Masters FAQs

Graduate admission FAQs

Where do I find information?

Go to Stanford's Graduate Admissions site and explore all the information available on our departmental site (including the faculty pages and all of the pages under the links in "Prospective Graduate Students"). If these resources do not address any remaining questions, please send an email to the department at chemicalengineering@stanford.edu. Use your email subject line: Admissions - [family name] - [topic of your inquiry]

Academic and departmental matters

We have orientations and academic advising sessions for all new graduate students before you select your courses and start your first classes. Furthermore, there is ongoing support and advising from faculty and staff throughout your graduate career.

How long does it take to earn a MS degree?

The length of time is variable, depending on students' undergraduate backgrounds and preparation, their goals and their self-chosen pace of graduate study. At least 45 units must be completed at Stanford. Most lecture courses in science and engineering are 3 units; some are 4 or 5 units. Some of the MS candidates complete their degree requirements in one academic year (in three quarters, with an average of 15 units/quarter); the most complete their master's work in four, five or six quarters (usually at the rate of 10 units/quarter).

What are the course requirements, and how long do they generally take to complete?

MS students can take between 8 and 18 units per quarter. The majority of lecture courses are 3 units; some are 4 or 5 units; seminar courses are 1-2 units. Most MS students take 42 units of lecture courses and 3 units of the required 1-unit departmental colloquium (seminar). Some students perform up to 6 units of research in lieu of a lecture course or two. MS students are required to take four core chemical engineering graduate courses. The rest of their MS lecture courses (usually 30 units) consist of graduate-level science and engineering elective lecture courses offered by Chemical Engineering and other related departments. These elective courses are proposed by the student, with the goal of creating a thematically cohesive master's program that is customized within the degree requirements to the individual student's educational goals.

Admission FAQs

These answers are brief summaries. Potential applicants should follow the links and read the in-depth information at http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/gradadmissions

What are the application deadlines?

For our MS program, applications and supporting documentation from external applicants must be received by us no later than Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Those wishing to apply at a later time must obtain departmental approval in advance.

May I apply to start graduate work in other times of the year than autumn quarter?

For programmatic and curricular reasons, admitted students should plan to commence studies at the beginning of the academic year in September.

Are GRE scores required for admission?

Yes, scores must be from a general test within the past five years. There is no minimum GRE score requirement. All components of your application are evaluated by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Admission decisions are based on the aggregate of various factors, including your statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, transcripts and test scores

Do you require GRE subject tests? 

No. For our chemical engineering graduate programs, it is not recommended that you take a subject test.

Are TOEFL scores required for admission?

In general, yes, if your first language is not English. The Graduate Admissions website  has further details about the university-wide test requirements and exceptions. Any request for a TOEFL waiver must to directed to central Graduate Admissions. Individual academic departments may not approve requests for waivers.  In general, there is a high expectation for English language fluency in both formal use and informal interactions, in written and oral situations.  One of the key goals of our educational programs is the further development of communication skills in English and ongoing opportunities are built into the curriculum.

What are my chances of getting financial aid?

The department is unable to offer financial aid to MS students.

Where do I send the supplemental materials for my application?

Original transcripts (two sets) and any other items should be sent directly to the department:

Mail and courier address:

Graduate Admissions Committee
Department of Chemical Engineering
Stanford University
SEQ, Shriram Center, Room 129
443 Via Ortega
Stanford, CA 94305 4125
USA

Email: chemicalengineering@stanford.edu (for graduate admission inquiries)
Phone: (650) 736-6694

What materials must be included with my application?

There are four major components required to complete a graduate application file:

1. The application itself with its statement of purpose
2. Three or more letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty
3. ETS scores and percentages, both officially sent by ETS to Stanford and unofficially self-reported on the application
4. Official transcripts, one (set) uploaded into the application and two (sets) sent to the department.

When will I find out about the decision on my application?

All applicants must maintain current and correct email addresses so we can communicate with you via email. MS applicants can expect to hear from us by the end of March/beginning of April. MS decisions will be communicated to all applicants, in writing, via email. 

Housing and living

Stanford has a strong residential character. Over half of all graduate students live in university-operated apartments. The university's residence system is among the largest and most diverse. 

How does on-campus housing work?

There is a lottery and when you enter it, you list your choice of housing options in preferential order. Housing is guaranteed for first-year graduate students, but this means that you must apply on time and select the option that you are willing to accept any living arrangement (studio, two people in a two-bedroom, three people in a two-bedroom, etc.). If you submit your choices by the deadline, usually you obtain your top housing choices.

Students can renew the same housing assignment for the following year without entering a lottery. Thus, if you are happy with whatever assignment you get in the fall of your first year (and you live in a residence that is open year-round), in the spring of your first year you now can just check "renew" on your housing application for the next year and keep your assignment for the following year.

