Admissions

The on-line system for graduate applications for the next academic year opens in mid September from the Office of Graduate Admissions.  The department only admits students for the fall quarter of each year. 

When deciding whether to apply or not, you should be aware of how competitive the process is. Successful applicants have scores above the 94th percentile on the quantitative GRE, and received excellent grades in economics and math courses during their previous studies.

Timeline

Admission and financial aid decisions are made by the Admissions Committee of the Department in March of each year for the class which will enter the following September. The 2016-2017 application schedule for the Department of Economics:

• December 8, 2015 (midnight EST) - on-line applications due in the Department of Economics
• March 15, 2016 - Admissions decisions sent
• April , 2016 - Admitted students fly-out
• April 15, 2016 - Economics Department must be informed of student decisions
• Late-Aug - Required arrival for newly admitted Ph.D students

Information

General Stanford graduate admissions information can be found at the Office of Graduate Admissions.

On-line Application

Application forms cannot be downloaded.  You must apply on-line via Office of Graduate Admissions. 

2016-2017 Application Fee:  $125 (subject to change).

Please send any mailed supporting materials for the application which have not been uploaded to:

For specific questions about the graduate economic program: econ-grad@stanford.edu

Criteria for Admission

The Department receives more than 700 applications per year, and approximately 50 are admitted. The entering class size usually consists of 25 students. On average, approximately 50% of our admits are international students.  The Stanford Economics Department is committed to redressing the historic under-representation of women and minority groups in the economics profession. The Department will consider proposals for admission deferral on their merits, but does not grant one automatically. Applicants must begin their studies in September of the year in which they are accepted.

The criteria which are considered include:

• Preparation and performance in undergraduate studies, especially in economics, mathematics, and statistics - two copies of official original transcripts for all secondary institutions attended
• GRE scores, especially the quantitative
• TOEFL results (if applicable)
• Three letters of recommendation, especially as these reflect research ability
• Statement of purpose
• The Department does not have a predetermined formula for weighing admission criteria, nor does it have any rigid cut off points on these criteria. All factors are taken into account and weighed by the Committee. However, the primary consideration is the likelihood that the candidate will be able to complete the Ph.D. program with distinction. The committee looks for evidence that the applicant will be able to deal successfully with the quantitative material which is heavily emphasized in the core curriculum, and that the student will be able to produce high quality independent research.

Math Training

The Department requires competence in the calculus of several variables, linear algebra, and probability and statistics as they are used in modern economics. Deficiencies in these areas must be remedied, prior to entering graduate school; the Department holds a math review course during the five weeks prior to the start of the Autumn quarter which entering students are expected to take.

Applicants are not required to have been undergraduate economics majors, but some substantial preparation in economics is desirable. In general, the quality and extent of undergraduate education are an important part of the applicant's record, as is any relevant work experience.

Transfer Credit

The Department does not accept the transfer of previous graduate work toward fulfilling degree requirements. However, students with previous graduate work may be able to count some of their previous course credits toward the university residency requirement, thus reducing the time required for the Ph.D. degree.  

Test Scores

Success in the program requires outstanding skills in speaking and writing English. Foreign applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). This examination should be taken no later than October and preferably earlier. A minimum iBT TOEFL score of 100 is required. TOEFL scores are waived for applicants who have received a degree from a post-secondary institution where instruction was given in English(http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/gradadmissions/applying/exams-international).  Applications will not be considered unless the GRE and TOEFL scores are included.

The GRE and TOEFL test results should be submitted by the Educational Testing Service. You may provide self-reported results with your application, but final decisions on admission will not be made without the official scores from the testing service.  Applicants should take all required exams no later than November in order for score reports to be received by our application deadline.  The department will accept unofficial score reports received by the application deadline to keep your file active while waiting for official scores to arrive from ETS, in the event that there is a delay in receiving the official scores from ETS.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance for first-year students ranges from no aid to a full fellowship which includes tuition; it is awarded on the basis of merit for both international applicants and US citizens.  There is no separate application required to request department financial support other than checking the relevant box on the application form.  In recent years, the Department has been able to support all qualified second, third, and fourth-year students with teaching or research assistantships.

Sources of funds for research assistantships are from private industry, the National Science Foundation, and private endowment organizations. Government contracts for defense programs are not solicited by the Department.

The Department of Economics expects prospective applicants to apply for any external funding for which they are eligible, and especially to the National Science Foundation's program for graduate fellowships in economics, if they are U.S. citizens. NSFs are awarded on a geographical basis, and you may wish to consider using a home address rather than a school address on your application to increase your chances of receiving this award. Information on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program can be found at the NSF website: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Other Notes

• Although we accept writing samples (please try to limit to 10 pages), we do not require a writing sample.  However the on-line application system will not allow  applicants to by-pass this section of the application, so you do not have a writing sample that you want to submit, please upload a document of your choice in this section  (eg. CV, list of relevant courses, abstract)
• We ask that you mail two hard copies of your official transcript(s) in addition to the unofficial transcript(s) which you upload with the application.  It's ok if the official transcripts reach our office after the application deadline.
• Recommendation letters may be sent directly to the department if your recommenders do not want to upload their letters in the on-line application system.  They can be sent via postal mail, or as email attachments.