Brandeis’s Transitional Year Program (TYP) is an integral part of the University’s founding and enduring commitment to social justice. Founded in 1968, the TYP is a one-year academic program for students who have developed the skills for college success by practicing leadership in their life experiences. The TYP experience allows these students to learn about new possibilities for their lives, and to apply the focus, energy, tenacity, perseverance, and maturity previously devoted to prevailing in the face of personal challenges, to pursuing academic success.

The intelligent and talented students selected to participate in the TYP typically have not had access to Advanced Placement and honors courses in their previous schooling experiences. For this reason, the TYP guarantees small classes, rigorous academics, and strong academic support. The TYP also covers the costs for room, board, and tuition for these students, removing financial barriers to college access.

Once they enter the program, TYP students become part of the campus community, making many important contributions to campus life. Our collective hope and intent is that all students who complete the TYP stay at the University to complete their undergraduate careers, and then join our community of illustrious university alumni. 

Students who enter the TYP have a life-changing experience, and have their stories of success added to the TYP’s hundreds of living testimonies of true ambition, resilience, courage, and triumph.

For additional information on the TYP, download Commitment TYP, the Transitional Year Program's annual newsletter. Recent issues:

Spring 2007: From Great Beginnings (PDF)