Questions and the answers to them have been organized under the topics at right. Use these links to display the topics in the space below. Please review the questions and answers carefully before contacting our office.
Please note: The university’s ten professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Forestry, Law, Management, Medicine, Music and Nursing) have separate admissions policies and application processes which are outlined within the admissions Web pages and publications of those schools.
All students are required to take the GRE unless it is not offered in their country. Even in these cases, we recommend that the student attempt to travel to a neighboring country where the test is offered. Additionally, some programs require the GRE subject test. Please review the admissions requirements for the program that interests you. The Management program will accept GMAT (GMAC code 3TJ-30-78) scores from GMAC. If, at the time of application, your GRE scores will be more than 5 years old you will need to retake the GRE and have those scores sent to Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Code 3987) by ETS. Paper copies of score reports will not be accepted for any standardized test. For additional information and the latest updates on the GRE, please visit the ETS website.
GRE Institution code 3987
TOEFL Institution code 3987
IELTS Yale University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
GMAT 3TJ-30-78
We do not require the use of Department or Program codes. If you are required to enter a Department or Program code you should use the following codes:
GRE "0000" (Undecided)
TOEFL "99" (Undecided)
I took the computerized version (CBT) of the GRE in an Asian Country; Do I have to re-take the paper-based version?
If you have taken the GRE within 5 years and are able to have them sent to us you do not have to re-take the GRE. Admission decisions are not made solely on the basis of GRE scores. The Graduate School and the individual departmental admissions committees consider GRE scores as just one part of the application. In addition to GRE scores, transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation and other information play an important part in the decision process. If you have the opportunity to take the paper-based version and can still have your official scores sent to arrive at Yale prior to the application deadline, you may do so, but it is not required that you do. For additional information and the latest updates on the GRE, please visit the ETS website.
The TOEFL is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. This requirement is waived only for applicants who will have received a baccalaureate degree, or its foreign equivalent, prior to matriculation at Yale, from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction. If you do not qualify for a waiver but have taken the TOEFL within the last two years you will need to have your TOEFL scores released to us (code 3987). If your scores can no longer be released, you will need to take the test. The test should be taken as early as possible to ensure that your scores are received in time to be incorporated in your file. Normally TOEFL scores will not be released if they are older then two years. If you took the TOEFL before and ETS will release those scores then you should not have to retake the examination.
International English Language Test System (IELTS). You may substitute IELTS for TOEFL.
For additional information and the latest updates on the TOEFL and TSE, please visit the ETS website or for IELTS, please visit its website.
With the exception of applicants applying for a combined MD/PhD degree or for a PhD in Management and Economics, all applicants are required to submit official GRE scores from ETS (these are released electronically to Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences). Some programs also require the GRE subject test, please review the admissions requirements for the program that interests you. In the case of MD/PhD applicants, the MCAT may be used in lieu of the GRE. In the case of Management, the GMAT may be submitted. All scores must be released from ETS or GMAC to Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Code 3987 for GREs and TOEFL and 3TJ-30-78 for the GMAT). Paper score reports will not be accepted for the GRE, TOEFL, GMAT or IELTS - we can only accommodate paper score reports for the MCAT.
GRE scores are but one of many criteria used to evaluate an applicant. Individual departments practices may differ, but overall the best score from each section is used. However, you must submit ALL of your GRE scores in order to have the department consider the highest from each section.
You can certainly submit your application before you take the GRE Standardized test, in fact, that is preferred. Once you apply you will be able to check the status of receipt of your supplemental materials as well as receipt of your standardized test results.
If you previously applied and released scores to Yale, we most likely have them in your record. If you released your scores to Yale in a prior year but did not apply we still may have those scores as we maintain scores in a "holding" file for a period of two years from the date of receipt. If we do have them when you submit your application, they will be matched to your application record and become part of your database record. Subsequent to that we will reflect receipt in your on-line application (allowing for 1 to 2 weeks processing time). If you did release your scores to us within the last two years, and have waited the 2 weeks for processing, and do not see reference to receipt in your on-line application, please e-mail us and insert a "#" sign as the first character of the subject line. Please note that we cannot do anything until you submit your application. If you have not released your scores or we no longer retain them, you need to contact ETS and have them release your scores to us (Yale University - code 3987).
Your test scores, when received from ETS, are held in a temporary electronic file until you submit your application and your application record is matched against this temporary file. It is only after that matching process has occurred will we be able to reflect receipt of your scores in your online application status. This matching process and subsequent reporting back to the on-line application can take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks after submission of your application to initiate and complete. While we do not report the receipt of subject test scores, if we have scores from the general test we will have the subject test scores also.
If you have taken the GRE,TOEFL or GMAT under a different name or a name slightly varied from your application name, your score results record will NOT be matched to your application record. If you suspect this may be applicable please contact us via e-mail (you will want to use a "#"sign as the first character of the Subject line), and we will try to correct the records accordingly.
If you have taken the GRE, TOEFL or GMAT and you know that your scores results were sent to Yale University, please check to make certain you had them sent to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (code 3987 GRE/TOEFL or for the GMAT, code 3TJ-30-78) and not to another school of the University.
At the time of your GRE/TOEFL test, you should indicate Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences using the code 3987. We do not require Department or Program codes. If required on the GRE Standardized Test, please use code 0000 (Undecided) as your department and/or major field code. If required on the TOEFL Standardized Test, please use code 99 (Undecided) as your department and/or major field code. If your PhD program of study is Forestry and Environmental Studies, Epidiemiology and public Health, Management or Nursing, your scores must go to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Code 3987) for the GRE/TOEFL or 3TJ-30-78 for the GMAT.
We do not require the use of Department or Program codes. All that is necessary is for your score reports to be directed to Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Code 3987). If you are required to enter a Department or Program code you should use "0000" (Undecided) for the GRE or "99" (Undecided) for the TOEFL. If you have used a Department/Program code other that "0000" or "99" in addition to Institutional code of 3987, you do not have to request another score report to be sent. If you did use a department code your scores that is not a problem.
The Graduate School does not publish standardized test score information. Few, if any, programs publish this information. You will want to check the web site for your program of interest.
While the deadline for the receipt of your application is as published, there is some flexibility in the receipt of standardized test scores. Clearly, if they are to be included in the review of your file they should be received before your file is passed on to your designated program in January. Since scores are transmitted electronically, handling time has been reduced over the years. Prior year information suggests that it will take about two weeks from the date of the test until we receive and are able to load your scores to our underlying data files.
At the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, we do not have minimum GRE or TOEFL score requirements. You may want to contact your program of interest to see if they have established such requirements.
No. The TOEFL can only be waived if you received, or will receive, a baccalaureate degree, or its foreign equivalent, prior to matriculation at Yale, from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction.
The Graduate School does not establish minimum scores for any standardized tests, but individual department and programs may do so. You should thoroughly read the information provided by your program of interest – if there are levels they will be contained on the web site of the program.