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Find the official policies that govern our student and academic community.
Stanford guarantees up to five years of continuous funding for PhD and DMA students in good academic standing through a combination of fellowships and assistantships, ensuring financial support for degree completion without requiring students to obtain external funding or self-fund.
Stanford University provides continuous 12-month funding for all enrolled doctoral students in PhD and DMA programs, in good academic standing, for up to the first five years of the degree. Support is provided through a combination of external fellowships, Stanford fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. The combination of funding is tailored to each student and dependent on the program of study.
The five-year commitment is provided to all doctoral students in PhD and DMA programs to ensure financial stability so they can focus on completion of degree requirements and timely graduation. Students are funded to the level of their academic degree program’s 20-hour-per week Research Assistantship. It is the responsibility of the degree program and the faculty advisor to arrange the funding. Students may not choose the specific form of funding in a given quarter. If a student elects to turn down a particular source or type of funding an alternative may not be provided. Students are encouraged, or may be required, to apply for outside funds, but during this period no program, department or faculty member may require a doctoral student to obtain external funding or to self-fund as a condition of admission, entry to or continuation in the degree program.
During Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, matriculated students are generally expected to register at the full-tuition rate, with some exceptions.
Stanford charges several mandatory and optional student fees, including ASSU fees that fund student organizations, a quarterly Campus Health Service Fee for Vaden Health Center services, and required health insurance unless waived.
Stanford graduate students are funded through a mix of university support, external fellowships, and personal resources, with some students relying on loans or other funding to cover remaining costs.
