FAQ
About VaYU
VaYU is the world’s first university devoted to graduate education and research in Yoga outside of India where Yoga originated thousands of years ago.
The objectives of VaYU are threefold:
- Dissemination of Yoga education and practices deciphered from ancient Indian texts;
- Propagation of Evidence-based Yoga supported by Modern Scientific Research; and
- Preparing the working Professional and the seeker alike to reach their fullest potential in Yogic Practices allowing healthful functioning of the body and the mind.
VaYU main campus has multiple Yoga teaching studios, classrooms, a library, and Administration offices.
Address is: 15311 Pioneer Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650.
Academics
VaYU Online M.S. (Yoga) is a cohort-based program wherein all students take the same set of courses throughout the program in each semester. Students taking less than full load of courses is possible but discouraged, and may subsequently result in delayed graduation.
"Good Academic Standing" is 3.0 GPA and a minimum of a "B" grade in all courses in the previous semester. Any course below "B" grade may have to be repeated.
There is a high probability that your graduation will be delayed as you did not complete your term.
GPA is Grade Point average which is computed at the end of a semester. CGPA is cumulative GPA computed based on all the semesters that the student has registered for the Program to date.
Students completing a course in VaYU programs receive a letter grade as a measure of their performance. Each course is assigned a specific number of credits. Course instructors assign letter grades, which are then converted to quality points as shown in the table below
Grade Points Meaning Notes A 4 Excellent All courses except YMS 401. B 3 Good All courses except YMS 401. C 2 Fair All courses except YMS 401. D 1 Passing All courses except YMS 401. F 0 Failure All courses except YMS 401. S N/A Satisfactory Only for YMS 401 U N/A Unsatisfactory Only for YMS 401
To compute Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) we use the following formula.
Let Total Quality Points (TQP) be defined as below in semester ‘Sem’:
TQPSem=All courses attempted in that Semester(Quality Points× Course Credits)per Course where ‘Sem’ is Semester I, II, or III, for Master in Science (Yoga) program.
Grade Point Average in a semester for a student is computed based on the following formula: GPASem= TQPSemTotal number of Credits attempted during Semester 'Sem'
Let Cumulative Quality Points (CQP) be defined as below:
CQP=All courses taken to date at VAYU(Quality Points× Course Credits)per Course
Then Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is computed based on the formula: CGPA= CQP Total number of Credits of all courses to date at VAYU
At the end of a course, if the student is unable to complete their coursework in the time allocated due to extraordinary extenuating circumstances such as medical, death or bereavement, the student may be granted an Incomplete Grade ‘I’ by their course instructor. Incompletes cannot be carried to the following term beyond the appropriate Semester Break. Students not clearing the Incomplete will automatically receive an ‘F’ Grade and may have to repeat the course.
Graduation
VaYU Online M.S. (Yoga) Program is 4-semesters long. Students admitted in Fall complete the program in 21-months.
Students admitted in Spring complete the program in 24-months.
If you start in August (Fall) of Year 1, you will graduate in May (at the end of Spring) of Year 2.
If you start your program in the January (Spring) of Year 1, you will graduate in December (at the end of Fall) of Year 2.
Yes. A physical graduation ceremony will be held at our campus in Norwalk, CA.
International students
Yes. Please see the procedure to accept your degrees and English requirements. You may have to take TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE and attain a minimum score if your medium of instruction has not been in English during your highest degree attained
Applicants to M.S. (Yoga) program should have a minimum of a 4-year bachelor’s degree in any field of study from an US accredited college or university (institution of higher learning), or equivalent degree from another country. Applicants with a three-year degree will need to supplement their education by 1-year of additional college courses beyond their three-year degree for a total of 4-years of college.
If a student's degree is from another country other than USA, VaYU may require an evaluation of the International Student’s Transcripts and Degree Certificate from a foreign degree evaluator who is a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) www.naces.org. Ensure that the details are sent from the evaluation services agency directly to VaYU at apply@vayuusa.org. These evaluation services agencies serve education institutions, professional organizations, regulatory and legal entities, employers, and individuals who need accurate assessments. We recommend you to use Spantran (www.spantran.com) as we have had good experience with them and you do not need to send your originals but scanned electronic copies. We do not have any business association with Spantran, other than being a satisfied customer. We have also found them to be relatively not very expensive.
If the transcripts and/or degree certificate is in any other language than English, we mandate the above evaluation.
US resident students who studied their Bachelor’s degree in a medium other than English or have a Bachelor’s degree in another language from abroad, or those whose native language is not English have to demonstrate English proficiency. English proficiency can be demonstrated by taking TOEFL, IELTS or PTE exams which are offered by an organization unrelated to VaYU.
Note that the VaYU will only offer admission with official language scores meeting the minimum requirements outlined below.
- Minimum scores (all of these scores are valid for 2 years from the date of testing):
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based: 90
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based: 577
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 7.0
- Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic): 61
- VaYU does not accept the TOEFL MyBest Scores. Applicants must achieve a minimum of 90 on one exam date; exams will not be superscored.
- The language test requirement could be waived if the student have completed a bachelors or masters degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
Yes. PCP will be offered at our main campus in Norwalk (near Los Angeles). PCP would also be offered in many VaYU satellite campuses in North America and some cities in Asia such as our sister campus in Bengaluru, India or Singapore. Travel, Boarding and Lodging costs are borne by the student. During COVID times, PCP is being offered online.
Please check with us with specifics of your condition by emailing apply@vayuusa.org
No. The USIS does not allow international students at an online program to have F1 student visa.
