Application Requirements for PhD, MA, MS

Complete and submit Stanford’s graduation application form. For reference only, here is a PDF sample of last year's application.

Coterm applicants (current Stanford undergraduates): please use the coterminal application. For more information on being a GSE coterm, visit this page: https://ed.stanford.edu/admissions/coterminal

The application fee is $125, is nonrefundable, and must be received by the application deadline.

Application fee waivers are reviewed when the graduate application opens in mid-September, and are available to GSE applicants in three ways:

1. GRE Fee Reduction Certificate-Based Waiver
2. Program Participation-Based Waiver
3. School-Based Waiver

GRE fee reduction certificate and program participation waivers are granted by Stanford's Central Graduation Admissions office. School-based waivers are granted by GSE admissions to applicants who do not qualify for the GRE fee reduction certificate or the program participation-based waiver. School-based waiver applications will be reviewed on a first-come basis. Preference is given to low-income, first generation domestic applicants. Acceptance or denial of your fee waiver application does not affect your likelihood of admission into a graduate program.

GSE Admissions reviews and releases our School-based fee waiver decisions in rounds, and decisions are sent after 12:00 PM (Pacific) the day of the fee waiver application deadline. The rounds are scheduled as follows for the 2025-2026 application cycle:

Round 1: September 13 - October 3 @ 12pm PDT (decisions released on October 4)
Round 2: October 4 - October 24 @ 12pm PDT (decisions released on October 25)
Round 3: October 25 - November 7 @ 12pm PDT (decisions released on November 8, last day for KHS Master's or PhD applicants)
Round 4: November 8 - November 21 @ 12pm PST (decisions released on November 22, last day for PhD applicants)
Round 5: November 22 - December 12 @ 12pm PST (decisions released on December 13

Round 6: December 13 - January 6 @ 12pm PST (decisions released on January 7, last day for Master's applicants) 

If your fee waiver application is approved you will receive a waiver code to enter on the payment page of your graduate admissions application.

If you do not receive a fee waiver, you are instructed to pay the $125 nonrefundable fee.

Your typed, single-spaced statement of purpose should be between one and two pages with 12-point font and regular, one-inch margins. Describe your reasons for applying, your preparation for this field of study, why our program is a good fit for you, your future career goals, and other aspects of your background and interests that might aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.

If you are applying to the doctoral program, you should include your research interests and the names of two or three faculty members whose work closely converges with yours, to identify potential advisors. DAPS applicants have a specific statement of purpose prompt; please review it below under the program-specific requirements section.

For master's applicants, focus on how your previous work, background, and/or academic experience informs your decision to apply to the program as well as how the program will impact your career goals.

Please keep a copy for your records.

What is a good statement of purpose?

Upload your resume or CV (whichever is most appropriate to your background) in the online application. There is no page limit, though we typically see resumes of one page with 12-point font and regular, one-inch margins.

In the online application, you will be asked to identify your recommenders and their email addresses. Please notify your recommenders that they will receive an email prompt to submit their letters online. You can submit your request for letters of recommendation through the system without submitting your entire application. Stanford GSE only accepts recommendations through the online application system, and cannot accept mailed, emailed, or faxed recommendations.

Your recommenders should be people who have supervised you in an academic, employment, or community service setting. We strongly recommend that at least one of these letters be from a university professor familiar with your academic work. Your letters should directly address your suitability for admission to a graduate program at Stanford GSE.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all three letters of recommendation are submitted through the application system by the application deadline. 

Guide for Recommenders

If you are writing a letter of recommendation for an applicant to Stanford GSE, please review our Guide for Recommenders to see what we are looking for in a strong letter or recommendation.

We require transcripts from every college and university you have attended for at least one academic year as a full-time student. Upload transcripts as scanned copies or PDFs (no larger than 10MB) when submitting the online application. Please refrain from uploading a secured PDF/transcript with a digital signature, as our system cannot upload these properly.

If you earned a degree at the institution from which you are submitting a transcript, please ensure that the degree conferred and the degree conferral date are clearly visible on the document. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will not have earned the degree by the time you submit your application, submit your most recent in-progress transcript.

If admitted, we will contact you with instructions for sending official transcripts. Note that the instructions for sending transcripts in the online application and on the Stanford Graduate Admissions Office website differ from this GSE requirement.

Study Abroad

If the transcript from your home institution reflects your study abroad coursework and grades, you do not need to submit original transcripts from your abroad institution.

Foreign Institutions

If your institution provides a transcript in a language other than English, we require that you submit a translation, either provided by the institution or a certified translator. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records.

If your transcript does not include your degree conferred and your degree conferral date, please submit a scanned copy of your diploma, a conferral statement, or a conferral document in addition to your transcript. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will not have earned the degree by the time you submit your application, submit your most recent in-progress transcript.

GSE will not require the GRE for admission for the 2025-2026 academic year. However, applicants will have the opportunity to submit GRE scores if you have taken the test and feel that your scores would enhance your application. Not submitting your GRE scores does not affect your application negatively in any way. If you wish to send scores, please follow the guidelines below.

