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Stanford University, Stanford
Santa Clara, California | Estd in 1885 | Private University
THE Rank : 3 | QS Rank : 3
About Stanford University
Stanford University is a private university located in Stanford, USA. The university is the 2nd leading institution in the world and one of the top public universities in the U.S. Stanford University was established in 1885 and offers more than 200 graduate courses for students. A few popular Stanford University courses include chemistry, business administration, biology, law, finance, computer science, psychology, and more. The university accepts IELTS, TOEFL, SAT or ACT, and GRE for graduate programmes.
The university has seven schools or faculties with a Student-to-faculty ratio of 5:1. Stanford is home to 20 living Nobel Laureates and 16 additional laureates are deceased. Some of the recent Nobel Laureates are Carolyn Bertozzi (Chemistry, 2022), Guido Imbens (Economic Sciences, 2021), and Thomas Südhof (Medicine, 2013) among others.
Stanford University's acceptance rate stands at 4% approximately and the application deadline for undergraduate courses is 1st November, and Stanford MBA Round 2 application deadline is Jan 4th, 2024. The applicants need to submit an application fee of $90 along with other required documents. Stanford University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The institution has 4,660 international students currently enrolled in various academic programmes coming from more than 70 countries to study in the USA.
Stanford University's main campus is located on the San Francisco Peninsula which is spread over 8,180 acres. Nearly all undergraduates and more than 65% of graduate students reside in the campus residences of the university, and there are 2,145 rental units for faculty and staff. The Stanford campus is located in seven different governmental jurisdictions. There are 7,761 undergraduate and 9,565 graduate students studying on campus and making the most out of the campus facilities from academics to extracurriculars.
Stanford University Highlights
- Domestic: 6681
- International: 1368
Stanford University Ranking and Stats
Stanford University is ranked 5th in the QS World University Rankings, 4th in the QS WUR Ranking By Subject, and 2nd in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings of 2024. Times Higher Education has ranked the university 2nd in the World University Rankings of 2024 and the university is 3rd in the Best Global Universities Rankings by the U.S. News and World Report, 2024.
Stanford University has jumped one spot above being the 3rd best university in the world (THE, 2023), and is ahead of Harvard University (4th) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (3rd).
The subject-wise rankings given by the U.S. News and World Report are 1st in Chemistry and Mathematics; 2nd in Computer Science; 3rd in Biology and Biochemistry, Economics and Business, Physics, and Psychiatry/Psychology; 5th in Immunology; 7th in Surgery; 8th in Arts and Humanities among others. The University is also ranked 2nd in Engineering Programmes at the Doctorate level.
Parametric Score and Ranking 2023
Ranking by year
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Stanford University Courses
Stanford University is one of the leading universities and offers 67 majors in undergraduate and nearly 200 fields of study in Graduate programmes. Some popular Stanford University courses based on U.S. News and World Report Rankings are Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Human Biology, Arts and Humanities, and others.
Stanford University has seven schools or 7 main faculties which are Business, Earth, Education, Engineering, Humanities & Sciences, Law, and, Medicine. The University also offers free online courses across the fields of Health Medicine, Education, Engineering, and others.
Accreditation
Stanford University Affiliated Colleges
Stanford University Fees
| Courses | Duration | International Student | Local Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS(10 courses) | 4 years | ₹51.40 L/yr | ₹51.40 L/yr |
| B.A.(5 courses) | 4 years | ₹17.13 L - ₹51.40 L/yr | ₹17.13 L - ₹51.40 L/yr |
| B.A.(Hons)(1 courses) | 4 years | ₹51.40 L/yr | ₹51.40 L/yr |
Stanford University Cost Of Living
Stanford University's cost of living aggregates charges from various campus services such as tuition and academic fees, housing and dining, health insurance and services, student activities, and more. New Student Orientation Fee ($525) and the Document Fee ($250) are the one-time fees that will be included in the budgets of new students.
Is it expensive to study at Stanford University?
