Activating Nonmatriculated Graduate Students (GAP 2.3)

Summary

In specified circumstances, individuals may apply for nonmatriculated graduate student status. In other circumstances, qualified individuals may be invited to accept positions as nonmatriculated graduate students.

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Rationale

The norm for graduate study at Stanford University is full-time matriculation in a degree program. Participation in graduate study, either through coursework or research, is normally limited to matriculated students who have been admitted to a Stanford degree program. In some circumstances, it may benefit both the individual and the university to permit qualified individuals to participate in graduate-level courses and/or research as nonmatriculated students. Individuals may apply to non-degree-granting programs or to enroll in specific courses on a nonmatriculating basis. In addition, individuals may be appointed to “Visiting Researcher” status, a category of nonatriculated graduate student who will not enroll in classes, but will be involved in graduate-level research.

1. POLICY

1.1 Nonmatriculated Study Involving Participation and Enrollment in Courses

Eligibility for consideration for nonmatriculated enrollment is restricted to two groups of applicants:

1. Stanford alumni who wish to return to Stanford to take courses that are prerequisites for Medical School admission, such as undergraduate Biology or Chemistry courses, are eligible to apply for nonmatriculated status. An application form, application fee, statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation are required. The decision to admit or deny is made by the Director of Graduate Admissions in his or her discretion and on the basis of relevant factors, including (but not limited to) a GPA of at least 3.0 and positive letters of recommendation
   
   Applicants who graduated from other universities are not eligible to take the prerequisites for Medical School at Stanford.
2. Individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and wish to take courses in a specific department that allows non-degree students are eligible to apply for nonmatriculated status. An application form, application fee, statement of purpose, original transcripts, and three letters of recommendation are required. The decision to admit or deny is made by the chair of the department in which they wish to take courses (in his or her discretion) and conveyed in writing to the Graduate Admissions Office. Applicants are notified of the decision by the Graduate Admissions Office.

Students who are granted nonmatriculated status are charged the 8-10 unit rate (or the appropriate higher rate if enrolled in 11 units or more) for each quarter in which they are enrolled, and may enroll for a maximum of one academic year. Nonmatriculated status is a privilege and not a right; the nonmatriculated status may be revoked at the University’s discretion (and after consideration of such factors as the University considers relevant in the particular case) at the end of any quarter of enrollment.

Nonmatriculated students are not permitted to enroll in certain courses, such as those in the following departments or programs: film and broadcasting courses in Art; all courses in Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, International Policy Studies, and the School of Medicine. Nonmatriculated students are expected to limit their enrollment to classes in the departments in which they have been admitted.

Nonmatriculated students receive grades and academic credit for courses satisfactorily completed and may obtain an official transcript. They may use university facilities and services. In classes of limited enrollment, students in degree programs have priority.

Nonmatriculated students may apply for housing but will have a low priority for assignment. No departmental or university fellowships (named awards), assistantships, or Stanford loans are available for nonmatriculated students. Nonmatriculated students are not eligible for a leave of absence.

Nonmatriculated students who later apply for admission to a degree program must meet standard admission requirements and should not anticipate special priority because of work completed as a nonmatriculated student. Students who are admitted to a degree program may apply a maximum of 15 units of nonmatriculated study toward the master’s degree and 30 units for the Engineer or Ph.D. degree, subject to the approval of the degree granting department.  

1.2 Non-Degree-Granting Programs

Stanford University has established a limited number of formal non-degree-granting programs within individual departments. These include the Knight Fellowship Program for mid-career journalists (Communication Department), and the Stegner Fellows Program for selected authors (Creative Writing Program, within the English Department).

Individuals may apply to these programs directly. Application requirements, admissions decisions, tuition requirements and financial support are all handled by the specific program. Individuals who are admitted to these programs will be registered at Stanford as nonmatriculated graduate students in the appropriate program. Upon completion of their program, they will receive a transcript and certificate of program completion.

1.3 Visiting Researchers

In limited instances, it is to the benefit of Stanford faculty to permit persons who have not yet obtained a Ph.D. (or its foreign equivalent) or who are not recognized experts in their fields to engage in research on the Stanford campus. Such instances include students at other universities who are engaged in graduate-level research in a field of interest to the faculty member, or a person doing a laboratory rotation as part of a larger research study or grant. A category of nonmatriculated graduate student called "Visiting Researcher" was created in 1996 to address such circumstances. Note that this category of nonmatriculating student is different from that of a "Visiting Scholar," a non-student category of individuals holding a doctoral degree or recognized as an expert in their field.  The Research Policy Handbook includes documents on both Visiting Researchers and Visiting Scholars. 

