Admissions

Students seeking admission to the Immunology PhD program typically have an undergraduate major in biological sciences. Majors from other areas are acceptable if the applicant has sufficient coursework in biology, chemistry, general physics, and mathematics (through calculus). The Immunology Graduate Program committee evaluates applications based on: grades; evidence of research experience; letters of recommendation, including letters from research sponsor(s); and commitment to a career in biomedical research.

The GRE Subject test is optional. Applicants who choose to submit a GRE score should plan on taking the GRE at least one month before the application deadline to ensure that official scores are available when applications are evaluated.

Candidates who are selected to visit Stanford and interview are notified in January. The selected applicants are invited to a Biosciences interview session in March.

Interested Stanford medical students are welcome to apply to the program and should also submit a formal application by the December deadline.

Prospective graduate students must apply via Stanford’s online graduate application.

Financial Aid

Students admitted to the program are offered financial support for tuition, a living stipend, and health insurance coverage, and for first-year graduate students, a small allowance (tech funds). Applicants are urged to apply for independent fellowships from such entities as the National Science Foundation or the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships. NSF Fellowship applications are due in October of the year before enrollment in the graduate program, and only one more NSF application is permitted in the first or second year. Immunology graduate students may continue to apply for outside fellowships after matriculation. Admitted students are typically offered financial support through Stanford Graduate Fellowships, NIH traineeships, or research assistantships.