campus life

New Student Checklist

NOTE

This information is for Fall 2023. Information for Fall 2024 will be provided by April 1, 2024.

IMPORTANT DATES + DEADLINES

Prepare to begin your degree program at the Yale School of Music.

Apr. 15: Respond to Yale admissions offer

Log into your online account to respond to Yale’s offer of admission and pay the registration deposit of $500 USD. (Incoming Institute of Sacred Music students should not pay this deposit. Instead, follow deposit instructions in your ISM paperwork.)

Activate your Net ID

After submitting your registration deposit, you will receive a series of emails with instructions for activating your Yale email address and NetID. Checking your Yale e-mail account is mandatory. If you would like, you may forward your Yale email to your personal account.

Important: Your financial aid award letter will be sent to your Yale email address. You will not be able to accept your financial aid package until your Yale email account is active.

April 1: Graduate housing applications

learn more

Graduate and Professional Student Housing applications (for graduate dorms and on-campus apartments) will be made available on Saturday, April 1. Room Selection for paired roommates only will open on April 19. Room Selection for all others will open on April 20. Please contact housing@yale.edu for details. Don't delay–University housing fills up quickly. Visit Student Life + Housing for more information about housing options (on and off-campus) at Yale.

Veterans Benefits

Jennifer VanBrederode is the VA School Certifying Official for the School of Music. If you are eligible for educational benefits under any of the chapters of the GI Bill®, please provide your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA and a copy of your DD214, and which chapter you are requesting benefits. For more information regarding VA education benefits, or for questions specific to your eligibility, please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For information about Yale University’s participation in the VA program, please visit the University’s Financial Aid website.

May 1: Student visa paperwork due

Download

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must apply for an I-20 from Yale and a student visa from the U.S. Embassy. The YSM Office of Admissions must receive certain documentation on or before May 1 (detailed below).

Student Visa: I-20 Instructions

You will need to apply for two important documents in order to enroll in school in the United States:

  1. an I-20 or DS-2019, issued by Yale University

  2. student visa, issued by the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. government requires you to submit documentation (including bank statements) to YSM’s Office of Admissions to prove that you are financially able to support your education. We ask that you submit this paperwork by May 1.

You must submit bank statements and affidavits (instructions outlined below) to the Yale School of Music Office of Admissions. Please expect an email from the Office of Admissions upon receipt of your enrollment deposit with detailed instructions regarding how to submit your documents.

The amount you must show in your bank statements equals the total estimated cost of tuition and living expenses for one year ($63,722) MINUS your full-tuition scholarship ($38,000) MINUS your fellowship listed in your admissions letter. The remaining cost is the amount you must show. You must submit bank statements or other documentation proving that you possess at least this amount in liquid funds. The bank statement(s) must be in English (issued in English by the bank or translated by a certified translator—not translated by you).

The bank statements may be in your name, a sponsor’s name, or a combination of both. If you submit a bank statement from a sponsor (a family member or close friend agreeing to provide financial support), the sponsor must submit an Affidavit of Support (click download button above) to YSM’s Office of Admissions. 

(The U.S. Embassy might also require your sponsor to complete form I-134.)

If you have any questions about the financial documentation, please contact the YSM Office of Admissions by phone at 203 432-4155 or email gradmusic.admissions@yale.eduPlease do not contact the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) about these forms.

Applying for a Visa

Please refer to this checklist from the Office of International Students & Scholars:

  1. Required Financial Certification. Complete and return the required financial certification documents (see I-20 Instructions) to the School of Music.
  2. E-mail from OISS. You will receive an e-mail from the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) requesting further information. The email will provide instructions for obtaining an immigration document (an I-20 or DS-2019). You must respond to this email.
  3. F-1 or J-1. Almost all international students come to the Yale School of Music using the F-1 student visa. However, students using a significant amount of non-personal funds to finance their Yale education may prefer and be eligible for J-1 status, particularly if their spouse is accompanying them and wants to work in the United States. Learn more about the difference.
  4. Issuing the I-20. With the required personal data and financial certification documents, the U.S. Government Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) will produce the form I-20 (or DS-2019 for J-1 status). The Yale School of Music will send your I-20 to you by FedEx.
  5. SEVIS Fee. All new students applying for F-1 or J-1 status — with the exception of those currently studying in the U.S. — must pay a SEVIS fee ($350 for F-1 status). Click here for instructions for paying the fee.
  6. Applying for the Student Visa. Apply early! After you receive your I-20, the next step is to apply for a student visa. Click here for details. You will need to bring your I-20 form, SEVIS Fee receipt, and a copy of your financial documents to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy. You should check the home page of the particular U.S. consulate or embassy to make sure you have all the required forms and fees. Student visas can be issued as early as 120 days before the beginning date noted on the I-20 form, so we encourage students to apply as early as possible. Students in certain countries and/or studying in certain fields may experience lengthy delays in the processing of their student visa applications.
  7. Canadian Students. Students who are citizens of Canada must obtain a student visa, but are not required to visit a U.S. embassy in person. They must obtain an I-20 from Yale University and present the I-20 and a valid passport at the U.S. port of entry, receiving a student visa at the border. Be absolutely certain (especially if driving across the border) that you receive an I-94 card at the port of entry marked “F-1” (or “J-1,” if applicable).
  8. Entering the United States. You cannot enter the United States more than 30 days prior to the start date printed on your I-20 form. At the U.S. port of entry, you must present your I-20 form (or DS-2019 for J-1 status) and your passport with a valid visa stamp.
  9. If you are already in the United States and need to transfer your F-1 student status, please carefully read these instructions.
  10. For information about the summer between two programs, visit here.
  11. If you are in the United States under another status (such as H-1B), it is recommended that you depart the United States and return with a student visa. For more information, please contact Kira Bellucci in the OISS to make the necessary arrangements.

