Rice University welcomes visiting students who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree to apply to take courses during Summer Sessions 2025. Visiting undergraduates who wish to take courses during the fall/spring semesters should contact the Office of Admission.

How do I apply?

STEP 1

Find a course you want to take for credit on the Summer 2025 Courses page. 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.

Please note that applicants are required to provide a Dean of Students Recommendation as a part of the application. You will be asked to provide relevant contact information for your recommender within the application.

Upload all of the required forms to your application:

1. Financial Responsibility
2. Release and Hold Harmless Agreement (if under 18 years old)
3. Proof of Meningococcal Vaccination Record or Waiver (if under 22 years old and requesting to take courses on campus)

International students should be prepared to submit their international student documents, which include a copy of Passport, a copy of Visa Stamp, a copy of I-94, a copy of I-20/DS-2019 and the Office of the 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 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. Attending Rice University as a Visiting Undergraduate 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

Attend the course and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need to apply?

The deadlines to apply vary per summer block; they are listed on the Summer 2025 Academic Calendar. If you plan to take courses in multiples sessions, the deadline to apply would be the earliest session's deadline - you do not need to submit multiple applications.

Applicants should submit all required application materials, which includes official transcripts, the dean of student's recommendation form, the Financial Responsibility Agreement form, the Release and Hold Harmless Agreement and the meningococcal vaccination record or waiver (if applicable), by the application deadline.

When will I receive an admissions decision?

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 in to your online application to see if there are any updates to your application.

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 Undergraduates?

No. Rice does not offer housing to visiting students.

What is the cost of attending?

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 Undergraduates?

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

Is the college credit that I receive from completing the course transferrable to my university?

The courses completed at Rice may be transferable to another college/university. Each college/university sets its own requirements for transfer credit, and some restrict the transfer of hours completed as a part of a degree plan. You would need to inquire with your college/university to see if they would accept such credit toward your bachelor's degree, prior to submitting an application.

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

Students who wish to take classes without earning college credit may do so as a Visiting Auditor. Visiting Undergraduate 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 Summer 2025 Academic Calendar.

If I become a degree-seeking student at Rice after attending as a Visiting Undergraduate Student, will my credit hours apply toward the degree?

Credit hours earned as a Visiting Undergraduate student at Rice do not automatically apply toward a Rice degree program if a student becomes a degree-seeking undergraduate at Rice. In order for a degree-seeking undergraduate student at Rice to have courses taken as a Visiting Undergraduate count toward their Rice degree program, the student must petition the Committee on Examinations and Standing (EX&S).