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Admissions
Graduate Admissions
All students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics should use the Stanford Graduate Admissions Application opens in a new tab. Your application must include all of the materials listed below and be received by Stanford by the application deadline. Application deadlines are final. Applications will NOT be accepted after the deadline. For detailed information about the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department, including application specifics, please visit our Stanford Aero/Astro website. opens in a new tab
Requires Application Documents:
Application Fee
Statement of Purpose
3 Letters of Recommendation
Official English Proficiency Test opens in a new tab* Scores, if applicable
Completed applications are reviewed by the faculty Admissions Committee throughout the winter. A select group of applicants will be interviewed during the evaluation process. Letters are sent as decisions are made, beginning in March. The selection of graduate students admitted to the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics is based on an individualized, holistic review of each application, including (but not limited to) the applicant’s academic record, the letters of recommendation, the statement of purpose, personal qualities and characteristics, and past accomplishments.
Admission of Current Stanford Students
The M.S. program is designed for students who intend to proceed directly to a professional career in aeronautics and astronautics. However, in rare cases, an M.S. student may be able to transition into the Ph.D. program. To do so, the student must have commitment from a professor willing to fund and advise the student throughout their Ph.D. Such students may submit an application for the Ph.D. program in the Autumn Quarter (mid-October deadline) of their second year in the M.S. program. Applications require two reference letters and the official commitment of one faculty member to advise and fund them. Admit decisions are relayed by the end of the application quarter. Students must also be eligible to take the qualifying examination in spring quarter of their second year. For detailed information about the internal admissions process, including application specifics, please refer to the Aero/Astro Graduate Handbook.
Required Application Materials:
Statement of purpose describing the area of study and topic for thesis research
Two Letters of Recommendation:
One letter of recommendation from your proposed Ph.D. advisor
If the proposed Ph.D. advisor is not in the Aero/Astro Department, consult with the Aero/Astro Student Services Office in advance to ensure eligibility.
A second letter of recommendation that documents the applicant’s excellence in research, and comments on any ways in which the applicant has shown potential to make important contributions to knowledge in his/her discipline.
Confirmation of funding form signed by proposed Ph.D. Advisor
Note: Students must be in good standing and eligible to take the departmental qualifying examination (quals) in Spring Quarter of year two (see Ph.D. Qualifying Procedures in Aero/Astro below).
The Admissions Committee will review the required application materials, including previous application and current Stanford transcript, and make admission decisions by the end of the Autumn Quarter. If a student is approved for the Ph.D. program, a Graduate Program Authorization petition ($125 fee) must be submitted online through AXESS and fully approved before the M.S. is conferred (see Changes of Degree, above). Enrollment as a Ph.D. student, including funding, will begin in the Winter Quarter of year two.