FAQ

Program Questions

Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) offers PhD, MA, MA/Teaching Credential, MS, MA/MBA, MA/MPP, and MA/JD programs. The PhD and Master's degrees are granted in more than twenty-five specializations and interdisciplinary programs. These specializations are grouped into three main Area Committees: Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CTE); Developmental and Psychological Studies (DAPS); Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Policy Studies (SHIPS).

In addition, the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) awards a Master’s of Arts in Education with the California Secondary Single Subject Teaching Credential or with the California Elementary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.

For more information on the programs that are offered at the Graduate School of Education, please visit the Programs & Degrees tab where you will find program information by degree.

The requirements for the PhD degree include core, methodology and area courses. However, because of the research focus and length of the doctoral program, students have more milestones to complete as part of their degree, including periodic review meetings. For more information on the requirements of the PhD degree, please see our Doctoral Handbook.

The requirements for the Master's degree include required core and methodology courses, area courses and pre-approved electives. Most programs also require a project or monograph. For more information on the requirements of the Master's degree, see our Master's Handbook.

No. All of our PhD and Master's programs are full-time programs.

There is one exception: our Learning Design and Technology (LDT) MS program accepts applications for part-time study which is offered through the Honors Co-op Program (HCP). Visit the Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) website for more information. If you wish to apply to LDT-HCP, the application process is the same as regular LDT applicant; simply check "yes" indicating you are applying as an HCP applicant on the LDT application. Please note that the program does not have a distance-learning or online component and must be completed in-person on the Stanford campus.

No. All of our degree programs in education are full-time, on-campus programs with no online or distance learning option.

However, if you are seeking professional development opportunities, please visit the Professional Learning page run by our Stanford EdCareers team. Any questions regarding these opportunities can be directed to the office or center running that particular course/program.

To view potential online, non-degree course options outside of Stanford GSE, we invite you to visit the Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) and/or Stanford Continuing Studies.

No. While we recommend that applicants familiarize themselves with faculty and their research prior to submitting the application, it is not a requirement to secure a Stanford GSE faculty advisor or to reach out to faculty before or as you apply to your program of interest, nor does speaking with a faculty member guarantee admission.

While some faculty members may already know that they will be available to take on new PhD students, some faculty are still planning for next year. In either case, please note that many factors are considered when selecting PhD students and all final admissions decisions are made by the admissions committee. Thus, it is difficult to predict which faculty members will ultimately accept students.

Feel free to search for faculty papers on Google Scholar or through Open Archive

Students interested in applying to the Joint Degree program with the Graduate School of Business (GSB) must apply via the Graduate School of Business online application. Information on applying and application requirements can be found on the GSB website.

No. Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree may apply directly to any of our doctoral programs.

Yes. We accept applicants from a wide-range of professional and educational backgrounds. If you have academic interests that overlap with the faculty at Stanford GSE and programs we offer, we invite you to consider applying. To get a sense of the community here at GSE, including the profile of our newest cohort, please review our Diversity Profile.

Applicants are not strictly required to have any work experience before applying to our programs. For some programs, however, relevant previous work experience is highly valued and admission is fairly rare for applicants who are lacking in that respect. Please check the website for the particular program(s) in which you might be interested. Most important, though, is the fit between your research interests/career plans and the program to which you are applying.

Please visit the EdCareers webpage and their outcomes page to see where and what our students are doing after their program has concluded.

Deadlines and Application Process Questions

The PhD and Master's program applications for 2025-2026 academic year entry are open. Apply here! Explore our graduate programs here, and refer to other important dates here.

Application deadlines are at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Technical glitches can occur in the final hours, so please do not wait until the last minute to submit your application materials. Deadlines for the 2025-26 academic year (all materials must be submitted by these dates, including test scores) are outlined below:

PhD: December 2, 2024
All PhD programs begin September 22, 2025

Master's: January 9, 2025
EDS, ICE/IEPA, LDT, POLS, and Joint MA/MPP programs begin September 22, 2025

Stanford Teacher Education Program (MA + Teaching Credential): Early January 2025
STEP programs begin June 23, 2025

Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars by October 2024 AND separately apply to the GSE graduate degree program by November 15, 2024 (at 11:59pm Pacific).