• For applicants submitting optional GRE scores: We accept all scores that are still valid/reportable by ETS standards. If your scores are reportable you may send them electronically to Stanford University institution code 4704 (department code does not matter). Once you submit your application, your scores will be matched with your application. We cannot guarantee that official scores received after your program’s application deadline will be included in your application.

TOEFL Requirement

Stanford University requires the TOEFL from all applicants whose native language is not English. The GSE requires a minimum score of 100 ibT. The Test of Written English (TWE) is not required. Applicants who have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a one- or two-year master’s program (or equivalent) in the U.S. or at an institution at which English is the main language of instruction do not need to take the TOEFL. For more information on TOEFL requirements, please refer to the central Stanford Graduate Admissions website.

TOEFL Dates and Deadlines

You should plan to take the TOEFL and have the scores sent electronically to Stanford at institution code 4704 no later than the following dates:

• PhD applicants: November 1 (to meet the December 1 deadline)
• MA/MS applicants: December 13 (to meet the January 7 deadline)
• KHS-GSE applicants: October 15 (to meet the November 15 deadline)

In alignment with ETS policy, Stanford considers TOEFL scores to be valid for two years (counting back from the application deadline).

Do I need to take the TOEFL?

Please follow our TOEFL flowchart to determine if you are required to take the TOEFL.

TOEFL Waiver Request

If you have earned a degree from an institution in a country outside the U.S., Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, or the UK but the language of instruction was only English, then you may request a TOEFL waiver from Stanford's central Graduate Admissions Office. Because the central office needs up to 15 business days (three weeks) to review the request, then please plan to submit your GSE application 3 weeks BEFORE the application deadline. To request a TOEFL waiver, please see the instructions at the bottom of this page.

If approved, you do not need to take the TOEFL. If not approved, you need to take the TOEFL.

CTE: Elementary Education; Literacy, Language, and English Education; History/Social Science Education; Mathematics Education; Science Education; Teacher Education

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.
Writing sample: Not required.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

NOTE: The History/Social Science Education program will not admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

DAPS: Developmental and Psychological Sciences

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.
Writing sample: Not required.
Other program-specific requirement: DAPS Statement of Purpose must include the following (2,000 word maximum):

1. Describe your academic coursework (e.g., courses in math, statistics, computer science, data science, interview or ethnographic methods, etc.) that demonstrates you have potential to be successful in the research-focused DAPS strand. Also, add a short statement of why you believe these courses are relevant to your DAPS ambitions.
2. Describe any research experiences and papers you have authored/co-authored that demonstrate you have potential to be successful in the quantitative/qualitative-focused DAPS strand.
3. Describe any other academic, research or volunteering experiences (e.g., film projects, policy briefs, software design, teaching) that demonstrate your potential as a researcher.
4. Describe experiences that illustrate why you are applying to the graduate program in DAPS. These experiences should include academic, research, or professional experiences, and they may also include personal experiences that further demonstrate your commitment to this course of study.
5. Lastly, how do you see your interests and ideas connected to those of two or more current faculty members in the DAPS program?

LSTD: Learning Sciences and Technology Design 

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.
Writing sample: Not required.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

RILE: Race, Inequality, and Language in Education 

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.
Writing sample: Required. Please submit a piece of writing that helps us understand your perspectives on education as they relate to race, inequality, and/or language. The piece could include a blog post, an op-ed, a reflection on a lesson you have designed, an essay, or a more formal research paper. There is no minimum or maximum page limit requirement, however 1,000 to 5,000 words is preferred.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: Anthropology of Education

Interview: Not required.
Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: Economics of Education

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.
Writing sample: Not required.
Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Economics of Education supplemental application (page 13).

1. Please discuss a situation in which you approached a problem with data (preferably about education). Explain the problem you addressed and how you used your analytical and technical skills as well as your domain knowledge to understand the data and problem. You may also elaborate on potential theoretical applications and/or data-driven approaches if you have yet to carry one out. (1,500 characters maximum)
2. It is important we understand your current skills so we can better understand your needs should you be admitted to the program. On the application, you will be asked to fill out a skill level matrix. View the matrix here. If your answer is other than “degree” or “certified course,” please elaborate. (1,000 characters maximum)
3. How many years of experience do you have with statistical software/programming languages? Please list languages and experience. (for example: R—x years; Python—x years; Stata—x years, etc.)
4. Please identify a piece of empirical research/scholarship about education that represents the scholarship that you would like to learn to do. Why do you find this type of research valuable? We would prefer if you choose a sample of research or scholarship that was not written by one of our program faculty. (1500 characters maximum)

SHIPS: Education Data Science

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.
Writing sample: Required. Please submit a research-oriented writing sample, e.g., master's or honors thesis, senior or capstone research paper, a class research paper or proposal, or a study written in the context of your employment.
Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS EDS supplemental application (page 13).