Visiting researchers are registered at Stanford as nonmatriculated graduate students. They are appointed for the purpose of participating in research activities with a particular faculty member and may not enroll in classes. Visiting researcher appointments are typically limited to one year in duration.  There is no Stanford transcript that records visiting researcher status or dates of appointment.

Invited persons must be qualified to conduct research at a level comparable to that of other Stanford graduate students, and the research must be of benefit to Stanford as well as to the visitor. Forms for the appointment of visiting researchers are submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office by the department issuing the invitation (see departmental procedures, Stanford access only).

Visiting researchers are charged the quarterly Permit for Services Only (PSO) tuition rate. Tuition will be charged for each quarter in which the visiting researcher holds an appointment, including partial quarters. Visiting researchers may waive Stanford’s student medical insurance plan only if they have comparable coverage with another carrier and submit proof of the comparable coverage prior to the term start date. They may not enroll in or audit any courses, but in quarters when they are registered, they are eligible for the usual student benefits of nonmatriculated student status. Visiting researchers may apply for housing, but will have a low priority for assignments. No Stanford fellowships, assistantships, or Stanford loans are available for Visiting Researchers although departments may provide financial support from their own sources if they choose to and if appropriate funds are available (see below). Stanford cannot certify visiting researchers for deferment of US educational loans. Citizens of other countries who enter the United States to be visiting researchers at Stanford must have a DS 2019 Certificate (to apply for a J-1 visa) issued by the Bechtel International Center and must register each quarter, including Summer quarter, to maintain their visa status.

Visiting researchers are not automatically entitled to any financial support from Stanford University. As nonmatriculated students, visiting researchers are not eligible to hold assistantship appointments. As a result, their tuition and other financial support may not normally be charged to research grants or contracts. (Hourly employment on research grants or contracts may be possible, as long as the work is appropriate to the project and budgeted. Such work does not convey a tuition benefit.) Departments who wish to provide such support typically must rely on unrestricted departmental or faculty  funds. Funds intended for the support of matriculated Stanford students may not be used to support visiting researchers.

2. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES

Individuals who are interested in applying for nonmatriculated enrollment in courses or in non-degree-granting programs, e.g., the Knight or Stegner programs, should contact the specific department or program directly to determine appropriate procedures and deadlines.

2.1 Nonmatriculated Study Involving Course Registration

PROCESS STEPS		RESPONSIBILITY
1.	Contacts the Graduate Admissions Office to request an application for graduate nonmatriculated enrollment (note that this is a paper application, not available online).	Applicant
2.	Confirm eligibility requirements including: Department or program permitting nonmatriculating enrollment; GRE scores (if required by program); TOEFL scores (if the applicant is a non-native English speaker). Advises the applicant if admissions requirements are not met.	Graduate Admissions
3.	If eligibility requirements are met, forwards the application to the appropriate department or program.	Graduate Admissions
4.	Makes a decision on acceptance or not, informs the applicant and advises the Graduate Admissions Office.	Department
5.	For admitted nonmatriculating students, enters status in PeopleSoft and processes visa paperwork for international students.	Graduate Admissions
6.	Contacts department upon arrival to arrange for course attendance.  Note that this is done in person, and not in Axess.	Student

2.2 Visiting Researchers

PROCESS STEPS		RESPONSIBILITY
1.	Contacts the appropriate faculty members to determine interest and feasibility of appointment.	Applicant
2.	Confirms school/department policy related to visiting researcher appointments.	Faculty member
3.	Prepares and sends to the Graduate Admissions Office a letter of invitation including: exact dates of start and finish (the Registrar's Office MUST be notified if the dates of attendance change); the tuition fees per quarter, as well as the cost of health insurance, and; signatures of BOTH the sponsoring faculty member and department chair. A sample template for this letter is available on the Registrar’s web site (Stanford access only).	Department
4.	Receives from the applicant and forwards to the Graduate Admissions Office the following: A completed Bio-Demographic form available from the Registrar’s Office web site. Transcripts of current graduate work (if applicable). If the applicant is not currently enrolled elsewhere, the sponsoring faculty member provides a letter justifying the reason why a nonmatriculated student should conduct graduate-level research at Stanford; Undergraduate transcripts with degree conferral posted or a copy of a degree certification or diploma.	Department
5.	For international applicants, receives from the applicant and forwards to the Graduate Admissions Office: Copy of the passport If Visiting Researcher is requesting J-2 visas for dependent: copy of the dependent passport, date of birth, place of birth. See additional description in GAP 2.2, Requirements for New International Students.	Department
6.	Upon verification of the documentation and approval, activates the student’s record in PeopleSoft SA and provides the Empl ID # to the department.	Graduate Admissions
7.	Coordinates necessary visa certification requests with the Bechtel Center, see GAP 2.2, Requirements for New International Students.	Department

 

 

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