There is only one round of application deadlines; we do not have rolling admissions. Late applications cannot be accepted or reviewed.

*Applicants to the Joint Degree program with the Graduate School of Business should consult the Deadlines page of the GSB website for complete information on application deadlines and requirements.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars by October 9, 2024 AND separately apply to the GSE graduate degree program by November 15, 2024 (at 11:59pm Pacific). This is for all PhD and Master's applicants. Due to the much earlier than standard deadline for all other GSE applicants, please plan accordingly.

You can find all application requirements on the Application Requirements page of our website.

No. Unfortunately, we do not offer the option to take one-off courses and you are unable to apply or enroll in GSE courses without being an enrolled student at Stanford University.

To view course offerings outside of Stanford GSE, we encourage you to look into the Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) and Stanford Continuing Studies (SCS). Any questions regarding SCPD or SCS courses can be directed to the respective office.

If you are seeking professional development opportunities in the education field, please visit the Professional Learning page run by our Stanford EdCareers team. Any questions regarding these opportunities can be directed to the office or center running that particular course or program.

No. Out of fairness to other applicants, we do not allow application deadline extensions. Please instead plan to apply for a future cycle.

No. The GSE does not accept any revised documents after the application is submitted, so please be sure to review your statement of purpose, resume, and other documents very carefully before submitting your application.

There are three types of graduate application fee waivers:

GRE Fee Reduction-Based
Program Participation-Based
School-Based

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. Rounds for Fall 2024 will be open for applications starting in September 2024 and are scheduled as follows:

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, the fee waiver will automatically be applied to your account and you will not need to pay the application fee 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.

We do not have a formal interview process for applicants to our doctoral or Master's programs. However, it is up to the discretion of the faculty as to whether or not they would like to interview an applicant informally, which could happen at any time between application submission and the release of decision letters. Please note, though, that regardless of whether a faculty member does or does not reach out to you, it should not be taken as an indication of where you are in the process nor should it suggest the likelihood of admission.

No. Stanford GSE does not grant admission deferrals. If you cannot enroll in the starting term for which you are offered admission, you must reapply for a future year.

No. Applications are accepted only once a year. All Stanford GSE PhD and Master's programs begin in the autumn quarter, with the exception of STEP, which begins in the summer quarter.

No. We are not able to re-activate applications or supporting documents from previous applications. Re-applicants must follow the same application requirements as new applicants by submitting a new online application and new supporting documents.

No. Apply for a PhD program and answer "Yes" to the question on the application form that asks you if you would like to be considered for a Master’s program. If you answer yes, you may select the Master's program for which you would like to be considered from a drop-down box. Please also indicate in the Academic Interests section in which Master's program you would like to enroll.

Yes. Apply for a PhD program and answer "Yes" to the question on the application form that asks you if you would like to be considered for a master’s program (indicate the master's program for which you would like to be considered). Your application will be considered by both the doctoral and the master’s admissions committees if there is a corresponding master’s program to your proposed area of doctoral study.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide status updates or confirm receipt of application materials via email or phone call. Should we have any trouble accessing your application materials, we will contact you directly. Because all application materials are submitted electronically, you may check your status through the online application checklist.

Please note that your application status page may not be updated to "Complete" for at least 2-3 weeks as applications are manually completed. All materials are required by the application deadline (including letters of recommendation). While self-reported GRE and TOEFL scores are acceptable for application submission purposes, we must receive official scores before we can forward applications to the admissions committee for review. Applications submitted with uploaded unofficial transcripts are acceptable for review purposes.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the all application materials, including letters of recommendation and official test scores are submitted to by the published deadline.

Decisions are sent electronically to all applicants. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the decision-release timeline is as follows:

PhD programs: Mid-February 2025

Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP): Late February 2025

EDS, ICE/IEPA, LDT, POLS, and Joint MA/MPP programs: Early March 2025

Financial Aid Questions

While the GSE offers a limited number of Dean's Fellowships, GSE master's programs are largely self-funded. Most master’s students at Stanford GSE require financial support, funding their program with a variety of sources including fellowships, grants, external scholarships, student loans, and personal savings.

