Application Information
Application submissions are currently closed. Check back in September 2023 for AY2024-2025.
If you have additional questions, contact gs-admissions@stanford.edu. More university information and application system questions can be found on Stanford's Graduate Admissions website and the online application.
In accordance with Stanford's Winter closure, the EPS department will be closed starting December 21, 2022 to reopen January 4, 2023. Email access to staff will not be available during this time so plan accordingly.
The following items must be received in the electronic application:
- Online application
- Application fee
- Statement of purpose
- Supplemental questions (Answered in the online application)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Scanned copy of official transcript(s)
- TOEFL, if applicable
Stanford's Graduate Application
Start your application online on Stanford's graduate application page here.
Writing your Statement of Purpose
The Statement of Purpose in a graduate application should provide specifics regarding the scientific questions and research topics you would like to pursue. As such, the statement is more like a research proposal than a general personal narrative. Details of your personal background and education can then strengthen your proposal as part of explaining your research focus and why you feel you are in a good position to attack the scientific questions that interest you.
You may not feel experienced enough now to know exactly what questions you would like to pursue. That is fine. Your research topic will evolve in graduate school as you learn more, interact with your colleagues, and explore new opportunities. Your Statement of Purpose does not lock you into a particular question. Rather, it provides information regarding how you think, the types of questions that interest you, the strength of your background to address those questions, and whether our program has the resources to be a suitable place to pursue your research.
These are guiding questions and themes to consider as you write your Statement of Purpose. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Assistant Director of Student Services, Anjani Varma.
Contacting potential faculty advisors
Applying to a doctoral program—particularly a program as broad as Earth and Planetary Sciences—is not the same as applying to professional schools with a fixed curriculum, like medical or law school, where applicants can be uniformly ranked and the top fraction admitted. Instead, admittance is dependent on an appropriate faculty mentor being available. With this in mind, reviewing the list of current faculty and identifying the most appropriate mentors for your proposed research is essential. At the same time, the interests of individual faculty both may be broader than you realize and can evolve through time, so you would not want to disqualify yourself inappropriately either. The best approach is to contact individual faculty prior to submitting your application in order to discuss your interests and the possibility of conducting research with them. Do not rely on faculty finding you strictly on the strength of a submitted application. Your interactions with faculty will also inform your understanding of our program and the expectations of different research groups.
Supplemental Questions
In addition to the standard application materials, e.g., statement of purpose, letters of recommendation and GPA etc., the Earth and Planetary Sciences graduate program requires a supplement to assess your academic achievement and potential. All applicants are required to answer the supplemental questions in the online application. A reference to the supplemental questions can be found on the Admissions FAQ page.
Official Transcripts
Hard copies of transcripts are not required to apply. Upload a scanned copy of each official transcripts to your application. Do not upload an unofficial transcript printed from your university website. Each transcript should be uploaded as a single PDF.
If you are unable to upload a scanned copy of your official transcript you may send in an official transcript by mail or by email using a credited e-transcript service. E-transcripts should be sent to gs-admissions@stanford.edu.
Information about required exams
GRE - GRE scores are not required to apply and will not be reviewed.
TOEFL - Applicants whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL scores from a test taken within the last eighteen months. Exemptions are granted for applicants who have earned a U.S. bachelor’s or master’s degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association in the United States, or equivalent of either degree from a university of recognized standing in countries where all instruction is provided in English. Please see the Graduate Admissions Office website for additional information about required exams and the TOEFL waiver.
Application Status
Due to the high volume of applications we cannot respond to individual inquiries about the status of documents submitted. A comprehensive review of all application materials will begin after the deadline. You will be contacted directly for any missing materials.
Funding
Graduate students admitted to EPS receive substantial financial aid (including tuition) from combinations of departmental fellowships, teaching or research assistantships, and other sources (including external fellowships). Admitted students are automatically considered for funding. There are no additional forms or materials to be submitted beyond the regular application. The department's funding package covers up to 10 units of tuition and provides a quarterly salary. Please note on your application if you are receiving other fellowships, government funding, or company financial support.
External Funding - Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply for external fellowships, such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, or Department of Defense fellowships. If the external fellowship is not sufficient to cover the standard department support level, a supplement will be provided by the University, the department or a research advisor. These fellowships strongly enhance your resume for your future career.
Funding Opportunity: Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program - Application deadline October 12, 2022
Join dozens of Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS).
KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your studies at Stanford.
Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment.
If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 12, 2022. Learn more about KHS admission.