Pets are not allowed in campus housing.

How much does on-campus housing cost per month?

The cost of housing varies. The general rule of thumb is that the more room/suite-mates you have, the lower the rent. If you would like to have a room to yourself (ex. double occupancy two-bedroom, etc.) then you should expect to pay more. If you do not mind sharing a room, then the cost drops some. 

What is included in on-campus housing costs?

In addition to the rent, the cost of housing covers basic utilities (electricity and water). Laundry is free to students living on-campus. Also, most on-campus apartments are furnished so you don't have to worry about the cost of furniture. Additional charges will apply for an Internet connection, cable TV, etc. (These facilities are easily available and are relatively inexpensive). If you have a car, you will need to purchase a campus parking permit, but they are inexpensive for students.

What are the off-campus housing options?

A popular way to find off-campus housing is to use Craigslist. You can perform specific searches of price ranges or towns or places that accept pets. The places listed include condos, homes for rent, individual cottages or apartments. If you do a search on Craigslist, go to "apts/housing" and then click on "Peninsula" at the top of the screen (S.F. Bay Area prompt). Depending upon the specific location, the following towns are within bikeable distance from Stanford: Menlo Park, Atherton and Palo Alto; Redwood City, Los Altos and Mountain View are a minimum of a ~30-minute bike ride.

How much do off-campus apartments costs per month?

Depending upon how many roommates you have, monthly rent can range from $600 to $1200/per person.

How can I find a roommate?

Most incoming students do not know people at Stanford and so do not choose their roommates. However, if you do find/choose someone you would like to room with in university housing, then you can request that Housing Assignments Office assign both of you to the same housing location. Some people also use a roommate-finding website.

What about couples housing or housing for families?

There are several options for on-campus couples housing-furnished or unfurnished. Please see the Housing Options page for information about housing for couples without children and students with children

Activities in the local and surrounding areas

How do I get involved in departmental social events?

All ChemE grad students are welcome to participate on the social subcommittees of the graduate student-run ACTION Committee, as well as staff-student planned events such as the annual Holiday Party in December.

What do people do for fun?

The Office of Student Activities and Leadership (SAL) within the Dean of Students Office supports over 600 university-recognized, incredibly diverse student groups on campus.

There are various gyms on campus, along with many intramural sports and club sports. There are also athletic classes you can take for credit (kickboxing, Pilates, boot camp, yoga, etc) or simply for fun at the residence complexes. Other than sports, there are a plethora of cultural events in the arts, dance, music and other live performances on and off campus. San Jose is ~20 minutes away while San Francisco is ~45 minutes away by car. Both are also accessible by public transportation. If you prefer outdoor activities, hiking trails and extensive bicycle routes are minutes away and a few hours of driving can take you to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, the northern California Redwoods, etc. while Santa Cruz and Monterey are closer attractions.

What are the common attractions in the area surrounding the San Francisco Bay?

San Francisco has abundant theaters and cultural events, SFMOMA, Civic Center, Asian Museum, China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park (de Young Museum) and Golden Gate Bridge. Furhter north, you can visit Muir Woods redwood park, various marinas, Point Reyes National Seashore, etc., while further south you can visit Monterey Bay Aquarium, stroll beaches along the Pacific Ocean, go rock climbing and tour wineries in the Santa Cruz mountains.

How is the transportation system? How do you get around?

There are on-campus shuttles that also access the local train stations, local bus lines, CalTrain, BART and Muni. Many students have cars. Many do not. The majority of students also have bikes to get around on campus.

Are there intramural sports and sports clubs?

Yes to both. Intramural sports range from volleyball to soccer to billiards, and club sports range from triathlon to sailing to martial arts. This department fields several teams.

How are the gym facilities?

The Arrillaga Family Sports and Recreation Center is the primary gym for students. The facility is on Campus Drive right across from the track. At Arrillaga, you'll find squash courts, a climbing wall, basketball courts and a weight room with cardio-machines (ellipticals, treadmills, stationary bikes, etc.). Students also can take classes for physical activities such as martial arts (Arrillaga has a training room), fencing, yoga, etc.

Also, the recently opened Arrillaga Outdoor Education and Recreaton Center (AOERC) is the newest recreational facility on campus. It's on Santa Teresa Street right next to Roble Field. AOERC featrues a fitness center, outdoor recreational pool, three indoor courts, academic classrooms, a climbing wall and an outdoor recreation center.

Stanford also has a great outdoor pool center and has several tennis courts spread across campus. It is not unusual for Stanford to host national track-and-field or ATP tour events, so you shouldn't be surprised to see some big names in sports strolling about on campus.