Prospective Student FAQs

Never has the Middlebury Institute felt more crucial as an institution. The pandemic is the kind of global crisis that inspired the creation of the Institute in 1955 and has drawn graduate students over the years to develop their skills and intellects to take on the world’s most intractable problems. We keep advancing through this crisis because we know the world will be in some measure better because our students and alumni are working to address this challenge and others of similar gravity.

Read stories of how current students, faculty, staff, and alumni are responding to the pandemic.

We are planning for various contingencies, including largely in-person instruction, largely remote instruction, and mixes of the two. Our decisions for fall 2020 will be made in light of evolving CDC guidance and recommendations and requirements of the federal, state, and local governments.

Whatever format we are in this fall, you will receive the hallmarks of a Middlebury Institute education: 

• Professional: your career development and success is our focus from your first day of classes.
• Experiential: our immersive approach allows you to apply practical skills in your field of study before you graduate.
• Relevant: we prepare you to engage the world’s greatest challenges and needs.

If we begin the fall semester on-site and you are not able to be here at the start of the semester, we will work with you to ensure you stay on track with your degree program.

If you have not applied yet, we encourage you to apply so you can get a clear picture of what scholarship funds are available to you from MIIS. Check out our scholarships page for more information on the types of scholarship available, including external scholarships. Take a look at our videos on financing your education (domestic and international student versions).

Contact your enrollment advisor with other finance questions.

Yes, deposit refunds are possible and can be worked out on a case-by-case basis using this form. Requests for a deposit refund must be made before July 6.

Deferrals to spring 2021 or fall 2021 are possible and can be worked out on a case-by-case basis using this form. If your deferral is approved, you will retain your scholarship. Your deposit won’t be refunded but applied to your new date of enrollment.

Language and Skills Test

If you request a deferral after you’ve been admitted to the MA in Translation; MA in Translation and Interpretation; MA in Conference Interpretation; or the Translation Specialization in the MA in Translation and Localization Management, faculty will need to re-review your Language and Skills Test results before a final decision on a deferral request can be made.

Language Studies

If you’ve been admitted to International Environmental Policy; International Education Management; MPA; International Policy and Development; International Trade and Economic Diplomacy; Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies; joint degrees; or Localization Management specialization in the MA in Translation and Localization Management, are pursuing a language of study in your program, and you defer to fall 2021, we need to re-evaluate your language level in March 2021 to determine if you require a language preparation program before you start your program.

If you are currently required to take a language preparation program for a fall 2020 start and you defer to fall 2021, you will have the same requirement, but you can request a re-evaluation if you improve your language skills before summer 2021.

We were online in the spring 2020 semester as part of our emergency response and are refining course delivery from this experience. Our faculty are adept at instructional design, hybrid (remote/in-person) instruction, and evaluating what works and what doesn’t in classrooms virtual or in-person.

You can learn more about our approach to remote instruction during our upcoming online discussion.

While the exact nature of these measures has not been finalized, they’ll include ways to ensure social distancing on campus; increased cleaning and disinfecting of academic and common spaces; protocols to respond to all circumstances; and a robust public information campaign.

Learn more about our health and wellness resources and health insurance options.

Depending on your question, please contact the following group:

• Financial aid and grants: watch the recording of our online discussion and contact finaid@miis.edu if you still have questions.
• Visas: watch the recording of our online discussion and contact isss@middlebury.edu if you still have questions.
• Student Life, Housing, Health, and Wellness: watch the recording of our online discussion and contact student.services@miis.edu if you still have questions.
• Applying: contact your enrollment advisor.