I have a question about:
Eligibility
The application
Letters of Recommendation
Nomination
The Program
Please review our website and this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section before contacting us. If, after careful review of these resources, your question is unanswered, you may contact staff at applicant.worldfellows@yale.edu. Please do not send multiple emails regarding one issue, and please do not email staff individually. We thank you for your patience in allowing staff adequate time to thoughtfully process your inquiries.
Eligibility Questions:
Am I a competitive candidate for the Yale World Fellows Program?
To determine if you would be a competitive candidate for the Program, please carefully review the biographies of the previous Fellows and the Eligibility and Selection Criteria. Admission to the Yale World Fellows Program is extremely competitive; we receive several thousand applications for the 14-18 fellowships awarded each year.
Must I be of a certain age to qualify for a fellowship?
The Yale World Fellows Program does not require applicants to be a specific age. Please note, however, that the Program is designed for mid-career professionals. The youngest applicant ever accepted was 27 years old, and the average age of a Yale World Fellow is 38.
Does the Yale World Fellows Program require test scores exhibiting proficiency in the English language?
The Yale World Fellows Program does not require TOEFL or IELTS test scores. Should an applicant progress to the final stages of selection, his/her English fluency will be assessed during a phone interview.
Must I be fluent in English?
Qualified applicants must be fluent in English. Fellows must be able to read and understand complex academic texts, give oral presentations in front of small and large audiences, and build professional and personal relationships with colleagues and distinguished guests – in English.
Does the fellowship accept students or academics?
The Yale World Fellows Program does not accept full-time students or full-time academics. The fellowship is designed for practitioners. If your primary occupation is student or scholar and you are interested in spending time at Yale, please directly contact the academic department at Yale that most closely aligns with your interests.
Does the fellowship provide scholarships or financial support to students who wish to attend Yale University?
No, we do no offer any type of financial aid or scholarships to students wishing to enroll in a degree granting program at Yale. Questions regarding financial aid should be directed to the school at Yale to which you are applying for admission.
Application Questions:
Is there an application fee?
There is no application fee, charge, or payment of any kind associated with applying to the Yale World Fellows Program.
If I have previously applied to the Yale World Fellows Program, may I apply again?
Applicants who have applied to a previous year’s program may submit a new application for the current cycle. However, please note that every year our pool of candidates is more and more competitive. If you choose to apply to our Program for a second time, be sure to highlight your additional achievements of the past year(s). To determine if you would be a competitive candidate for the Yale World Fellows Program, please carefully review the biographies of the previous Fellows and the Eligibility and Selection Criteria.
If I have previously applied to the Yale World Fellows Program, may I re-submit the previous year’s application?
No. If you choose to apply to our program for a second time, you must submit a new application with an updated résumé/CV and updated letters of recommendation.
What happens after I submit my application?
Applications are reviewed in a three-tiered process. All complete applications are read by the Yale World Fellows Program staff. The strongest applications are then reviewed by regional experts. Those selected as semi-finalists are interviewed by telephone/Skype during the months of February and March. Final decisions are made by a committee composed of faculty and staff.
When will I learn of the final decision on my application?
Final decisions will be sent to all applicants, both successful and unsuccessful, via email by the end of April 2013. The Program cannot release the status of your application on an individual basis before this time. Please be sure to keep the Yale World Fellows Program up-to-date with your most recent email address.
If I am not selected, may I solicit feedback on my application?
It is not possible to provide feedback on individual applications due to the large number of applications.
Letter of Recommendation questions:
How does the Yale World Fellows Program solicit letters of recommendation from my references?
As soon as you enter and "submit" the names and valid email addresses of three references, emails will automatically be generated and sent from our system to your references, requesting that they submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. This solicitation will come from a Yale email address, and you will be copied. The subject will read: "Yale World Fellows Program: Request for Letter of Recommendation." You are responsible for ensuring that all three references receive this email and submit their letters of recommendation by the deadline: 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
How do references submit their letters of recommendation?
References will receive an automatically generated email requesting that they submit a letter on your behalf which "highlights your abilities, character, potential for leadership, and suitability for a Yale World Fellowship." The emails your references receive will contain website links unique to each reference which will allow them to upload or type their letters of recommendation directly into your application.
May I update the email address of a previously submitted reference?
Yes. If you realize you have entered an incorrect or inactive email address for a reference, simply revisit your application, delete the incorrect or inactive email address, enter the correct or active email address, and click the "resend" button. An email will automatically be generated and sent from our system to your reference requesting that he or she submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
May I replace a previously submitted reference with a new reference?