We realize that graduate education is a significant investment, and financing is one of the critical factors when considering a graduate program. Unfortunately, although the GSE provides some grant funding, we are unable to offer Dean's Fellowships to all admitted students nor meet every master's student’s full need with grant aid. All master's fellowship decisions are final and are made prior to releasing admissions decisions to help admitted students plan accordingly.

Yes. Incoming PhD students are automatically funded through a combination of stipends, fellowships and assistantships for five years. For more information, please review the Financing Your Education page of our website.

The funding that we provide our doctoral students covers the standard Cost of Attendance (COA) determined by Stanford University for a modest life as a graduate student. The GSE Tuition rates on the Stanford Registrar's website PLUS the non-tuition expenses on the Stanford Student Budget page of the Stanford Financial Aid Office (FAO) website constitute the COA utilized to determine the amount of PhD funding each year. For more information about doctoral student funding, please review the Financing Your Education section of our website.

PhD students: No. Incoming PhD students automatically receive a five-year guaranteed funding package.

*Master's students: No. However, if you wish to be considered for a Dean's Fellowship, please answer "Yes" to any questions on the application that ask you if you wish to be considered for one of our fellowships or for financial aid from Stanford.

*STEP students: Yes. Depending on the type of financial aid you wish to be considered for, you may have to submit a separate application form. Please visit the Financing STEP page for more information.

At the graduate level, university financial aid typically refers to student loans offered by Stanford’s central financial aid office. Most of our master’s students take out loans as part of their financial plan, such as:

Federal Direct Loans are direct subsidized and direct unsubsidized loans based on eligibility, with borrowing limits in place.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans allow students to borrow any loan amount up to the total student budget determined by Stanford, less any other resources.
Private (non-federal) loans, sometimes called alternative loans, are offered by many banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. Private loan programs may offer interest rates and terms that are competitive with those of federal loans.

To be considered for student loans: While any student may apply for private loans, federal loans are only available to U.S. domestic students and are not available to international students. Students seeking federal loans must apply through the central Stanford University Financial Aid Office by completing both a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Stanford University Graduate Loan Application. We encourage submitting these applications by March 1.

Yes.

PhD students: Yes. Incoming PhD students, including international students, automatically receive a five-year guaranteed funding package.

Master's students: Yes. International students are eligible for:

Dean's Fellowships
Other GSE funding options
Private (non-federal loans)
Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) program
External (non-Stanford) fellowships

For more information, please visit the Financing Your Master's Degree page of our website.

While international students are not eligible for U.S. federal loan programs, they may qualify for private/alternative loans. A list of private loans frequently used by Stanford students can be found on the Other Loans page of Stanford's Financial Aid website.

Information on external scholarships, fellowships, and an array of funding opportunities for international students can be found on the IIE Funding for U.S. Study website, this IIE publication, and this list of funding opportunities.

GRE Questions

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.

Applicants should plan to take the GRE and send their official GRE scores electronically to Stanford University at institution code 4704 no later than the following:

PhD Applicants: November 1 (in time for the December deadline)
Master's Applicants: December 8 (in time for the January deadline)
KHS Applicants: October 13 (in time for the November deadline)

While self-reported GRE scores are acceptable for application submission purposes, we must receive your official GRE scores before we can forward applications to the admissions committee for review.

All PhD and Master's programs are GRE optional for applicants applying to the 2025-2026 academic year.

GRE optional: this means that when you apply to your program, you will be able to submit GRE scores to be considered as part of your application, though they are not a requirement to be able to submit your application. You will be able to send official scores electronically via ETS and self-report your scores on your online application.

The GSE does not have a cutoff GRE score requirement. The evaluation of each applicant is based on all the materials in the file and is not exclusively based on test scores. We do not provide average GRE score information of previous applicants or current students.