The international student coming to study at Stanford can expect to spend around $88,000 per academic year. Stanford University tuition fees are calculated based on the units per quarter for all the degree programs. The full-time enrolment is 12-20 units per quarter and the summer enrolment is 1-7 units per quarter for both UG and Graduate programmes.
The quarterly fee for full-time enrolment in the UG program is $20,577. The Stanford University MBA fees are $26,620 for the first academic year, and $25,650 for the second academic year. The estimated living expenses for Stanford students are mentioned in the table below.
Stanford University Cost of living for international students
Cost Item | Expenses for Academic Year (2023-24) in U.S. dollars |
Tuition and fees | 61,731 |
Housing and Food | 19,922 |
Student Fees Allowance | 2,205 |
Books and Supplies Allowance | 825 |
Personal Expenses Allowance | 3,150 |
Travel | Varies |
Total | 87,833 |
Stanford University Admission and Application
Stanford University admission criteria are becoming highly selective due to the rising number of applicants. The University’s acceptance rate for international students is only around 4%, which makes it extremely difficult to get into the university. International applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen degree programme before applying for admission. The applicants can apply online through the Common Application service.
How to Apply?
The applicants must follow the given steps to apply for admission at Stanford University.
Visit the official website of the university at stanford.edu.
Click on the Admission tab and a new page will open.
Select the degree programme of choice (UG or Graduate admissions).
Click on the Apply tab and select International Applicants.
After checking all the mentioned requirements, click on the link for the First-Year Applicants as the application process is the same for both.
Click on the Common Application link and create an account.
Login credentials will be sent via the registered email address of the applicant.
Use the credentials to log into the portal and fill out the application.
Pay the application fee and submit the form.
After submission of the application, the applicants will be sent an acknowledgment email with instructions on how to log into the Stanford portal to check the status of the application.
Application Fee
International applicants are required to pay the application fee of $90 for undergraduate studies. The fee is nonrefundable.
Request for application fee waiver
Stanford University offers fee waivers to students who have demonstrated financial need through a complete submitted application. The applicants can use the Common Application fee waiver guidelines to determine their eligibility. They may request a fee waiver by selecting 'Yes' to the Common App Fee Waiver question in the application.
Required Documents
Senior Secondary School (class 12th) Certificate.
Academic Transcripts (official).
ACT / SAT scores, if available or required by the programme (UG).
GRE scores if required by the programme (Graduate).
Letter of recommendation from two teachers who are well informed of the academic aptitude of the applicant.
Two personal essays (100 and 250 words each).
Proof of English proficiency as per the university/programme requirements.
Note: Stanford is test-optional for the 2023–24 application cycle and requires just one exam—either the ACT or the SAT. The Writing/Essay section is not required.
Institutional Codes of Stanford University
Tests | Codes |
ACT | 0434 |
SAT | 4704 |
TOEFL | 4704 |
Graduate Admissions
The professional schools of Graduate studies have separate admissions offices and applications.
The applicants can visit the official websites of their chosen schools or graduate programmes and follow the instructions and the documents required to complete the application process.
Each graduate programme has its own policy on GRE Test scores. If GRE scores are required by the selected program, the applicants must report their official scores directly to Stanford from ETS (GRE Code: 4704).
A three-year bachelor’s degree in any subject is not considered sufficient for graduate study at Stanford. The two-year master’s degree following the three-year bachelor’s degree from India is required.
Stanford University Scholarship
Stanford University Scholarships are offered only on the basis of financial needs and a limited amount of financial aid is available for international students. Students who wish to get assistance from the university must mention this on the admission application and the eligible individuals will be awarded assistance from institutional funds. In order to receive university scholarship funds, international students must obtain either a Social Security number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), the information about which is available on the website of Stanford's Bechtel International Center.
Students pursuing graduate programs at Stanford University can obtain financial assistance in the form of fellowships, assistantships, and program-specific grants. Some of the scholarships offered for international students in graduate studies at Stanford are mentioned below. International students can also apply for several other scholarships in the U.S.
Stanford Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship
AMA Medical Scholarship
Knight Hennessy Scholarship
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program
JN Tata Endowment Scholarship
Fulbright Scholarship
KC Mahindra Trust Scholarship
Stanford University Eligibility
The eligibility requirements for admission to the Graduate Studies at Stanford University may vary according to the academic programmes. The applicants can check their eligibility under their selected degree course. The primary criterion for UG admission to Stanford is academic excellence. There is no minimum GPA or test score required, rather applicants are assessed through their academic record or transcripts. In, simple terms the better applicants perform in their academics, the higher the chances of them getting into the university.
English Language Proficiency Requirements for Undergraduate Programme
Stanford University does not require any English proficiency exams for international applicants applying for the Undergraduate Programmes. Applicants may submit the scores for exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, etc. if they wish to but the university has no preferred proficiency exam. Although fluency in English is a prerequisite for admission to Stanford.
English Language Proficiency Requirements for Graduate Programme
Graduate applicants who do not have English as their first language may required to prove their proficiency in English through the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). The minimum scores required for various graduate programmes are mentioned in the table below.
Stanford University TOEFL Scores for Graduate Programmes
Graduate Programmes | Minimum Scores |
Doctoral Programmes (all) | 100 |
Master’s Programmes (except School of Engineering) | 100 |
School of Engineering | 89 |
Stanford University Campus Life
- Candidates who are interested to apply to have access to Stanford University facilities throughout their academic year. These facilities will improve Stanford University campus life and the students can check the university website for additional information.
- Food outlets include Alumni Café, SLACafé, Cardinal Café, Law School Café, Ray’s Grill, and more.
- Stanford University has around 800 student organizations for academics, media, publications, health and wellness, social awareness, and more.
- There are 42 sports clubs including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Climbing, Cycling, Dragon Boat, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Fly Fishing, and Golf.
Stanford University Campus Facilities
Boys Hostel
Students are assigned to one of eight neighborhoods. Each has a mix of traditional dorms, theme houses, Rowhouses, Greek housing, co-ops, and apartment-style residences to meet a variety of student preferences. And Frosh housing options for the 2022-2023 academic year include:
- Wilbur Hall East: Arroyo, Cedro, Junipero, Okada
- Wilbur Hall West: Otero, Rinconada, Soto, Trancos
- Stern Hall
- Crothers Hall
- Branner Hall
- Lantana Hall and Castaño Hall
- Florence Moore Hall
- Lagunita Court
- Governor’s Corner
The residences have dining meal plans and consider the students' dietary requirements.
Girls Hostel
Stanford University USA offers housing and dining facilities to the students, faculty and other members. All the apartments are provided with all essential amenities.
Library
Stanford University has many libraries like Cecil H. Green Library, Academy Hall (SRWC), Archive of Recorded Sound, Bowes Art & Architecture Library, Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections, Business Library, Classics Library, Cubberley Education Library, David Rumsey Map Center, and others. In order to address the intellectual curiosity of the wide variety of students the Stanford Libraries have created a dynamic network of materials, locations, and topic specialists. The possibilities for advancing and transforming academia are endless for students with over 12 million items, 50 topic specialists, 20 Stanford University campus libraries, and a wide range of services accessible. The library also offers workshops to students and there are great study spaces around the university to study.
Stanford University facilities at the library include
- Access & Privileges
- Borrow, renew, return
- Connect to e-resources
- Course reserves (SearchWorks)
- Interlibrary borrowing
- Print, copy, scan (The Hub)
- Accessibility
- Research Support
- Digital Collections and Online Exhibitions
- Articles
- eJournals
- EarthWorks
- Specialists
- Data services
Moot Court
The Marion Rice Kirkwood Memorial Competition, held each year between the Autumn and Winter semesters, is Stanford Law School's main moot court activity.
Classrooms
The classrooms at Stanford University use flexible audio-visual capability, which typically includes an AV control system, a projector, and a pull-down or automatic screen. In some cases, flat-screen displays are provided for quality. The classrooms have built-in microphones for a clear and sound experience.
Sports
Stanford University is very invested in the lives of its students and provides men's and women's sports respectively with many choices like Artistic Swimming, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Track and Field, Water Polo, Wrestling and more. Students can even join around 800 club sports for networking and socializing.
The ACSR is a recreational facility for students, faculty, and staff measuring 75,000 square feet. The Erickson Family Courts (three full-length basketball courts), seven squash courts, the Fencing Center, and a 3,600-square-foot studio are all part of the 11,000-square-foot fitness room with weight machines and cardio equipment.
Transport Facility
Stanford University campus life is easier to access as it aims to provide the best and most accessible transport to its students. Marguerite shuttle is free and open to the public – no ID is required. All buses are wheelchair-accessible and have bike racks. Students can even check out sustainable transport like Zipcars, Hertz Car Rentals, and Airport Shuttles at discounted rates for Stanford affiliates. There are other forms of transportation that the students can check on the official website- .stanford.edu for more information.
Physical Challenged Student
- Learning Center
- Note-taking services
- Oral tests
- Note-taking services
- Reader Services
- Special housing/ transportation
- Talking books
Cafeteria
Stanford cafés have convenient meal options from made-to-order meals to easy grab-n-go options. There are diverse menus prepared using seasonal, locally-sourced, and sustainable ingredients whenever possible. The many options available include vegan, vegetarian, allergen-friendly, kosher, and halal options are available.
The cafes are
- The Axe & Palm
- EVGR Pub & Beer Garden
- Coffee Bar @ the Clark Center
- The Med Café
- Forbes Family Cafe
- Olives at Bldg. 160
- Alumni Café
- SLACafé
- Cardinal Café
- Law School Café
- Ray’s Grill
- Verve Coffee Roasters
There are dining halls for students at different locations around the Stanford University campus like Arrillaga Family Dining Commons, Lakeside Dining, Wilbur Dining, Stern Dining, Branner Dining, Gerhard Casper Dining, Florence Moore Dining, Ricker Dining, Suites Dining Yost, Murray and EAST, EVGR Dining, Row (Self-Op) Dining, and, Co-Op Dining.
I.T Infrastructure
IT Infrastructure is responsible for the Stanford network (SUNet), as well as Stanford’s voice application services. The IT services provide are consistent and seamless to its thousands of users who study and work at the Stanford University campus’s main section. There are over one hundred sites across the Bay Area, greater California, and scattered locations throughout the United States and foreign countries.
Stanford University International Office Details
Stanford University is the second-best university in the world. Many students from around the world aspire to study at Stanford. The university invites international students with strong academic backgrounds and great potential. There are 4669 international students studying at the university which makes up 24% of the total student body (Fall, 2022). Out of these, 11% are undergraduate and 34% are graduate students.
Is it hard to get into Stanford University as an international student?
The Stanford University acceptance rate stands at approximately 4% which shows that the university’s admission process is highly selective and it is extremely difficult to get admission at Stanford but with great efforts and excellent academic records, international students can get into the university. International students can contact Stanford University at the given details.
Address: Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305–2004
Phone No. 650-723-2300
Email Address: new_intl_students@stanford.edu
Stanford University Gallery
Gallery
FAQ's
Stanford University enjoys the global reputation of being one of the top universities in the world. Along with that, Stanford University’s alumni are world-known personalities and have contributed to the global community in various ways. Some of the notable alumni include Larry Page, Sundar Pichai, Mukesh Ambani, and Reed Hastings among others.
To get admitted to the University of Stanford, students must fulfill the academic and English proficiency requirements of the university and the selected course of study.
The acceptance rate of Stanford is approximately 4%. The university has very long and selective admission criteria. International students applying for admission at Stanford must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement in order to get admitted to the university.
Both Harvard and Stanford are among the leading institutions of the world and are generally placed in the top 5 in most of the rankings. As per the QS, Harvard is ranked 4th while Stanford is ranked 5th; whereas THE has ranked Stanford 2nd and Harvard 4th in its 2024 rankings. Overall, both are renowned for their unparalleled academic excellence.
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