The Graduate Affiliate Program offers Yale graduate and professional students the unique opportunity to participate in the social and academic life of Yale’s undergraduate colleges. The program is aimed at promoting community and mentorship, by partnering interested graduate students with one of Yale’s fourteen residential undergraduate colleges. In exchange for access to the colleges and meals in the dining halls, Graduate Affiliates (GAs) host social events, coordinate activities, and serve as invaluable mentors to undergraduates, particularly those interested in pursuing advanced degrees.
As members of their residential college community, all GAs are expected to work with their college’s Head of College, their Head GA, and college staff to plan and execute programs of mutual interest and benefit to undergraduate students. In addition to hosting at least one such event per semester, GAs are often responsible for serving as mentors in their college’s Mellon Forum programming, partnering with Yale College seniors who are in the midst of completing senior projects. In exchange, GAs typically receive special access to their college, two meals per week in that college’s dining hall, use of that college's facilities, and possible involvement in many college activities. However, each college has its own requirements and privileges, and those may change at the discretion of the college administration. You can find more information about a college's specific GA program by looking at individual colleges’ websites below.
Please note that the Graduate Affiliate program does not offer or coordinate residential opportunities for graduate students.
Application Process
Every fall, the Graduate Affiliate Program runs a competitive application process open to any Yale graduate student enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Application information is distributed by email in September, with specific dates and deadlines listed below. Applicants are not expected to reach out to individual colleges prior to or during the application process; however, they are able to rank their college preferences within the common application.
Each year, the number of open GA spots is far exceeded by the number of applications received. GAs are chosen by the individual college administrations based on the particular needs of the college each year. We strongly encourage applicants who do not receive a GA spot in a given year to consider re-applying for the program the following fall, as many of our current GAs re-applied once or more for the program.
In 2024-25 school year, GA applications will be released September 1 via email. A link to the application can also be found below beginning September 1. Applications are due without exception by 11:59 pm EDT on Friday, September 13, 2024.