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Stanford
Department of Philosophy
School of Humanities and Sciences

Regulations for Visiting Scholars and Visiting Students

Visiting Scholars

Philosophy Faculty may sponsor non-Stanford-affiliated professors or other qualified individuals — who are employed or appointed at another institution or organization — to carry out research with the department for a defined period of time. Visiting Scholar appointments range from a few months to one year with the possibility of renewal.  

Criteria for Visiting Scholar Appointments

  1. The individual must be visiting from, and have an ongoing affiliation with, an outside academic or research institution or organization.  The individual must have leave from the academic or research institution where he/she holds an appointment which will not expire prior to expiration of the Stanford appointment.
  2. The individual must have a doctoral degree or recognized research-related expertise in his or her field.
  3. The individual must have a source of financial support from outside Stanford University (Visiting Scholar appointments do not provide any Stanford salary).
  4. The visitor must be proficient in English.

        Please note: all requirements must be fulfilled. 

Examples of Visiting Scholar Appointments

  • Faculty from other academic institutions who are invited to Stanford on an unpaid basis during a period of  sabbatical at their home institution.
  • Qualified personnel from industry, government or other organizations (such as research institutes), including qualified retirees from those institutions, who wish to visit Stanford on an unpaid basis.

NOTES: Anyone who wishes to pursue such appointment with the Department of Philosophy must first request a faculty member to sponsor them.  The appointment would then need to be approved by the Stanford School of Humanities & Sciences (H&S) Dean's Office.

Visit the DoR Office to learn more about becoming a visiting scholar

Check out the Bechtel International Center at Stanford for visa questions and more

For more information about being a Visiting Scholar at the Stanford Department of Philosophy, please contact lmfagan [at] stanford.edu (Linda Fagan.)

Visiting Students

Exchange Scholars

Stanford University participates in a limited number of exchange programs at the graduate level, permitting enrolled Stanford graduate students to register for courses at other participating universities, and permitting graduate students at those universities to register for courses at Stanford.

The participating institutions are Brown University, University of California at Berkeley, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Stanford University (School of Humanities and Sciences), University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

Find more information about the exchange scholar program

Visiting Student Researchers

Program Overview

PhD students at the dissertation stage from other universities are welcome to apply as Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) at Stanford. As a VSR, you'll conduct research under the supervision of a Stanford faculty member while remaining enrolled in your home institution's graduate program.

VSR Program Details

Learn more about VSR Fees, Responsibilities, Restrictions, and Privileges. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about your obligations and benefits as a VSR.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Currently enrolled in a PhD program at another university; preferably at the dissertation stage of your degree.
  • Invited by a Stanford faculty member.
  • Evidence of sufficient funding to cover living expenses, health insurance, and VSR fees (if accepted). Stanford does not provide any funding. 
  • International VSRs are required to provide TOEFL scores high enough to meet the visa requirement.

VSR Benefits & Limitations

What's Included
  • Library access
  • Stanford ID Card
  • Stanford email account

How to Apply

  1. Find a faculty sponsor — Identify a Stanford faculty member willing to supervise your research.
  2. Contact the graduate student services officer — Once you have faculty sponsorship, they'll guide you through the application process.

For more information about being an Exchange Scholar or Visiting Student Researcher in the Stanford Department of Philosophy, please contact the graduate student services officer. 

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