May: Accept your financial aid

The Financial Aid Information Booklet for the 2023-2024 academic year provides useful information about loans, the federal work-study program, instrument/repair loans, and more. The Booklet will be posted here in the near future. 

A financial aid award notice will be sent by email to your new yale.edu address. Look for an email from SFS@yale.edu in late April-May. In order for your scholarship and fellowship to be processed; you need to officially accept them. Instructions will be included in the email.

Students enrolling in the choral conducting, organ, or early music voice programs will receive their financial aid award information from the Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) only and may disregard this section.

A full-tuition award and fellowship (stipend) are made to all students who are admitted to the Yale School of Music with the exception of those receiving awards from other agencies. The fellowship amount is listed in your acceptance letter. 

*Note for DMA students: a continuing registration fee is charged for the three and a half non-resident years (seven semesters). 

Estimated Budget for School of Music students:
Room & Board: $19,284
Books & Music: $824
Personal: $1,257

Travel: $1,463
Health Insurance: $2,894
Tuition: $38,000

Total: $63,722

June 30: Upload Yale ID photo

upload photo

Upload your photo by June 30 for your Yale photo ID.

July 1: Final transcripts due

All students must submit final official transcripts* by July 1 to the Office of Admissions indicating the completion of prerequisite degrees. Students entering the School of Music’s Master of Music (M.M.) degree program must submit a final transcript indicating the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Students entering the School’s Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree program or the Master of Musical Arts (M.M.A.) degree program must submit a final transcript indicating the completion of a master’s degree. Students entering the School’s Artist Diploma (A.D.) program or the Certificate in Performance program must submit a final transcript indicating the completion of high school.

*You must have your final, official transcripts (sent directly from the school or transcript clearinghouse) mailed or emailed to our office. Our mailing address is listed below. If you expect that your transcripts will arrive after July 1, please alert us immediately by emailing gradmusic.admissions@yale.edu.

Mailing address
Office of Admissions
Yale School of Music
PO Box 208246
New Haven, CT 06520-8246

For FedEx, UPS, or DHL
Office of Admissions
Yale School of Music
98 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Aug. 1: Vaccinations + health forms

yale health

Visit the Yale Health's New Graduate and Professional School Students page and print the “Vaccination Record” form and relevant instructions. Bring the form and instructions with you to a health-care provider to complete.

Beginning in late June, visit the Yale Medicat Incoming Student Vaccination Portal. In Medicat, enter your Yale Net ID and set up a password; answer some basic questions; enter the dates of all your vaccinations; upload your forms and documentation for verification; await verification for one to five business days; and respond, if necessary, to requests for further information or corrective action.

Aug. 15: Student access to ArtsVision

artsvision

Beginning August 15, all incoming students will have access to ArtsVision, the School of Music’s student portal for concert calendars, room reservations, rosters and schedules, the student handbook, career strategies resources, and more. Students can find forms mentioned in orientation and needed throughout the year in the Student Documents section. Login using your NetID and password.

Update your personal data

SIS

After you move to New Haven, access Yale Hub and update the information on the “Personal Data” tab, specifically your New Haven address and telephone number, billing address, biographical information, and emergency contacts.

YalePay + payment plans

YalePay

YalePay is the University’s online billing and payment portal for your student account. Monthly emails reminding you to login to YalePay to view your student account activity and make any required payments will be sent to your Yale email account only. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor and review their student account. Tuition and fees for the fall term are billed on July 1st and payment is due on August 1st. The spring term is billed on November 1st and payment is due on December 1st. A late fee of $125 per month is assessed if the balance due in not paid in full by the due date. Financial aid will be reflected on the student account as anticipated credits provided the signed award letter is received by the due date. Financial aid is split evenly between the fall and spring term and will not be available until after the first day of orientation in the fall term and the first day of classes in the spring term.

Please visit the Yale Student Accounts website for information regarding your financial accounts at Yale using YalePay.

 

Yale Payment Plan

The University’s Office of Student Financial Services provides options to parents and students for paying education expenses on a monthly basis. Visit the Student Accounts Payment Plan page to enroll.

start of school dates + deadlines

Information about immigration check-in, orientation details, and more will be announced in the near future. Please check back for updates!

Sept. 5: First day of the academic year

Students must be present on campus beginning Tuesday, September 5, 2023 (the first day of the academic year), to register for full-time enrollment at the Yale School of Music.

student resources

Life at Yale

Student Employment

learn more

The School of Music and University offers students several employment options throughout their time at Yale. Check the page frequently for areas that are hiring and other opportunities.

Academic Calendar