.png){kind=small}
Visiting Scholars Year
Take the same first-year Cornerstone courses as Minerva undergraduates, learn from the same faculty, and become part of a global learning community—starting from anywhere in the world.
The Visiting Scholars Year (VSY) program offers a unique opportunity to engage with Minerva's distinctive educational model through the Cornerstone Curriculum Certificate. Through university-level coursework and a year-long Civic Project, students develop the skills and habits of mind that support success in academic, professional, and personal pursuits.
The program begins with at least one fully remote semester, allowing students to study from anywhere in the world while participating in Minerva's live, discussion-based classes and global learning community.
Visiting Scholars students take the same Cornerstone Curriculum courses as first-year Minerva undergraduate students, learn from the same faculty, and have access to many of the same academic resources and support systems. Students who demonstrate strong academic performance in their Fall semester may have the opportunity to join their cohort in San Francisco for the Spring semester of their first year.
From there, students continue alongside their peers on Minerva's global educational journey. Those who are invited to matriculate into the undergraduate degree program remain on track to graduate in four years with their cohort, and not behind their classmates in any way.
The Visiting Scholars program serves as a unique pathway to experience Minerva's academic model and community before committing to a full undergraduate degree.
Earn the Cornerstone Curriculum Certificate
Complete 34 academic units over two semesters
Take the same first-year Cornerstone courses as Minerva undergraduate students
Participate in live, discussion-based seminars on Minerva's virtual learning platform
Collaborate with a global community of students and faculty
Apply learning through a year-long Civic Project
Access coaching and talent development resources
Study remotely from anywhere in the world
Opportunity to join your cohort in San Francisco and continue into Minerva's undergraduate degree program
The Cornerstone Curriculum develops four core competencies that form the foundation of a Minerva education:
01
Think Critically
through Formal Analyses
02
Think Creatively
through Empirical Analyses
03
Communicate Effectively
through Multimodal Communications
04
Interact Effectively
through Complex Systems
Students learn transferable concepts and skills that can be applied across disciplines, careers, and real-world challenges.
Change this to: All courses are taught live on Minerva's virtual learning platform. Through discussion, debate, and collaborative problem-solving, students actively engage with the course material and one another.
The application process consists of three steps:
01
Share your background
and tell us about yourself.
02
Complete a series of online challenges
designed to help us understand how you think.
03
Highlight your achievements and experiences
both inside and outside the classroom.
Open to high school graduates, current university students, and university graduates, Visiting Scholars provides a rigorous introduction to Minerva's approach to learning and a strong foundation for future academic and professional success.
Total Program Cost:
Tuition for the 2026–27 academic year: $31,300 for two remote semesters
Students who successfully complete the eight Cornerstone courses and Civic Project earn the Cornerstone Curriculum Certificate.
Students who maintain high academic standards during their fall semester in the VSY program may be eligible to join their cohort in San Francisco during the spring semester of their first year. In San Francisco, students live in Minerva housing, participate in community programming and experiential learning opportunities, and fully integrate into the residential student experience alongside their cohort.
All students who successfully complete the full year-long VSY program will be invited to enroll in Minerva full-time and in-person beginning in their second year of study. Currently, students in their second year of study at Minerva are based in Tokyo, Japan.