Yes. If the reference you originally provided is unable to write a letter of recommendation for you (due to work responsibilities, travel, illness, lack of time, etc.), simply revisit your application and "replace" the previous reference's information with information of the new reference. As soon as you "submit" the changes, an email will automatically be generated and sent from our system to your new reference requesting that he or she submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
What is the deadline for letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation must be received before the application deadline: 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, December 5, 2012. Letters of recommendation received after the application deadline will not be accepted. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that references receive the email soliciting a letter of recommendation and submit their letters in a timely manner.
What is the typical length of a letter of recommendation?
The typical length of letters of recommendation is 1 to 2 pages.
May nominators and/or references write letters of recommendation in languages other than English?
The Yale World Fellows Program only accepts letters of recommendation in English. You may need to pay for translation services if your nominator or reference is unable to submit a letter in English.
How does the Yale World Fellows Program prefer to receive letters of recommendation?
The Yale World Fellows Program requires that letters of recommendation be submitted directly through the admissions website.
Nomination Questions:
What is the role of the “nominator?”
It is optional for applicants to have a “nominator.” The purpose of the nominator is to bring to the attention of the Program qualified candidates who may not be aware of the Program. A nominator may be from any country, and may or may not have an affiliation with Yale.
May I nominate myself?
No. Applicants should not nominate themselves. Applicants interested in applying to the Program should proceed directly to the online application.
Must I be nominated, or may I just apply?
You need not be nominated in order to apply to the Program. You may self-apply. The Program gives no preference to either nominated or self-applying applicants. Applicants interested in applying to the Program should proceed directly to the online application.
May I have multiple nominators?
No, please avoid having multiple nominators. It does not improve one's chances of being selected as a Yale World Fellow.
May my nominator serve as one of my references?
Yes, your nominator may serve as one of your references. You must enter his or her name and email address into your application as a reference, and then he or she will receive an email soliciting a letter of recommendation. If your nominator has already submitted a letter of nomination for you and wishes to use this letter of nomination as a letter of recommendation, he or she must submit it a second time via the link provided to references.
May family members act as nominators and/or references?
Family members may act as nominators and/or references. However, please note that references, in particular, should be people with whom you have interacted on a professional basis and who can keenly evaluate your career progression and potential.
Programmatic Questions:
Is the fellowship degree granting?
The Yale World Fellows Program does not offer admission to Yale University and does not award an academic diploma of any kind. The fellowship is not a Master’s or Ph.D. program.
What are the dates of the Program?
The Yale World Fellows Program begins in mid-August and runs through mid-December each year. Fellows are expected to remain at Yale for the entire duration of the program.
If I am selected, what are the time demands of the Program?
The Program is extremely demanding of Fellows’ time. Fellows are expected to participate in the Yale World Fellows Critical Issues Seminar, skill building sessions, and University classes during the day, and in presentations, dinners with distinguished speakers, and networking events several evenings each week. In addition, Fellows will be scheduled to travel for several days at a time over the course of the fellowship.
Do Yale World Fellows pay tuition?
Yale World Fellows do not pay tuition. For full participation in the Yale World Fellows Program for its duration, Yale provides Fellows with a travel allowance, housing, healthcare, and a generous stipend to cover living expenses. In addition, Yale pays for all costs associated with the educational and extracurricular aspects of the Program.
If I am selected, may I bring my family with me?
Having your family accompany you to New Haven for the duration of the Fellowship is a decision that should be made after serious consideration and discussion with the Program staff. While the families of some Fellows have lived full-time in New Haven for the four months of the Program, the majority of World Fellows with families – especially those with children – find it more comfortable to have their family members come for shorter visits. Spouses and partners with career flexibility do often come to New Haven for longer stretches, and it is sometimes possible for them to be included in a small number of World Fellows activities.
More complicated is the important decision regarding whether or not to bring children. Placing school-age children into schools in New Haven is a complex and competitive process. Program staff can provide information and some assistance in making school arrangements; however, there is no guarantee that schools in the Yale University area will have the necessary openings. Placing younger children into daycare centers can also present challenges with respect to proximity of the facility and available spots. If you wish to bring young children to New Haven with you, you must have full-time care arrangements for them. Fellows are occupied for many hours each day, including many evenings. In all cases, the Fellow must consider the intensive nature and significant demands of the Program, as well as the impact that long days and evenings will have on a partner and/or children.
Where can I find more information about Yale and New Haven?
Yale University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. Please visit the Yale website for information about the university and the many opportunities it offers. New Haven is a vibrant city located between New York City and Boston. Yale also maintains a comprehensive website with information about New Haven.
