If you’re aiming for a fully funded PhD at Stanford for the 2026 intake, great news: most Stanford PhD programs guarantee full financial support for admitted doctoral students (tuition + stipend + health fees/support) through a mix of fellowships, research/teaching assistantships, and University awards. This post explains who can apply, typical requirements, application deadlines, what funding usually covers, and a direct official link to start your application.
Who can apply?
- International and U.S. students are eligible each PhD program admits applicants worldwide.
- Eligibility specifics (e.g., required degrees, research background) depend on the department/program check the individual program page before applying.
What a “fully funded” Stanford PhD typically offers
All admitted PhD students in most departments receive a funding package that may include one or more of the following:
| Funding element | What it covers |
|---|---|
| University/departmental fellowships | Tuition and a stipend (no service expected) for part of the year. |
| Research Assistantship (RA) | Salary for research work on faculty projects + often tuition allowance. |
| Teaching Assistantship (TA) | Salary for teaching duties + tuition allowance. |
| External fellowships (e.g., Knight-Hennessy) | Large multi-year awards that may fully fund study and living costs. |
| Additional grants (research/travel) | Department or center grants for dissertation research/travel. |
Stanford’s policy: continuous 12-month funding for enrolled doctoral students in good standing for up to the first five years is typical (combination of the above sources).
Requirements common checklist (prepare these BEFORE applying)
- Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree transcripts (official when requested).
- Strong research statement / statement of purpose tailored to program & faculty.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) with research experience, publications (if any), and relevant work.
- 3 recommendation letters (varies by program but usually 3).
- GRE: required by some departments; many programs are optional or have dropped it check program page.
- English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) if your prior degree is not from an English-instruction institution check exemptions & minimum scores on program pages.
- Supplemental materials (e.g., writing samples, portfolios, code, publications) for some departments
Deadlines & timing (important)
Deadlines for PhD applications vary by school and department. For the Autumn 2026 intake, examples show application windows mostly in November–December 2025 (but some programs differ):
- Stanford Graduate Admissions central application open for 2026 entry. Submit by your program’s deadline (11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on that program’s deadline).
- School of Education (PhD): example deadline November 17, 2025.
- Computer Science (example): many CS PhD deadlines sit in early December 2025 (check CS page for exact dates per entry).
- Earth & Planetary Sciences example: December 5, 2025 for Autumn 2026 entry.
Action tip: identify your target program now and note its exact deadline (some departments close in mid-November; others in December). Submit at least a few days early to avoid timezone/payment glitches.
How to apply successfully step-by-step strategy
- Pick 2–4 target departments/faculty whose research closely matches yours. Tailor your statement of purpose to the faculty and labs you want to join.
- Confirm funding model on the department’s “financial support” page most PhD programs guarantee 5 years of support, but the exact mix (RA/TA/fellowship) is department-specific.
- Request strong letters early give recommenders your CV, research statement, and a deadline 3–4 weeks before the actual due date.
- Prepare tailored supplemental materials (writing samples, code, publications) that highlight research potential.
- Apply for external fellowships (e.g., Knight-Hennessy Scholars) in parallel these can be separate application processes with their own deadlines and substantially increase your funding & support network.
- Use the Graduate Financial Support (GFS) system info to understand assistantship/fellowship administration once admitted.
Quick checklist before you hit Submit
Application fee/payment method confirmed (or fee waiver requested if eligible).
Program page & exact deadline noted.
Statement of Purpose tailored to program & faculty.
CV + transcripts uploaded.
Recommenders confirmed; letters on schedule.
Supplemental materials ready (if applicable).
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