stanford psychology phd stipend

PhD Admissions

The PhD program in Psychology trains students for careers in research and teaching. In addition to a wide range of courses, the PhD program is characterized by close collaboration between students and their faculty advisors. 

General Information

The Department of Psychology holistically reviews each candidate's complete application to assess the promise of a career in teaching and research. Consideration is based on various factors, including courses taken, grade point average, letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose. Additionally, the Department of Psychology places considerable emphasis on research training, and admitted students have often been involved in independent research as undergraduate students or post-baccalaureate settings. Although there are no course requirements for admission, all applicants should have sufficient foundational knowledge and research experience to engage in graduate-level coursework and research.

We accept students with undergraduate degrees and those with both undergraduate and master's degrees. An undergraduate psychology major is not required; the Department welcomes applicants from other academic backgrounds.

Our application portal is now closed for the AY24-25 admissions cycle.  Please consider applying during next year's AY25-26 admissions cycle, which opens on September 15, 2024.

How to Apply

Application and deadline.

Our 2025-26 Admissions application will open on September 15, 2024.

Applications will be due on November 30, 2024

The deadline for letters of recommendation will be  November 30, 2024 . 

Once an applicant submits the recommenders' information, the recommenders will receive an automated email with instructions for submitting the letter. Late letters should be sent directly to psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (psych-admissions[at]stanford[dot]edu) . Staff will add them to the application file if the review process is still underway. Still, the faculty reviewers are not obligated to re-review files for materials submitted after the deadline.

The status of submitted applications can be viewed by logging in to the   application portal . 

The deadline to apply for the Stanford Psychology Ph.D. program is  November 30, 2024 . 

Applicants who are admitted to the program will matriculate in autumn 2025. 

In addition to the information below, please review the  Graduate Admissions  website prior to starting your application. The Department of Psychology does not have rolling admissions. We admit for the Autumn term only.

Requirements

• U.S. Bachelor's degree or its  foreign equivalent
• Statement of Purpose (submitted electronically as part of the graduate application). You will be able to specify three  Psychology Department faculty members , in order of preference, with whom you would like to work. 
• Three  Letters of Recommendation  (submitted electronically). A maximum of six letters will be accepted.
• Unofficial transcripts from all universities and colleges you have attended for at least one year must be uploaded to the graduate application. Applicants who reach the interview stage will be asked to provide official transcripts as well; Department staff will reach out to these applicants with instructions for submitting official transcripts. Please do  not  submit official transcripts with your initial application.
• Required for non-native English speakers: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores, submitted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) electronically to Stanford. 

Application Fee

The fee to apply for graduate study at Stanford is $125. Fee waivers are available for some applicants. Please visit Graduate Admissions for information on applying for an  Application Fee Waiver .

Application Review & Status Check

The Department of Psychology welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

To check the status or activity of your application, please log into your  application account . You can also send reminders to recommenders who have not yet submitted their letter of recommendation.

Due to limited bandwidth, the Department of Psychology staff will not answer any phone or email queries about application status, including requests to confirm the receipt of official transcripts.

Our faculty will interview prospective students before making final admission decisions. Candidates who progress to the interview round will be informed in January. Interviews are generally conducted in February.

The Department of Psychology recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

• Diversity and Engagement in Psychology PhD Programs 
• Vice Provost for Graduate Education
• Stanford IDEAL
• Graduate Application Fee Waiver Information

For More Information

Please see our  list of Frequently Asked Questions  and  psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (contact us)  should you have additional questions.

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Financing Your Education - Doctoral Programs

A doctoral degree is a significant investment in your future, and financing your education is a critical factor to consider. While the funding we provide covers the basic standard cost of attendance determined by Stanford University for a modest life as a graduate student, accepting an offer from a doctoral program has significant personal, professional, and financial implications. Below you’ll find information on GSE and Stanford financial support for doctoral students, as well as other important considerations when it comes to financing your PhD.

Funding guarantee

Stanford GSE offers all admitted PhD students a five-year funding package that provides tuition aid, fellowship stipend, and assistantship salary which covers the standard cost of attendance. The funding is based on meeting the basic financial need of the student alone for the first five academic years of the doctoral program and entails assistantship work. The cornerstone of the GSE doctoral experience is the apprenticeship that all students undertake, typically under the guidance of their academic advisor, but often with other Stanford faculty as well. In this apprenticeship model, doctoral students are provided with a funding package that consists of opportunities to serve as teaching and research assistants for faculty members' courses and research projects. By this means, and in combination with the coursework, students are prepared to excel as university faculty, education researchers, and leaders in the field.

