Rice University welcomes visiting students who have received their undergraduate degree or graduate degree from an accredited college or university and would like to receive college credit outside of a Rice degree program. Candidates must have attained an undergraduate or graduate degree with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B).

VPB students are welcome to apply during the fall and spring semesters as well as Summer Sessions.

Fall and Spring Application Instructions

STEP 1
Find a course (or courses) that you want to take for credit on courses.rice.edu (make sure to select the correct term before you search). You will include the course information in your application.

STEP 2
Complete the online application and submit it with the $100 application fee. If you have already started an application, you can return to it here.

Upload all of the required forms to your application:

1. Financial Responsibility
2. Proof of Meningococcal Vaccination Record or Waiver (if under 22 years old)

International students should be prepared to submit their international student documents which include copies of passport, visa, I-94, I-20/DS-2019, and the Office of International Students and Scholars Check-In Sheet. International students should also be prepared to meet English Language Proficiency Requirements as a part of their visiting student application.

STEP 3
Send your official college and university transcripts for all educational institutions that you have attended to Rice.

You may mail the documents to:

Rice University - Visiting Student Programs
Office of the Registrar - MS 57
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892

Or, the documents may be sent to us directly from your home institution. Please have them sent to visitingstudents@rice.edu. Official transcripts are typically processed within 3 business days upon receipt at our office. Please allow up to 5 business days for processing during peak periods.

STEP 4
After all required application materials have been received, and your application is complete, the Office of the Registrar will conduct a preliminary review of your application. Requested courses are then approved individually by the appropriate department chairs and instructors, dependent on course availability and the applicant’s qualifications (e.g. any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, etc.). Please allow up to 10 business days from the date that your application is complete for the review process. Applications received during peak periods should allow up to 15 business days for review. You can always log back into your Application Portal to see if there are any updates to your application.

STEP 5
If approved by the department, you will be contacted by email regarding your acceptance, confirming your registration, and completing the Visiting Student Orientation.

*Admission into this program does not constitute admission to Rice University. Separate applications are required for each semester a student wishes to attend.

STEP 6
After you have completed the Visiting Student Orientation and confirmed your registration, you will be registered for your course by the Office of the Registrar. At that time you will receive confirmation of your registration as well as information regarding Rice student systems by email. Make sure to review the visiting student guidelines.

Summer Sessions Application Instructions

STEP 1

Find a course (or courses) that you want to take for credit on courses.rice.edu (make sure to select the correct term before you search). You will include the course information in your application.

STEP 2

Complete the online application and submit it with the $75 application fee. If you have already started an application, you can return to it here.

Upload all of the required forms to your application:

1. Financial Responsibility
2. Proof of Meningococcal Vaccination Record or Waiver (if under 22 years old)

International students should be prepared to submit their international student documents including copies of passport, visa, I-94, I-20/DS-2019, and the Office of International Students and Scholars Check-In Sheet.

STEP 3

Send your official college and university transcripts for all educational institutions that you have attended to Rice.

You may mail the documents to:

Rice University - Summer Sessions
Office of the Registrar - MS 57
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892

Or, the documents may be sent to us directly from your home institution. Please have them sent to visitingstudents@rice.edu. Official transcripts are typically processed within 3 business days upon receipt at our office. Please allow up to 5 business days for processing during peak periods.

STEP 4

After all required application materials have been received, and your application is complete, the Office of the Registrar will conduct a review of your application. Requested courses are approved individually dependent on course availability and the applicant’s qualifications (e.g. any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, etc.). Please allow up to 5 business days from the date that your application is complete for the review process. Applications received during peak periods should allow up to 7 business days for review. You can always log back into your Application Portal to see if there are any updates to your application.

STEP 5

If approved, you will be contacted by email regarding your acceptance, confirming your registration, and completing the Visiting Student Orientation.

