How to Apply

Applications are accepted from candidates who intend to pursue the Ph.D. degree. We don't have a MS degree program. Applications are submitted online with an application fee, paid by credit card.

The electronic application can be found on the Graduate Admissions page. The web-based application allows applicants to save entries and return several times for edits before submitting the application. The application fee is $125 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international applicants. Applicants who need financial assistance with the application fee are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver. Information on fee waivers is available on the Graduate Admissions website.

The Department of Chemistry welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

Application Requirements

A complete application includes the online application and the following supplementary materials:

  • three letters of recommendation (we value letters that speak to your lab experience and scientific creativity and potential to work independently to solve research problems)
  • statement of purpose (describe your research projects/skills/experience and specifically your research interests at Stanford; provide details and research group names)
  • TOEFL scores or IELTS Academic scores (minimum score of 108 for TOEFL or 8 for IELTS) for international applicants who are not from a country with English as an official language or do not have 2+ consecutive professional and educational experience using English
  • one uploaded unofficial transcript from each university you have attended for one year or longer (two official transcripts from each university you have attended for one year or longer, if you are admitted)
  • official GRE scores  (optional)

Test Scores

  • GRE: Applicants may take the general GRE exam in the autumn prior to applying, or earlier.  Per the statement above, all GREs are optional.
  • TOEFL/IELTS: English language proficiency is required. To have your application considered, we require minimum scores of 108 for TOEFL and 8 for IELTS. For more information, see the English Proficiency Requirements section below.

English Proficiency Requirements

1. *English proficiency test scores are not required for:

  • U.S. citizens and permanent residents
  • Applicants who self-declare their first language is English
  • Applicants who earned a U.S. (or international equivalent of a) bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a university where all instruction was conducted in English
  • Applicants with two or more consecutive years of professional or educational experience in English, in the past 10 years

2. We accept IELTS Academic scores as an equivalent substitute for TOEFL scores. 

3. To be considered for graduate study in the Chemistry Department, we require a minimum TOEFL score of 108 or a minimum IELTS score of 8. 

*Applicants who self-report that they meet any of the criteria listed under item #1 above at time of application are not required to submit English proficiency test scores. For those admitted and who accept the offer, Stanford Graduate Admissions will collect further documentation for meeting the English proficiency requirement as part of the academic eligibility review prior to matriculation. 

Deadline

The on-line application deadline is December 2, 2025 for an Autumn quarter 2026 start; required supporting materials may arrive after the deadline. It is to your advantage to have your application complete as close to the deadline as possible. Therefore, we strongly recommend you ask your letter writers to submit their reference letter by the application deadline.

Application Status

To check the status/activity of your application materials, please log into your application account. There you will find the most current status of all your application materials. You will also be able to send reminders to those recommenders who have not yet submitted letters of recommendation.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of the Department's decision as soon as possible after all supporting materials have been received, and in no instance later than March 15. Applicants receiving offers of admission must notify the Department of their decision to accept or decline the offer by April 15.

Start Your Application