For any questions about the Scholars At Risk program at Yale, please contact Nathan Camp in the Office of International Affairs.
Scholars at Risk
About Yale’s Scholars at Risk program
Yale regularly welcomes a limited number of international scholars, writers, artists, and practitioners who can no longer safely live and work in their previous location. Through the Scholars at Risk program, Yale provides a temporary professional appointment and a welcoming home community to these individuals and their dependents while helping them explore future opportunities. At-risk artists, scholars, and practitioners may be fleeing directly from unsafe conditions or may have been previously displaced from their original country and are still searching for a permanent home.
Yale considers nominated scholars based on various factors and gives priority to at-risk scholars whose professional skills align with the interests of our community. The primary host department assumes the lead in the scholar’s professional and personal guidance and often contributes to the visiting scholar’s financial support. Appointments are for a maximum length of two years.
Nominations will be treated in confidence, bearing in mind the risks the scholar, artist, or practitioner is currently facing or may expect to face in the future.
Participating in the Scholars at Risk program
If you are a Yale faculty member or represent a Yale office and are interested in hosting an at-risk scholar or practitioner, please contact Nathan Camp in Office of International Affairs by email. The nomination deadline for the current cycle is December 1, 2025.
At-risk scholars seeking placement at higher education institutions in the United States are strongly encouraged to contact the Scholars At Risk Network and the Institute for International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund to maximize their opportunities for successful placement.
Hosting an at-risk scholar
Welcoming and hosting at-risk scholars at Yale is a collective process that requires the efforts of many individuals and offices across campus. Yale strives to coordinate and maximize these efforts. The faculty host and host department take the lead in providing support to the scholar, although various other offices provide assistance.
Services and opportunities for at-risk scholars, artists, or practitioners coming to Yale will vary from person to person and may include:
- Visa and travel assistance to allow scholars to take up their Yale appointments
- Assistance in finding housing, community networks, and public schooling for dependents
- Help with opening bank accounts
- Yale health benefits coverage
- Administrative support for on-boarding, payroll, information technology services, library access, and related resources
- Guidance on instructional, research, and training development
- Support in developing a career plan and networking for next steps
- Language support
- Participating in departmental and non-departmental seminars, workshops, and social gatherings
- Guest lecturing and special speaking or performance engagements
FAQs
Who qualifies as a ‘scholar’?
-For Yale Scholars at Risk, the term ‘scholar’ refers to professors, researchers, practitioners, artists, and journalists who face persecution or unsafe conditions in their current or previous location.
Can United States citizens or permanent residents apply for YSAR funding?
– No, citizens or permanent residents of the United States may not apply.
Can students apply for YSAR funding?
-No, the committee will not fund students or individuals looking to complete a degree at Yale.
Do I need a Ph.D. to be considered for funding?
-Scholars must have a terminal degree (e.g. Ph.D., MD, JD, etc.) or equivalent professional experience in their discipline. Typically, this means at least 7-10 years of related professional experience.
-Candidates in non-academic disciplines must demonstrate evidence of recognized excellence in their field.
How long do Yale Scholars at Risk positions last?
-Funding is typically offered to support a two-year appointment. In no case will YSAR funding extend beyond two years.
What do threatened scholars receive?
-Scholars receive the opportunity to continue or re-start their careers in a safe setting. All appointed scholars receive a salary and standard Yale benefits, including healthcare benefits. During their 1- to 2-year appointment, Yale faculty host(s) are available to provide guidance and help the scholar follow through on a professional plan. In addition, Yale Scholars at Risk staff arrange individual and group programming, and scholars can take advantage of Yale’s membership in international consortia for displaced scholars.
Services and opportunities may also include:
- Visa and travel assistance and relocation funds to allow scholars to take up their Yale appointments
- Assistance in finding housing, community networks, and public schooling for dependents
- Help with opening bank accounts
- Administrative support for on-boarding, payroll, information technology services, library access, and related resources
- Guidance on instructional, research, and training development
- Support in developing a career plan and networking for next steps
- Language support
- Participation in departmental and non-departmental seminars, workshops, and social gatherings
- Guest lecturing and special speaking or performance engagements.
What is not included?
-Yale Scholars at Risk does not supply research funding. After arriving at Yale, a scholar’s legal fees and other expenses associated with immigration processes or career searches are their own responsibility.
What are the benefits to Yale?
-Because Yale faculty and unit hosting is required, all visiting scholars arrive already matched and with a plan to contribute to the Yale community through some combination of teaching, research, and practice. Scholars are encouraged to engage with secondary units and other Yale and New Haven groups.
I’m not a faculty member at Yale, can I submit a nomination?
-No. To receive consideration for funding from the Yale Scholars at Risk committee, a candidate must be nominated by a Yale faculty member with a regular (non-visiting) appointment.
I know a candidate who meets the eligibility criteria (above), what else is needed?
-It is essential that potential Yale scholars can play a productive role while at Yale. Candidates must have at least one Yale faculty member host and one department/section/program/council eager to host the scholar. (See Roles section, below.)
I would like to host a threatened scholar but don’t have one in mind. Where can I find potential candidates?