All funding is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and performance on the research and teaching assistantships. There is no separate application for this funding.

Assistantships

As part of the academic and professional training and development, students undertake assistantships which provide both salary and tuition. Research assistantships are funded by faculty research grants, other faculty funds or as needed, by the GSE Dean’s Office, and can lead to joint publications with faculty or to dissertation topics. Students who have sufficient expertise and experience may also be selected as teaching assistants for courses at the GSE or other Stanford schools and departments. Assistantships are typically secured in consultation with faculty advisors. Students work 10 hours (25% assistantship) or 20 hours (50% assistantship) a week depending on their year in the program. 

• Research assistantship (RA): Various duties for research projects
• Teaching assistantships (3 types):
• Course Assistant (CA)—course preparation and grading
• Teaching Assistant (TA)—leads regularly-scheduled discussion sections
• Teaching Affiliate (TF)—full responsibility for course

Funding Details 2023-2024

Note: The above figures reflect 2023-2024 rates. Actual amounts will be adjusted to the rates for 2024-25 and future years.

Cost of attendance

Tuition depends on the units taken by the student. In addition to tuition expenses, the cost of attendance of a PhD program involves living expenses such as rent, food, and transportation. The sum of tuition and non-tuition expenses constitutes the standard cost of attendance. 

As you consider applying to graduate school, you can use the standard cost of attendance of your program —plus any additional expenses you might have—to create your financial plan, keeping in mind that tuition and non-tuition expenses of the standard cost of attendance are set by the university on an annual basis.

What you can do now to prepare financially if admitted

• Prepare for how your standard of living may change as a graduate student, especially if you are coming from a full-time job.
• Consider the length of your program, any dependents, existing debt, and additional financial commitments you may have. Students with children may review Stanford support programs for families.
• If you have personal or special circumstances that require additional expenses above and beyond the standard cost of attendance, plan accordingly.
• Start saving as much as you are able to cover any unexpected expenses you may incur while in graduate school.
• Familiarize yourself with federal as well as private student loans, their interest rates, fees, repayment options, deferment policies, and eligibility requirements, so that you are informed if you need to borrow.
• Be ready to cover all initial expenses, since fellowships and stipends will not be disbursed until a few weeks into your first quarter. Onboarding into a PhD program often requires up front out of pocket expenses for relocation.

Additional GSE resources

Once PhD students matriculate, the GSE has a variety of resources available to support academic work and unanticipated needs.

Students are eligible for up to three travel fellowships during their time at GSE if they are attending a conference or other professional development opportunity.

GSE Student Emergency Fund assists graduate students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses causing financial hardship. This fund is meant to support those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships, loans, or personal resources. 

GSE Dissertation Support Grants help advanced PhD students who require additional financial support for dissertation research activities. These grants, available at up to $6,500 total per student, are available to students who do not have access to other funds to cover their dissertation costs.

Stanford University resources

Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) program aims to prepare the next generation of global leaders to address the increasingly complex challenges facing the world. The program selects up to 100 students each year and provides three years of financial support that is integrated into the GSE’s funding package for PhD students.

Vice Provost for Graduate Education awards various fellowships for doctoral students and maintains a list of other Stanford fellowships that students may consider.

Cardinal Care subsidy is an automatic university-wide subsidy program for graduate students. Vaden Health Center manages the university’s Cardinal Care student health insurance.

Stanford Financial Aid Office oversees a number of financial support programs specifically for graduate students with challenging financial situations. 

Additional hourly work is available to students who wish to work for pay as "casual labor" at Stanford up to eight hours a week, provided work does not adversely affect the academic program. Requires approval from the student’s advisor and the Academic Services team.

Other funding sources

External fellowships are integrated into the GSE’s funding package. There are many funding opportunities offered outside of Stanford. The GSE admissions team has compiled an external fellowships and grants document for you to explore, though you should plan to do your own research as well. International students can find additional sources of funding on the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Funding for U.S. Study website and this publication .

Stanford is committed to providing benefits through the Yellow Ribbon Program of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to students in degree-seeking programs. GSE students who qualify for Chapter 33 benefits at the 100% level may be eligible for additional funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Please note that for GSE students receiving tuition fellowship funding, the Yellow Ribbon match may reduce and in some cases replace institutional grants and scholarships. For instructions, visit the page, Activate VA Education Benefits at Stanford .

International students are guaranteed the same funding package as domestic students. However, there may be restrictions regarding the number of hours and opportunities to work during the summer months. To learn more, please contact the Bechtel International Center .

