At Yale the J-1 student intern category is most often used for Visiting Undergraduates Participating in Research and/or Clinical Activities (VUPRCA), a program available to undergraduate students 18 years or older who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (other than at Yale) and are participating in approved educational research or clinical activities under the mentorship of a Yale faculty member.
Not all visiting students will qualify for the J-1 Student Intern program and for some, another Yale appointment or program is more appropriate. Most graduate students are not eligible. The list below provides possible alternatives for those who do not meet the Student Intern program criteria.
- Visiting Assistant in Research (VAR)
- Visiting Student – Division of Special Registration (DSR)
- Postgraduate Associate
- Postgraduate Fellow
If you have any questions about VUPRCA, please email ehsintegrator@yale.edu.
Eligibility
To qualify as eligible for the J-1 Student Intern category, the participant must be:
- Currently enrolled and in good academic standing at an accredited postsecondary academic institution outside the U.S. pursuing the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
- Fulfilling educational objectives for current degree program outside the U.S.
- Able to verify English language skills sufficient to function on a day to day basis in the program.
- Returning as an enrolled student to the home institution after the Yale program in order to “fulfill and obtain a degree.”
- Able to document proof of health insurance that meets the minimum requirements of the J-1 visa and will be valid for the time spent at Yale.
- Participating in an internship that consists of a minimum of 32 hours per week and includes no more than 20% clerical work.
- Eligible for the Visiting Undergraduates Participating in Research or Clinical Activities appointment or participating in an established internship program sponsored by Yale University
Participation in the J-1 Student Intern category is limited to a maximum of 12 months over the lifetime of the participant.
Requirements
Intern Evaluation
Departments are required to provide OISS a written evaluation of the intern's performance in the 15-day period before the conclusion of the internship. For programs lasting more than 6 months, a midpoint evaluation is also required within 15 days of the midpoint mark. The evaluation must be submitted to OISS through OISS Connect. The final evaluation is due before the intern leaves the U.S.