Programs
During the first and the third semester, a week-long personal contact program or PCP will be offered to train students in physical aspects of yoga inclusive of Asanas (poses), Kriyas (unambiguous actions), Mudras (hand gestures), Pranayama (controlled breathing) and Meditation.
PCP will be offered at our main campus in Los Angeles. PCP would also be offered in many VaYU satellite campuses in North America and some cities in Asia such as our sister campus in Bengaluru, India or Singapore. Travel, Boarding and Lodging costs are borne by the student. During COVID times, PCP is conducted Online.
You learn in the confines of your own home, at your own time, asynchronously, through VaYU's innovative flipped classroom approach.
All you need is a computer with Internet connections. Every week, we will deliver course materials through our state-of-the-art online learning management web-portal based on Canvas LMS.
You will watch multimedia audio/videos from your professors, do your homework, and even take quizzes and exams at home. A 90-minute optional synchronous online faculty-students question and answer (Q & A) session per subject is available. Moderated on-line discussion forums with your classmates are provided and may be required for some courses.
No preparation is expected once you are admitted. Be prepared to learn and have fun. VaYU’s M.S. (Yoga) is a self-contained program. We will teach you everything you need to know.
Please refer to the School Catalog on Admissions page for details on refund policy for withdrawing from the program (Section 14).
Admissions
VaYU's Online Master of Science (Yoga) program for the Fall semester starts in August. Spring semester starts in January.
Whether you are a novice, run your own yoga center or work for one, a Yoga Therapist, a healthcare professional (physician, nurse, or physical/occupational therapist) or in the hospitality industry (massage therapists etc.) whether you are looking for career enhancement or a seeker serious enough to satisfy your curiosity, then M.S. (Yoga) is for you.
Applicants to the M.S. (Yoga) program should have a minimum of a 4-year bachelor’s degree in any field of study from a U.S.-accredited university or an equivalent degree from another country. Applicants with a 3-year degree from an international institution, along with an additional supplement of a minimum of 1 year’s worth of college-level courses for a total of 4 years, or an additional 3 years of work experience in for-profit or non-profit organizations, paid or unpaid, are also eligible.
Application is online at Admissions. You will have to upload your documents to complete your application
- Resume
- Unofficial transcripts/marks card and degree certificate scan from your 4-year Bachelor’s degree or the highest degree obtained. For applicants from North America unofficial documents are enough to make the admission decision, however, you need to have your university send it officially to VaYU before being admitted to the program. For International applicants VaYU needs Transcripts and Degree Certificates in English. Applicants with Degrees from outside of North America having difficulties in obtaining official copies should contact apply@vayuusa.org
- Statement of Purpose; and
One reference (either academic or professional) mailed directly from your Recommender to apply@vayuusa.org - If you are a foreign applicant you have to in addition send us
TOEFL scores if the medium of instruction of your 4-year degree or the highest degree was not English. - If your transcripts/marks card and degree certificate are not in English, we will require an evaluation of the International Student’s Transcripts and Degree Certificate from a foreign degree evaluator who is a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) www.naces.org. Ensure that the details are sent from the evaluation services agency directly to VaYU at apply@vayuusa.org. These evaluation services agencies serve education institutions, professional organizations, regulatory and legal entities, employers, and individuals who need accurate assessments. We recommend you to use Spantran (www.spantran.com) as we have had good experience with them and you do not need to send your originals but scanned electronic copies. We do not have any business association with Spantran, other than being a satisfied customer. We have also found them to be relatively affordable.
There is no application fee.
Once your online application is complete (all materials are uploaded and your references submitted), we take 72 hours to give you our decision.
VaYU MS (Yoga) is a 30 Credit Online Program of four semesters, each 16-weeks long. A cohort-based program (all students take the same courses throughout the program) is recommended. Students can take less than full load in which case the graduation will obviously be delayed. Students can choose either of the three specialization streams:
- Yoga Therapy: Course work requirement is 30 credits;
- Yoga Philosophy: Course work requirement is 30 credits; and
- Yoga Research: Course work 24 credits plus a semester-long 6 credit research project.
During the first and the third semester, a week-long personal contact program or PCP will be offered to train students in physical aspects of yoga inclusive of Asanas (poses), Kriyas (unambiguous actions), Mudras (hand gestures), Pranayama (controlled breathing) and Meditation. PCP will be offered at our main campus in Los Angeles. PCP would also be offered in many VaYU satellite campuses in North America and some cities in Asia such as our sister campus in Bengaluru, India or Singapore. During COVID times, the PCP has been shifted to an Online format.
We will require an evaluation of the International Student’s Transcripts and Degree Certificate from a foreign degree evaluator who is a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) www.naces.org. Ensure that the details are sent from the evaluation services agency directly to VaYU at apply@vayuusa.org.
These evaluation services agencies serve education institutions, professional organizations, regulatory and legal entities, employers, and individuals who need accurate assessments. We recommend you to use Spantran (www.spantran.com) as we have had good experience with them and you do not need to send your originals but scanned electronic copies. We do not have any business association with Spantran, other than being a satisfied customer. We have also found them to be relatively not very expensive.
Tution & Aid
VaYU makes this graduate education very affordable for you. For the latest tuition schedule see Tuition and Aid. Additional costs for the PCP may include travel, boarding and lodging to the VaYU PCP center. PCP is conducted twice during the program in the 13th week of the first and the third semester. A registration fee is levied each semester. Cost of books and materials are extra.
No. Currently, VaYU is not offering any scholarships. A very limited number of 'work study' opportunities are available to admitted students on a 'first come first serve' and need basis. Registered students should contact registrar@vayuusa.org.
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