To meet immigration regulations, international students must show proof of adequate financial support to cover the length of time of their graduate program. While international students are not eligible for U.S. federal loan programs, they may qualify for private/alternative loans. Many lenders, however, require that a U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-sign the loan. You can find information and tools to help you choose private loan programs most frequently used by Stanford students here. A comprehensive list of private loan programs is available at FinAid.org .

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Estimated Expense Budget

Main navigation, graduate tuition, 2024-25, three academic quarters of graduate tuition.

Full-time enrollment may be considered 8-10 units per quarter or 11 or more units per quarter depending on the type of financial support and the program.

2024-25 Average Graduate Student Expense Budget

Child Care:  Costs can range from $1,000 - $3,000 per month (or more).

Living Costs for Spouse:  $12,000 (9 months); $16,000 (12 months).

Living Costs for Children:  $3,000 (9 months); $4,000 (12 months).

Medical Insurance for Spouse and/or Children:  See the  Vaden Health Center  web site or contact the Insurance Office at (650) 723-2135 or email  [email protected] .

Taxation:  Fellowship stipends and assistantship salaries are subject to taxation. This tax liability should be included in budget planning.

Stipends & Cash Advances

Main navigation, department stipends.

Stipends are funds given to you if you meet strict eligibility requirements and are approved and issued by academic departments and/or financial aid offices. Stipends are not loans

• Stipends may go directly to you or be applied to pay certain educational expenses on your university bill.
• Stipends are only processed to your student account. Exceptions are made for Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loans).
• Stipends are available on or after the first day of classes if you are enrolled.

For eligibility requirements, you should contact your academic department advisor or Financial Aid Office . Undergraduate students can review the resources described by Undergraduate Research .  

Note: Due to certain federal student aid rules, some charges on the university bill may NOT be paid when financial aid is applied. In these cases, you may receive a stipend (disbursed to you as a refund) and still have a balance due. You will need to use your stipend refund to pay your charges directly. 

Graduate Cash Advance

A cash advance is a university resource available to you, as a graduate student, to assist you with expenses before your graduate financial support is posted to your student account and/or Tuition Assistantship (TA)/Resident Assistant (RA) salary is paid. 

The funds are intended to assist with living expenses, not to pay your university bill. Cash advances can be requested in increments of $1,000 to $3,000 every quarter.

Please note: This is not additional aid; this is a no-interest loan that you are expected to repay once your graduate funding is disbursed to you.  If you pay past the due date for your cash advance late fees will apply.  

Enrollment into direct deposit is required and the funds will arrive in your bank account generally within 3 business days.

Once requested, a cash advance charge will be posted to your university bill for repayment. No interest or processing fees will be charged and – in most cases – the cash advance is not taxable.

Repayment is due 45 days after you request the cash advance. The cash advance will be repaid automatically once your expected funding posts to your university account, or through payroll deduction (Housing & Fees or Pay All Charges options).

If your funding or salary is not provided, or is insufficient to repay the cash advance received, you must repay the full cash advance or any necessary difference by making a payment through Axess by the due date stated on the university bill. Late fees will apply to past-due charges. 

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a cash advance for any given quarter, including summer, you must:

• be an active graduate student in a degree program for the quarter you are requesting your advance
• have no financial or enrollment hold
• be signed up for direct deposit with valid banking details
• have not already received a cash advance for the term requested

Additionally, you will need to make the following attestations in the request process:

▢  I am expecting graduate financial support for the requested term ▢  I am fully responsible for repayment of the cash advance regardless of whether such financial support is provided ▢  I agree that any financial support I receive will be used to repay the cash advance ▢  Once I submit this request, I cannot make any changes

Request instructions

To request a Graduate Cash Advance:

• Log into Axess .
• Select the Cash Advance link in the Student Menu.
• Follow the stated instructions.

Students can view their submitted request(s) by clicking “View Cash Advance Request” under the “Other Financial” drop down menu in the Finances section of the Student page.

Dates when students can submit requests*

Please note: the due date for the Graduate Cash Advance will be 45 days from the transaction date regardless of your current bill due date.

*Dates subject to change

Mind Over Money Financial Literacy: Graduate Cash Advance vs. Payday Loans

A Graduate Cash Advance is not to be confused with a payday loan. A cash advance under this Stanford program is a bridge for student expenses to minimize issues related to the timing of expected financial support from the university. No interest or fees will be charged in requesting and receiving a graduate cash advance.

Conversely, payday lenders charge high interest rates for loans that are intended to be repaid with the borrowers’ next paycheck. Generally, financial experts warn against using payday loans because borrowers can easily get trapped in a long-term cycle of debt and high costs. Learn more about Stanford’s Mind Over Money financial wellness program.