Applicants should have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) send their scores electronically to Stanford University. Our university code is 4704. It is not necessary to indicate a department code. Self-reported scores are not official until Stanford receives the electronic record from ETS.

No, you do not need to take any GRE subject tests.

TOEFL Questions

TOEFL is required from all applicants whose first language is not English regardless of citizenship. Tests must be taken prior to the program’s application deadline and application submission. Self-reported scores should be recorded on the application.

Exception: Individuals who have completed (not only attended) a bachelor’s degree or a master's degree (or the equivalent of either degree) at a recognized institution where all instruction is provided in English. This does not apply if the courses were completed in a country where English is spoken, though not all courses were provided in English.

To request a TOEFL waiver, you must first submit your GSE application. You may then submit a TOEFL Waiver Request Form to the central Stanford Graduate Admissions Office (GAO). A new TOEFL Waiver Request Form is being created and will be available by late September on the GAO website.

To help you determine whether you are required to take the TOEFL, please follow our TOEFL flowchart.

In alignment with ETS policy, Stanford considers TOEFL scores to be valid for two years (counting back from the application deadline). No scores are valid beyond the date ETS will send or resend them to schools. Tests must be taken prior to application submission and the program application deadline.

What is the minimum TOEFL score required in order to be considered for admission? The minimum TOEFL scores required are 250 for the computer-based test, 600 for the paper-based test and 100 for the internet-based test.

Applicants should have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) send scores electronically to Stanford University. The university code is 4704. It is not necessary to indicate a department code. Self-reported scores are not official until Stanford receives the electronic record from ETS.

No. We do not accept IELTS scores in lieu of the TOEFL.

Letters of Recommendation and Transcripts Questions

Transcripts are required from every college and university you have attended for at least one academic year as a full-time student. When submitting your online application, transcripts should be uploaded to the application as a scanned copy or PDF; this is sufficient for the application review process. Please refrain from sending a secured PDF/transcript with a digital signature as our system cannot upload these properly. The best way to ensure we receive an upload-able document is for you to print out the secured transcript, scan it, and upload the scanned copy (not to exceed 10MB) as a PDF.

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

Only if admitted will we contact you with instructions on sending two copies of your official transcripts to our office. We cannot accept mailed, emailed or faxed copies of your transcripts during the application process. Please note: the instructions for sending transcripts on the online application and on the general Graduate Admissions Office website differ from this Stanford GSE requirement.

No. We only require you to upload PDFs of transcripts from postsecondary institutions you have attended as a full-time student for one academic year (i.e. three quarters or two semesters) or longer.

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 recommendation online. You can submit your request for letters of recommendation through the system without submitting the entire online application.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all three letters of recommendation are submitted through the system by the application deadline, so please work closely with your recommenders to remind them of the deadline.

No. Recommenders have only one option for submitting letters of recommendation: online via the online application. They will receive an email with a link to the system. Then they will be asked to answer a few questions and submit their letter electronically. We cannot accept paper, mailed, faxed or email, versions of the letters of recommendation.

Faculty or others who qualify to evaluate your potential for graduate study can serve as recommenders. At least one evaluation and letter should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years). Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work.

STEP Questions (Additional FAQs for STEP Applicants Only)

Additional forms are required to apply to STEP and can be found at STEP Elementary website and STEP Secondary website.

STEP essay: You are required to write a STEP-specific essay responding to the STEP prompt. You can choose to write a single essay incorporating both the prompt on the online application and the STEP-specific prompt. One or both essays can be submitted electronically with your online application by uploading them into the personal statement section. If you chose to write two essays please combine them into one word document before uploading. Transcript Summary: In the online application there will be a section to upload additional documents. Use that upload feature to submit the summary online.

Successful applicants demonstrate an intellectual passion for their subject area, commitment to teach traditionally underserved populations, and an interest in issues of social justice. Applicants should also convey why STEP is a good fit for their goals and how they can contribute to the program.

