Visiting Educational Programs

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences welcomes visitors who are not compensated by UTHealth and students who are not enrolled in UTHealth educational programs to participate in an approved collaborative or educational training for a specific period of time.

Prospective visitors may apply under one of the following four categories:

CategoryDepartmental Application Fee
Observers Individuals who hold a high school or higher degree with an interest in a health care related field and are seeking to observe (i.e. only to shadow, watch, listen and learn; no hands-on activities allowed) UTHealth Houston including UT Physicians clinics - limited to two monthsCentral Fee: $100 US citizen/resident; $775 foreign national/non resident

Department Fee: $250 US citizen/resident; $500 foreign national/non resident
Professional Trainees Individuals who hold an undergraduate or higher degree with an interest in a health care related field and are seeking additional non-clinical hands-on training in research and health education, for educational purposes and/or professional development, for their own benefit; may observe clinical practices but cannot provide clinical care, cannot perform any patient care, cannot have any type of direct patient contact - limited to four months.
Central Fee: $100 US citizen/resident; $775 foreign national/non resident

Department Fee: $250 US citizen/resident; $500 foreign national/non resident
Visiting Student Trainees: Student enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree program at another institution of higher education, with an interest in a health care related field, who seeks an educational experience/training/shadowing/observing from UTHealth Houston faculty and staff, at UTHealth Houston facilities and/or UT Physicians Clinics.

The main purpose of the Visiting Student’s educational/training experience at UTHealth Houston must be related to their current degree program, with an interest in a health care related field and/or fulfill an educational requirement of the student’s home institution - limited to one year.
Central Fee: $0.00

Department Fee: $100
Visiting Scientists
Individual who holds a terminal degree, is employed and paid by another academic institution or entity and collaborates with UTHealth Houston faculty and staff. The main purpose is to participate in collaborative projects, conduct collaborative research, and other non-clinical hands-on activities - minimum appointment is 6 months; maximum initial appointment is 12 months
Central Fee: $5,000 US citizen/resident and foreign national

Department Fee: $250 US citizen/resident; $500 foreign national/non resident

In addition to Departmental Application Fees, an application processing fee ($750.00 USD if paid by money order or $775.00 USD if paid by wire transfer) will also be charged to all Foreign Observers and Foreign Professional Trainees. Please visit the Executive Vice President & Chief Academic page for specific details.

Please note that our application process does not apply to volunteers or postdoctoral research fellows.


How to Apply

This process is only for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Applications must be submitted at least 10 weeks in advance of the desired start date.

  1. Prospective visitors must first secure faculty sponsorship. Applicants are encouraged to identify faculty within the department who match their interests. The faculty sponsor will then alert our Visiting Educational Programs Coordinator to initiate the application process.
  2. Our coordinator will review the application criteria with the faculty sponsor and/or applicant to determine the appropriate category to apply under.
  3. The application must completed online. You will receive a link from the Visiting Education Programs Coordinator, prompting you to complete the application.
  4. Once completed, your application will then be sent for further processing.

Important Notice: A non-refundable application processing fee will be charged by the university to all Foreign Observers and Foreign Professional Trainees.

Click here for additional information on the program.