Stanford Graduate Summer Institute

When is SGSI?


SGSI takes place two weeks before Autumn quarter starts, when you can immerse yourself in these learning experiences without your usual academic year pressures. Most courses will begin Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, after the Labor Day holiday, but specific course schedules vary. 

SGSI courses are highly interactive and project-based, so you must be able to fully commit to attend the entire course. Be sure to check the schedules of the courses that interest you!

Who can apply?

Courses are open to all current and incoming Stanford graduate students who will be registered in Autumn 2015. Target audiences or restrictions are indicated on the course descriptions. For example, Energy@Stanford & SLAC is designed for incoming graduate students, while Jumpstart Your Academic Job Search is designed for late-stage doctoral students and postdocs. Postdoctoral scholars will be invited to apply for specific courses on a "space-available" basis.

How do I select which courses to apply to? Are there any prerequisites?


You can only take one course at a time, so you should carefully select two courses that best match your interests and schedule. SGSI courses are designed to appeal to a broad, multi-disciplinary group of students and thus have no explicit prerequisites.

Do the courses offer credit or have any fees?


SGSI courses are free (except Stanford Ignite) and do not offer grades or credit. Courses will not show up on your transcript, though you may want to list them on your resume or curriculum vitae as a professional or educational experience.

How do I apply?

The SGSI application requires a Stanford University Network ID (SUNet ID) and password to begin your application. (If you are an incoming student, please visit https://accounts.stanford.edu to set up your SUNet ID.) 

Read the course descriptions and click on the Apply button to begin the brief application. You will be asked to select your 1st and 2nd choices and to describe your interest in each course.

What is the deadline?

Course faculty will begin reviewing applications and selecting students immediately after the May 8 priority deadline. Upon notificaiton, you will be asked to confirm your participation in one course by submitting a $100 deposit to hold your spot. (The check will only be cashed if you do not participate or cancel in advance.) If you do not respond in a timely manner, your spot may be given to another student.

Following the priority deadline, courses will be filled on a rolling basis as space allows. Courses that have been closed will be identified on the course description page.

For any additional questions, please email vpgeapplications@stanford.edu.