1. Please briefly describe what your ideal PhD program would provide, given your academic and professional goals. (1500 characters maximum)
2. Please discuss a situation where you approached a problem with data (preferably about education). Explain the problem you addressed and how you used your analytical and technical skills as well as your domain knowledge to understand the data and problem. You may also elaborate on potential data-driven approaches if you have yet to carry one out. (1500 characters maximum)
3. It is important we understand your current skills so we can better understand your needs should you be admitted to the program. On the application, you will be asked to fill out a skill level matrix. View the matrix here. If your answer is other than “degree” or “certified course,” please elaborate. (1,000 characters maximum)
4. How many years of experience do you have with statistical software/programming languages? Please list languages and experience (for example: R—x years; Python—x years; Stata—x years, etc.).

SHIPS: Educational Linguistics

Interview: Not required
Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: Educational Policy

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.
Writing sample: Not required.
Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Educational Policy supplemental application (page 13).

1. Please discuss a situation in which you approached a problem with data (preferably about education). Explain the problem you addressed and how you used your analytical and technical skills as well as your domain knowledge to understand the data and problem. You may also elaborate on potential theoretical applications and/or data-driven approaches if you have yet to carry one out. (1,500 characters maximum)
2. It is important we understand your current skills so we can better understand your needs should you be admitted to the program. On the application, you will be asked to fill out a skill level matrix. View the matrix here. If your answer is other than “degree” or “certified course,” please elaborate. (1,000 characters maximum)
3. How many years of experience do you have with statistical software/programming languages? Please list languages and experience. (for example: R—x years; Python—x years; Stata—x years, etc.)
4. Please identify a piece of empirical research/scholarship about education that represents the scholarship that you would like to learn to do. Why do you find this type of research valuable? We would prefer if you choose a sample of research or scholarship that was not written by one of our program faculty. (1500 characters maximum)

SHIPS: Higher Education

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. 
Writing sample: Required. Applicants must submit a research-oriented writing sample, e.g., master's or honors thesis, senior or capstone research paper, a class research paper or proposal, or a study written in the context of your employment.
Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Higher Education supplemental application (page 13). 

1. Describe any research experiences or other scholarly work that illustrate your potential for doctoral training. (1500 characters maximum)
2. Describe how specific faculty, research, and curricular resources at Stanford and the GSE will help you accomplish your goals for doctoral training. (1500 characters maximum)
3. Describe how you envision contributing to the doctoral learning community at Stanford and the GSE. (1500 characters maximum)

SHIPS: History of Education

Interview: Not required
Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: International Comparative Education 

Interview: Not required
Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: Organizational Studies

This program will not admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

SHIPS: Philosophy of Education

This program will not admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

SHIPS: Sociology of Education

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. 
Writing sample: Required. Applicants must submit a research-oriented writing sample, e.g., master's or honors thesis, senior or capstone research paper, a class research paper or proposal, or a study written in the context of your employment.
Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Sociology of Education supplemental application (page 13). 

1. Describe any research experiences or other scholarly work that illustrate your potential for doctoral training. (1500 characters maximum)
2. Describe how specific faculty, research, and curricular resources at Stanford and the GSE will help you accomplish your goals for doctoral training. (1500 characters maximum)
3. Describe how you envision contributing to the doctoral learning community at Stanford and the GSE. (1500 characters maximum)

The CTE master's program will not admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Interview: Not required.
Writing sample: Not required.
Other program-specific requirements:

1. You will be asked to respond to these additional questions on the EDS supplemental application (page 13).
   • Please briefly describe what your ideal MS program would provide, given your academic and professional goals (1500 characters maximum).
   • Please describe a time you used data to better understand a problem (preferably related to education). How did you use your analytical and technical skills as well as your domain knowledge to frame the problem and consider solutions? You may also elaborate on potential data-driven approaches if you have yet to carry one out (1500 characters maximum).
   • It is important we understand your current skills so we can better understand your needs should you be admitted to the program. On the application, you will be asked to fill out a skill level matrix. View the matrix here. If your answer is other than “degree” or “certified course,” please elaborate. (1,000 characters maximum)
   • How many years of experience do you have with statistical software/programming languages? Please list statistical software/programming languages and experience separately (for example: R—x years; Python—x years; Stata—x years, etc.).
2. Students will need basic programming skills to enter most data science classes. As a result, basic programming experience or prior coursework in programming is required. Novices should consider taking EdX or Coursera courses before applying. The education data science program relies on R and Python programming languages.

Interview: Not required.
Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable.
Other program-specific requirement: None.

Interview: Not required.
Writing sample: Not required.
Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the LDT supplemental application (page 13).

1. Please briefly describe what your ideal master’s program would provide, given your academic and professional goals. (1,000 characters maximum)
2. What intrigues you about the design of digital tools for learning? (1,000 characters maximum)

Interview: Not required.
Writing sample: Required. Please submit a writing sample of no more than 10 typewritten pages. This may be a paper written for a course, a section of an undergraduate thesis, a report submitted in the context of your employment, or a piece you write in response to a current event or something you have read. This writing sample should show evidence of your ability to evaluate an issue or problem, use evidence, and offer an informed opinion or solution.
Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to this additional essay prompt on the POLS supplemental application (page 13): 

• Why POLS? Why Stanford? (2,500 characters maximum)