Visiting Fellows

SPURS is designed for mid-career professionals who hold positions of responsibility in public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit organizations concerned with urban, regional, and rural development. Successful candidates will have substantial backgrounds in fields as diverse as architecture, business, economics, engineering, geography, government, and sociology.

The principal requirements for admission are:

• an advanced degree or five or more years of work experience in a related field, or both;
• a strong command of English as shown by a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the internet-based test (or 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test); or a minimum IELTS score of 7.

Fellows may be admitted as Visiting Scholars or Research Fellows.

• Visiting Scholar: Fellows must be in possession of a Ph.D. or an equivalent advanced degree, and must have made distinguished contributions in fields that are relevant to the areas of study in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT.
• Research Fellows: Fellows with significant work experience may be admitted as Research Fellows. These Fellows are pursuing a non-degree program and do not take subjects for credit. This option applies to Fellows awarded support by selected U.S. government agencies, international organizations, or by their own governments.

SPURS applications are due by January 31 (approximately six months prior to the start of the academic year). Letters of recommendation from three references are also due by the same date. Applications may be accepted after this date on a case-by-case basis. Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions by April.

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open. 

A complete application requires:

• SPURS application form including educational and cultural background information, English language proficiency information, and funding sources;
• Written statements on your professional background, objectives for the fellowship year, and future professional goals;
• Current resume including dates of your work history and full name of all degrees received;
• Certified transcript of each university attended (excluding MIT);
• Three letters of recommendation from supervisors, professors, or other professional associates knowledgeable about your work, along with a reference report form for each letter. 

SPURS is designed for mid-career professionals who hold positions of responsibility in public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit organizations concerned with urban, regional, and rural development. Successful candidates will have substantial backgrounds in fields as diverse as architecture, business, economics, engineering, geography, government, and sociology. The principal requirements for admission are an advanced degree or five or more years of work experience in a related field, or both; and a strong command of English as shown by a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the internet-based test (or 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test) or minimum IELTS score of 7.

The Humphrey Fellowship application and selection process is completely independent of SPURS. To access the Humphrey Fellowship application and learn more about applying, please contact the U.S. Embassy (Public Affairs Section) or Binational Fulbright Commission in your country.

More information can be found on the Humphrey Fellowship Program site. 

All Fellows attend a weekly seminar series centered on U.S. and international development, the core component of the program. The seminar series brings distinguished scholars and practitioners to MIT to present, discuss and debate recent ideas and projects in the areas of development. 

As a Fellow and a professional at MIT, you will be able to participate as a listener in classes available to DUSP graduate students, and limited courses at Harvard. Some classes are restricted and may not be available to SPURS Fellows. Fellows should plan to take no more than 2 classes each semester in addition to the weekly seminar required by the program. You will not receive credits or grades for the classes you have attended; however, to gain most from the classes you attend, you should take part in the class discussions and complete all assignments.

The Humphrey Fellowship Program requires that all Humphrey Fellows conduct a professional affiliation at a U.S. institution (in a business, non-profit, or government sector) for a minimum of 30 working days. A professional affiliation in Boston allows flexibility in managing your time, though affiliations elsewhere in the country are possible. Fellows who would like to conduct their professional affiliation in a city other than Boston are advised to do this during January (MIT’s Independent Activities Period) or at the end of the spring term in May. SPURS Fellows are not required to conduct a professional affiliation, although it is a possibility that they may consider.

Fellows may live in MIT on-campus graduate housing if available or may find off-campus housing in the Boston area. Availability of MIT on-campus housing is limited and not guaranteed. It is the Fellow’s responsibility to secure housing, though the program staff assists in the housing search process. 

The MIT International Scholars Office (ISchO) facilitates the arrival and appointment of international visitors who are invited to campus to teach, conduct research, observe, and collaborate.

ISchO offers a wealth of resources and administers visa sponsorship. 

Program Fees and Living Expenses
The program fee for the academic year 2025-2026 is $16,600. In addition to the program fee, Fellows must support their living expenses, such as housing, food, transportation, and health insurance. Current living expenses are estimated at $3000 per month for a single Fellow and health insurance for a single Fellow is estimated at an additional $5,500 per year.

Funding
SPURS does not provide any form of fellowship. All Fellows are expected to be fully funded by outside sources such as their government, employer, university, foundation, or other relevant organization. Personal savings used toward meeting the J-1 visa funding requirement may account for no more than 10% of the total funding.

If you have additional questions or need clarification on any of the FAQ, please email spurs-program@mit.edu.