For more details see http://worldfellows.yale.edu/
Our Application is Live!
Available online and due December 4th, 2013.
Our four-month residential Program offers:
(1) A cutting-edge global issues curriculum; (2) Individualized skill-building; and (3) Access to prominent thinkers and practitioners.
This is our core.
During the four month program, Yale World Fellows are fully immersed in the University community. They share their expertise and ideas in classes and seminars across Yale and New Haven. While most activities take place on campus in New Haven, the Program sponsors trips to New York City and Washington, DC and an off-site retreat. The Yale World Fellows Program is offered annually from mid-August to mid-December and is sponsored and fully funded by Yale and supporting partners.
Learn more about the building blocks of our Program:
The Seminar
The cornerstone of the Yale World Fellows Program is a 15-week global affairs colloquium taught by renowned faculty from across Yale’s undergraduate, graduate and Professional schools. Through exposure to both classical philosophical texts, current academic research and practical thought, the program creates a real-world experience unlike any traditional academic program. Fellows are challenged to test their own boundaries, to think differently about their work to date and to consider new and potentially multi-disciplinary directions.
360º Skill-Building
World Fellows are brought to Yale at a critical point in their careers. They have been recognized as leaders but are looking to have even greater professional impact. We respond by providing a structured space for self-assessment, reflection, and peer feedback. Sessions facilitated by Yale School of Management faculty expose Fellows to negotiation, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Fellows also receive individualized coaching in public speaking and media training, building confidence and enhancing personal presence.
Up-Close Leadership Conversations
In an off-the-record conversation series, Fellows hear the personal side of professional trajectories and have the opportunity to ask hard questions to some of the world’s most gifted practitioners. The World Fellows have hosted leaders ranging from former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan; former heads of state Ernesto Zedillo and Tony Blair; U.S. Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; and award-winning wr
iters David Brooks and Elizabeth Alexander. Fellows also interact with prominent leaders across sectors during field trips to policy, cultural and financial hubs Washington, DC and New York City.
Self-Directed Study
Fellows can audit almost any of the 2,000+ courses offered at Yale University with the opportunity to develop or continue work on individual or collaborative research projects. They also spend time building relationships with Yale faculty and students, giving talks and lectures and engaging in informal dialogue and debate. Many get involved with Yale and local community organizations, providing a valuable exchange of ideas.
Eligibility Questions
Am I a competitive candidate?
To determine if you would be a competitive candidate for Yale World Fellows, please take a look at the biographies of previous Fellows and the Information for Applicants. Admission to Yale World Fellows is extremely competitive; we receive several thousand applications for the 16 fellowships awarded each year.
Do I need to be a certain age to qualify ?
Yale World Fellows 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 World Fellow is 39.
Does the Yale World Fellows Program require test scores exhibiting proficiency in the English language?
Yale World Fellows 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?
Yes, 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?
Yale World Fellows 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, pleasecontact the academic department that aligns with your academic or research interests.
Does the fellowship provide scholarships or financial support to students who wish to attend Yale University?
No, we do not 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 Yale World Fellows.
If I have previously applied to Yale World Fellows, 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 increasingly 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).
If I have previously applied to Yale World Fellows, 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 new letters of recommendation.
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. The Program cannot release the status of your application on an individual basis before this time. Please be sure to keep your application up-to-date with your most recent email address.
If I am not selected, may I solicit feedback on my application?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide feedback on individual applications due to the large number of applications.
Letter of Recommendation questions
How does Yale World Fellows solicit letters of recommendation from my references?
As soon as you enter and “submit” the names and 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 electronically on your behalf. You are responsible for ensuring that all three references have received this email and submit their letters of recommendation by the application deadline.
How do references submit their letters of recommendation?
References will receive an automatically generated email requesting that they submit a letter on your behalf . The emails your references receive will allow them to upload or type their letters of recommendation directly into your application.
What is the deadline for letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation must be received before the application deadline. 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 recommenders 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.
May recommenders submit a hard copy or e-mail their letter?
No, for security reasons, Yale World Fellows will only accept letters of recommendation which are submitted directly through the admissions website.
Nomination Questions
What is the role of the “nominator?”
Applicants are not required to have a “nominator.” Nominators 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 does not need to have an affiliation with Yale.
May I nominate myself?
No. We do not accept self-nominations. 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. 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?
Yale World Fellows does not offer admission to Yale University and does not award an academic diploma. The fellowship is not a Master’s or Ph.D. program.
What are the dates of the Program?
The Program begins in mid-August and runs through mid-December. 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 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. The Program provides Fellows with a travel allowance, housing, healthcare, and a stipend to cover living expenses. Yale also 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 Fe
llows 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.
Yale/New Haven Questions
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 maintains a comprehensive website withinformation about New Haven.
