Visiting Doctoral Students

Eligibility for VDS status at the College is reserved for:

1) doctoral students outside of Teachers College who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program at a regionally accredited institution within the United States, or its equivalent from a country other than the United States,

2) who have been invited by a current TC faculty member on full-time professorial appointment to collaborate on that faculty member’s research or by a current TC faculty member on full-time professorial appointment who has agreed to serve as a member of the visiting doctoral student’s dissertation committee.

Doctoral students who meet these above eligibility requirements must apply and be accepted to Teachers College’s non-degree program at the Office of Admission and register for at least one Teachers College credit per semester during the term(s) of stay.  

Please note: Individuals who do not qualify as a VS (Visiting Scholar) or a VDS (Visiting Doctoral Student) are not eligible for visa sponsorship from the College.

Visa Sponsorship for VDS: If you are a currently enrolled doctoral student in a school outside of the United States and do require J-1 visa sponsorship from Teachers College, you will need to initiate this request by submiting the "Initial I-20/DS-2019 Request" via TC-Compass. Please note that the application will not be reviewed until after the VDS has been officially admitted as a non-degree student.  

If you are a currently enrolled doctoral student in a regionally accredited institution within the United States or are a currently enrolled doctoral student in a school outside of the United States but do not require J-1 visa sponsorship from Teachers College, you may apply directly to the Office of Admission. 

Non-degree students making their own arrangements for immigration/visa status do not need to apply to or communicate with the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).

The application requires that the VDS have official written sponsorship from a current TC faculty member on full-time professorial appointment.  Teachers College does not provide visa sponsorship for non-degree students who are not officially sponsored by a current TC faculty member. 

In order to be eligible for admission, please see the requirements outlined by Admissions at the Office of Admission website.