We strongly encourage applicants to take the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) in their intended subject area as early as possible. All STEP candidates will be required to pass a minimum of two subtests in their subject area prior to starting STEP in June. California residents are expected to submit passing CBEST scores with their application. Out of state residents may take the CBEST in August after they are enrolled in STEP. The GRE exam is not required.

The California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) is a subject specific test required by the state of California. We urge applicants to take the test or at least sign up for the CSET before applying to STEP. Applications will be reviewed if candidates have not taken the exams or have not received their results by the application deadline. To begin the program in June, applicants must pass a minimum of two CSET subtests in their intended teaching subject. Candidates must ultimately pass all subtests to begin independent student teaching and be credentialed upon completion of the program. Note for out of state applicants: STEP organizes an open house in March for admitted STEP students only, the Friday before the CSET exam. If you are admitted to the STEP program, you will need to take the exam no later than March in California.

Applicants to STEP do not need teaching experience to apply. However, experience working with youth (i.e. tutoring, coaching, church groups) is strongly recommended.

Yes. California has reciprocity with most states and transferring the credential is usually a simple process. Check with the state where you will seek equivalency for their requirements.

Professors and people who have seen your work with youth are good choices for writing letters of recommendation. The letters should speak to your commitment to the profession, character, work ethic, and academic ability. It might also include why you would be a good fit for the STEP program.

The STEP program makes every effort to help students who require financial assistance to meet tuition and living expenses. Fellowships range between $2,000 and $30,000 per student. The fellowship application is part of the supplemental form in the online application and should be completed before you submit your online application. In addition to fellowships, students may also apply for loans. Stanford provides sufficient loan packages to cover the cost of attending the University, which is calculated based on tuition and living expenses. Several thousand dollars of loans are forgiven every year for STEP students who teach particular subject areas or in particular schools. You are strongly encouraged to consult the Stanford Financial Aid Office website and Stanford GSE’s Financial Aid section of our website for further information about loans and loan forgiveness programs.

STEP secondary consists of approximately 70 students in five subject areas: English, Mathematics, History/Social Science, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics) and World Languages (Spanish, Japanese, German, French, Mandarin). STEP elementary consists of approximately 25 students.

The vast majority of STEP students are offered teaching jobs when they graduate. STEP works closely with students in the spring quarter to create their resumes and prepare students for the interview process. Approximately 70% of students choose to teach in California.

Yes. Please contact Viviana Alcazar (valcazar@stanford.edu) who will be happy to put you in touch with a current student or alumni from the program.

For more information on STEP please visit https://ed.stanford.edu/step.

Please contact Viviana Alcazar, STEP Program Coordinator, at valcazar@stanford.edu.

International Students

Here at Stanford we have many opportunities for spouses, significant others and families of our students. Please see the following link for more information about resources available from the Bechtel International Center.
Spouses, Partners and Families

Applicants must obtain a certified English translation. All translations must be complete versions of the original records. Upload your transcripts with their accompanying translation as part of your application. Please see the Office of Graduate Admissions website regarding specific information about how to properly submit your international transcripts:
Transcripts (Academic Records)

Start dates are in mid-September. Please take a look at our Academic Calendar: Stanford Academic Calendar. International students can normally enter the country 30 days before the start of the school year.

Required academic credential information can be found:
International Academic Credentials

Employment options for F-1 and J-1 Visa holders can be found at:
Employment Options for International Students

Employment regulations and options for F-2 and J-2 Visa holders can be found at:
Finding Employment

Please see our Bechtel International Center website for a complete overview of the support for our International Students and their families!
I-Center

Admissions & Aid

Admissions & Aid

FAQ

Program Questions

Deadlines and Application Process Questions

Financial Aid Questions

GRE Questions

TOEFL Questions

Other Test Questions

Letters of Recommendation and Transcripts Questions

STEP Questions (Additional FAQs for STEP Applicants Only)

International Students

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FAQ

Program Questions

Deadlines and Application Process Questions

Financial Aid Questions

GRE Questions

TOEFL Questions

Other Test Questions

Letters of Recommendation and Transcripts Questions

STEP Questions (Additional FAQs for STEP Applicants Only)

International Students