee Per Month: $625

Total Expenses per month: $5,235*

* Figures are subject to change without notice
** Additional expense for family with children is estimated $500/m for the 1st child and $292/month for each additional child. For students who have child dependents only, the additional expense per month is estimated at $1,156 for the first child (for living expenses and medical insurance) and $292 for each additional child.

Health Insurance

Visiting Students are automatically enrolled in the MIT Student Medical Plan which is included in the $625 Visiting Student Fee. The MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (MIT SHIP) is a comprehensive health insurance plan that provides coverage for preventive and primary care, emergency services, surgical care, hospitalization, specialist visits, mental health services, and prescription drugs. The MIT SHIP plan is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts with a broad national network.  For International Visiting Students, this meets all state and federal requirements for J-1 visa holders. Visiting Students may elect to enroll in additional coverage for dependent(s) and/or partners.

Exceptions may be made for students enrolled at universities and colleges in Massachusetts only (documentation must be provided showing enrollment in the home institution’s health insurance plan).

Please email all insurance related questions to stuplan@med.mit.edu (MIT Health Plan Office).

Housing

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.

Application

Before applying, a prospective visitor should make contact with a faculty member who agrees to sponsor the visitor.

Applications include the following:

  1. Statement of Purpose indicating the research goals of your stay, the beginning and ending dates of your visit, and the faculty member you would like to consult with during your stay
  2. CV
  3. Writing sample (one or two recent papers)
  4. Two letters of recommendation

Submit your application electronically or in hard copy to:

Michael Kenstowicz
MIT Linguistics and Philosophy
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Bldg. 32-D808
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
kenstow@mit.edu

You will be informed of your application status shortly after the application deadlines. If your application is accepted, the Department will contact you with further details regarding your visit.

Deadlines

Visiting students can only stay for a maximum of one year.

Visitor applications are due on March 15 for the following Fall semester and September 1 for the following Spring semester.