*Admission into this program does not constitute admission to Rice University. Courses are taken for credit, without the student being admitted to a degree program at Rice. Separate applications are required for each semester a student wishes to attend. Attending Rice University as a VPB student is not a means of entering a degree program.

STEP 6

After you have completed the Visiting Student Orientation and confirmed your registration, you will be registered for your course by the Office of the Registrar. At that time you will receive confirmation of your registration as well as information regarding Rice student systems by email. Make sure to review the visiting student guidelines.

STEP 7

Take the course and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I apply to be a Visiting Post Baccalaureate student?

The application opens in late October/early November for Spring applicants and in late March/early April for Fall applicants. The application for Summer Sessions opens in early December.

When is the application deadline to attend in the fall or spring?

The application deadline to apply for fall is August 1, and the deadline to apply for Spring is December 1. Applicants should submit all required application materials, which includes official transcripts, by the application deadline.

When is the application deadline to attend Summer Sessions?

Deadlines vary based on the session or block that a course is in. Deadlines for each session/block are listed on the Summer 2025 Academic Calendar. Applicants should submit all required application materials, which includes official transcripts, by the application deadline.

When will I receive an admissions decision?

Fall/Spring Applications

Please allow up to 10 business days from the date that your application is complete for the review process. Applications received during peak periods should allow up to 15 business days for review. You can always log back into your Application Portal to see if there are any updates to your application.

Summer Session Applications

Please allow up to 5 business days from the date that your application is complete for the review process. Applications received during peak periods should allow up to 7 business days for review. You can always log back into your Application Portal to see if there are any updates to your application.

Does a returning Visiting Post Baccalaureate student applying for another term need to re-submit all of the required documents again?

Separate applications are required for each semester a student wishes to attend, which includes the application and application fee. In most cases, returning students will not need to re-submit official transcripts, but they should contact our office to confirm upon submission of a new application. Returning prospective students should send an email to visitingstudents@rice.edu to confirm if official transcripts are needed.

Will the application fee be refunded if the course that I wish to take is full?

The application fee is non-refundable.

Does Rice offer housing to Visiting Post Baccalaureate Students?

No. Rice does not offer housing to visiting students.

What is the cost of attending?

Courses are taken for credit at the cost of full graduate tuition during the fall and spring semesters. Summer tuition is charged at a different rate. For information on tuition and fees, visit the Bursar's website.

Who do I contact if I have questions about my bill?

The Bursar's Office can answer questions regarding billing. They can be reached at bursar@rice.edu or 713-348-4946.

How do I pay my bill?

You will be able to pay your bill through ESTHER, Rice’s online student information system portal. Information about ESTHER will be sent to you upon admission. Payments may be made online via ESTHER by credit card or e-check. Payments made in person at the Bursar's Office can be made by check, debit card, or cash.

Does Rice offer financial aid to Visiting Post Baccalaureate students?

No. Rice does not offer financial aid or scholarships to visiting students.

What if I don't want college credit for the course I apply for?

Students who wish to take classes without earning college credit may do so as a Visiting Auditor. Visiting Post Baccalaureate students may not take courses as Pass/Fail.

Once I have been admitted, how can I register for a course?

Visiting students have their registration processed by the Office of the Registrar and you will receive email confirmation once your registration has been processed. Visiting students are not permitted to perform registration actions themselves.

How can I drop a course that I am registered for?

Visiting students must send a request to drop their course to visitingstudents@rice.edu to have their withdrawal processed by the Office of the Registrar. Visiting students are not permitted to perform registration actions themselves.

Visiting students must adhere to the registration and tuition refund deadlines that are outlined in the Academic Calendar.

If I become a degree-seeking graduate student at Rice after attending a Visiting Post Baccalaureate, will my credit hours apply toward the graduate degree?

Credit hours earned as a Visiting Post Baccalaureate student at Rice do not automatically apply toward a Rice degree program. In order for a graduate student at Rice to have courses taken as a Visiting Post Baccalaureate count toward their graduate degree program at Rice, the student must petition the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS).