Application FAQs

When will I be notified whether or not I have been accepted into the Physics Ph.D. program?

All applicants will be notified of their application status by March 1st.

What is the deadline for KHS Applicants? 

Students applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars must submit their KHS application by October 9th, 2024 at 1:00 pm, and their application for the Physics Ph.D. program by December 1st, 2024. 

Join dozens of Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as Knight-Hennessy Scholars(KHS). KHS admits up to 100 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 KHS's leadership program, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD 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 9, 2024. Learn more about KHS admission.

Can I apply for an application fee waiver?

We recognize that the costs of graduate applications may be difficult for some applicants.  Some applicants may qualify for an application fee waiver. For more information, please refer to the Graduate Admissions - Fee Waiver page.

Is the GRE required?

No. For the 2025-26 application cycle, both General GRE or Physics GRE scores will be accepted but are not a required component of a complete application.

What about Pass/No Record, Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail marks on my transcript due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

As we review applications now and in the future, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/No Record (or Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail) and other grading options during the unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruptions, whether those decisions were made by institutions or by individual students.  

Is the TOEFL required? How do I know if I am exempt?

The TOEFL exam is required for applicants whose first language is not English. It must be taken within the last 18 months. The TOEFL is waived for applicants who have received or will receive an international degree equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree from a university outside of the U.S. in which English is the only language of instruction.

Applicants with degrees from the U.S., Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales) are exempt from taking the TOEFL.

For more information, please refer to the Graduate Admissions GRE/TOEFL FAQ

What is the official code for reporting GRE/TOEFL scores?

When requesting official score reports, please use the Stanford University code: 4704

I am an international student applying to the Physics graduate program. Do I meet the minimum requirements to apply to Stanford University?

Please see International Academic Credentials Guidelines for minimum level of study required of applicants who wish to apply for graduate study at Stanford.

Are official transcripts required? What is considered an "official transcript" from my university or institution?

Stanford University requires official transcripts for all admitted students before matriculation.   Official transcripts at the time of application are preferred.  However, if obtaining official transcripts at the time of application is financially burdensome, unofficial transcripts uploaded with the application will be accepted for the purposes of applying, but official transcripts will be required for accepted students before matriculation.

For all accepted students, two sets of official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended for one year or more must be sent to Stanford.  Hard copy transcripts must be signed and sealed by the registrar or university official and mailed by the university to the Physics Department. If your institution sends electronic transcripts, they need to come directly from the college/university via a certified transcript service.  Please note that the secure electronic certified transcript must be printable.  Check with the registrar's office of your college/university to see if they provide transcripts via a certified electronic transcript service.

Is it possible to update my application after I have already submitted?

The Physics Admissions team cannot amend applications after they have been submitted. Please understand that once you have submitted your application, additional information cannot be added.

Can my recommenders still submit their letters after the application has closed?

Yes. Recommenders are not limited to the December 16th deadline. As long as you have submitted your application before the deadline, recommendation letters that are submitted after will continue to be attached to your application. Please keep in mind that our application review process begins immediately after the application closes and it is best to have all of your recommenders submit their letters on or before the deadline.

There is a checklist function showing the completed tasks of my application. I submitted all the required materials for the application, why does it not show any completed checkmarks?

The Physics Department does not use the checklist function in the Stanford application system. Please do not contact our office and ask us to confirm that your file is complete. If you are missing any necessary materials, we will contact you via email in early January or February.