Stanford
Student Services

Graduate Admission

Stanford is committed to creating an inclusive, accessible, diverse and equitable university for all of our community members. Citizenship and immigration status are not a condition of admission to Stanford.

Admission to Graduate Programs

The Office of Graduate Admissions administers university-wide policies and systems to process the application, admission, and matriculation of applicants into graduate programs.  For the purposes of this policy, “graduate programs” refers to:

  • All degree programs in the Graduate School of Education, School of Engineering, School of Humanities & Sciences, and Doerr School of Sustainability.
  • All degree programs in the School of Medicine except the MD program and the MS program in Physician Assistant Studies.

To be eligible for admission to graduate study, applicants must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Stanford, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing. Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency by submitting official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

A full listing of degree programs available on the application maintained by Graduate Admissions may be found on the Explore Programs page of the Graduate Admissions website. Out of the programs listed on this page, applicants may apply to no more than one program within an academic year (September to August). The only exception is within the Biosciences PhD programs, where applicants may apply for two programs within a single application. Violation of this policy will result in the administrative withdrawal of all subsequent applications submitted during the same academic year. The application fee will not be refunded for the withdrawn application(s).

Application deadlines and supplemental requirements vary by program. Each graduate program administers the review of applications, makes admission decisions, and issues offer letters to applicants, including offers of financial support.

Honors Cooperative Program

The Honors Cooperative Program (HCP) allows professionals to pursue graduate study on a part-time and/or remote basis through the Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD). HCP applicants are subject to the same admission requirements as full-time applicants, although application deadlines may differ. The availability of remote offerings varies by department; refer to the Stanford Online course catalog for current offerings.

Coterminal Degree Program

This program permits matriculated Stanford undergraduates to study for a Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) degree while completing their bachelor's degree(s) in the same or a different department. For eligibility requirements and application information, see Coterminal Master’s Degree: Application and Admission.

Admission to Professional Programs

For the purposes of this policy, “professional programs” refers to:

  • All degree programs in the Graduate School of Business and School of Law
  • The MD program and the MS program in Physician Assistant Studies in the School of Medicine

Business

Learn more about the admission process for the following degree programs in the Graduate School of Business:

Law

Learn more about the admission process for the following degree programs in the School of Law:

Medicine

Learn more about the admission process for the following degree programs in the School of Medicine:

Rescission

By applying for admission to Stanford University academic programs, applicants certify that the information they provide in their applications is complete, accurate, and their own work. As also noted in the application materials, Stanford reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission under certain circumstances, including (but not limited to):

  1. if there is a significant drop in academic performance, a failure to graduate (in the applicant's current program), or a failure to satisfy a prerequisite or condition of admission;
  2. if there has been a misrepresentation in the application process or a breach of any of the terms of the application process; or
  3. if the University learns that an individual has engaged in behavior prior to the first day of enrolled Stanford attendance that indicates a serious lack of judgment or integrity.

Indeed (and for example), Stanford may rescind an individual's admission at any time, including after attendance and after degree conferral, if it determines, for example, that an individual has been admitted to Stanford on the basis of having provided false information; has withheld requested information; or has engaged in behavior prior to the first day of enrolled Stanford attendance that indicates a serious lack of judgment or integrity.

The University reserves the right to require individuals to provide additional information (and/or authorization for the release of information) about any such matter, and to place a hold on registration and/or the conferral of a degree during the investigation into any such matter. Stanford also reserves the right in perpetuity to investigate the authenticity, accuracy, and authorship of materials submitted, information provided, and assertions made in connection with the application.

Similarly, Stanford University awards degrees on the basis of successful completion of all program requirements in accordance with Stanford's policies and procedures. The University reserves the right to rescind any degree or honors designation (even after conferral) if the program requirements have not been so completed, and to place a hold on issuing a degree during the investigation into any such matter.

For academic programs that require work authorization in the United States (such as to serve as a teaching assistant or research assistant), Stanford University reserves the right to rescind the admission and terminate the student status of any student who fails to timely obtain and maintain that work authorization status.