-As a first step, contact scholarsatrisk@yale.edu to let us know of your interest. Yale has a working relationship with two organizations that vet and place scholars. Faculty members are encouraged to review current lists of candidates through IIE-Scholar Rescue Fund and Scholars at Risk Network. Note that Scholar Rescue Fund candidates include partial salary support from IIE. Contact scholarsatrisk@yale.edu with any questions related to such potential nominees.
How do I nominate a scholar for YSAR funding?
-Yale faculty members interested in nominating a candidate for funding should email scholarsatrisk@yale.edu for the nomination packet and with any questions.
What is the deadline for nominating scholars?
-December 1 is the nomination deadline for scholars arriving during the summer. Full application materials should be provided by this date. For emergency situations, contact scholarsatrisk@yale.edu to discuss options.
What factors does the Yale Scholars at Risk committee consider when making funding decisions?
-The primary factors are: the nominated scholar’s ‘fit’ on campus, including the number and array of Yale faculty members eager to receive them; and the degree of risk the scholar is facing in their current situation. Additionally, the committee considers: the strength of the professional plan to assist the scholar; the extent to which other entities, such as Yale departments, can offset the salary cost; and the academic, geographic, and demographic balance of scholars receiving YSAR funds.
My Yale department (school, etc.) wants to bring a threatened scholar and does not need YSAR funding. What should I do?
-Any Yale entity with sufficient funds may choose to hire a threatened scholar as they would any other position. Please notify YSAR staff for coordination purposes – scholarsatrisk@yale.edu
What roles do Yale faculty and host departments play in receiving threatened scholars?
-Yale faculty host:
A member of the Yale faculty must serve as primary faculty host. The primary faculty host may not be a visiting professor, a postdoctoral scholar, or have a short-term appointment. Secondary faculty hosts are encouraged.
Yale faculty host responsibilities include: nominate the candidate; develop a professional plan; help with the hiring process; welcome the scholar to campus; facilitate the execution of the professional plan; provide introductions across campus and outside Yale; provide personal and professional mentorship.
-Yale host department:
A Yale host unit with hiring authority must act as the primary department host. This may be a school’s dean’s office, an academic department, a MacMillan council, or an institute or section. Secondary host departments are welcome.
Yale host unit responsibilities include: provide faculty approval of the hire; arrange for office and/or lab space; contribute to scholar salary, if possible; facilitate hiring process as appropriate; incorporate scholar into teaching/research activities; help scholar secure housing near campus; include scholar in department events; provide access to IT and facilities. When possible, consider offsetting scholar’s professional development expenses (e.g. conference expenses, professional memberships, etc.).
Who pays for the scholar’s salary?
-Scholars are hired with an appropriate title and corresponding salary. Standard finge benefits apply. Typically, initial visa and relocation expenses are also covered as needed.
-The Yale Scholars at Risk committee controls central funds allocated by the President’s and Provost’s offices specifically for threatened scholars’ salaries. In no case will these funds be extended beyond two years.
– Yale host units able to contribute all or part of the cost of hosting a threatened scholar are strongly encouraged to do so, to enable Yale to welcome more scholars.
– Donor support for endowed funds to support the program are also welcome. To learn more about how you can contribute your support, please visit the Yale Campaign’s For Humanity website.
Who determines where the scholar goes after Yale?
-The threatened scholar must take responsibility for assessing the professional landscape and securing their next position.
-Faculty hosts are required to help hosted scholars develop a professional plan. In some cases, the most realistic next career step may be outside the scholar’s previous field, or outside academia altogether. Yale faculty can provide insight into job markets and trends in addition to introductions to help the scholar develop a network of opportunities.
-The Yale Scholars at Risk program also provides ongoing consultations and introductions to other individuals and resources that may help the scholar determine their best options.
I’m at Yale as a threatened scholar. What offices/services are available to me?
-Your faculty host(s) and host department(s) should be the first place you turn for advice and help, particularly regarding job responsibilities and professional development.
-The New University in Exile Consortium offers weekly seminars designed specifically to build community and support threatened scholars.
-The Office of International Students and Scholars has a wide array of resources, links, and events to help create community and address questions or concerns.
-The Center for Language Study offers assessments, classes, and resources at no cost to you, to help you improve your English skills.
-The Yale Scholars at Risk staff (scholarsatrisk@yale.edu) also can share with you a guide just for uprooted scholars at Yale and is eager to make sure you are supported and finding answers. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
When my time as a visiting scholar at Yale ends, can I transition to a permanent position or become a student?
-Current at-risk scholars hosted by Yale should be working hard to determine their next steps. Yale Scholars at Risk funding will not extend beyond two years, and chances of finding a permanent faculty position at Yale are typically very low. Please consult with colleagues in your field to determine and pursue options. Enrolling as a student may not be permitted by your visa status (contact OISS.yale.edu with questions about that) and is also dependent on being accepted from a highly competitive pool of applicants.
Can I nominate another threatened scholar I know for placement at Yale?
-No. Nominations must come from current permanent faculty members willing to host.
Yale is committed to welcoming Scholars at Risk to the university for many years to come. Donor support of the program is also welcome. To learn more about how you can contribute, please visit the Yale Campaign’s For Humanity website.