Whether here for a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree, all students can benefit from understanding the academic policies that apply to their graduate careers. The VPGE office interprets and disseminates university-level policies, which are set by the Academic Senate and the Committee on Graduate Studies.
Planning Resources
Your Best Resource: Your Department or Program
Your department's policies and procedures, including current student handbooks, are your primary resource for academic questions about your degree. Your student services staff can explain requirements and procedures, and your dean’s office staff can explain school-level academic policies.
Stanford Bulletin: Explore Degrees
Stanford's schools, departments, and interdisciplinary programs list their academic policies and degree requirements in the Bulletin.
Stanford Bulletin: Explore Courses
Stanford's course database can be searched by department, keyword, or quarter, time, or day offered. Take advantage of Stanford’s open course enrollment policies to explore beyond your department or school.
Funding Resources
There are many funding opportunities at Stanford and beyond that can help you finance your graduate education, research projects, internships, travel, and more.
- Check out the Financial Aid Office's Grad Resources
- Browse VPGE Fellowships & Funding Opportunities
- Learn more about Funding Graduate Study
Graduate Policies
Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook
The GAP describes university-wide academic policies that apply to all graduate students. The GAP can be a handy reference throughout your graduate studies.
Childbirth Accommodation Policy
This policy provides an academic accommodation period for registered and matriculated female graduate students (including students in professional schools) anticipating or experiencing a birth.
The Childbirth Accommodation Policy:
- Maintains students' enrollment and progress to their degree
- Supports students if they need to adjust assignments and academic milestones during the two quarters around the birth of a child, when the demands on the students’ time are directed to the child
- Supports students if they decide to take a leave of absence based on a Childbirth Accommodation
- Replaces RA or TA funding for a birth parent who would normally be funded by an RA or TA
The Childbirth Accommodation Policy does not automatically:
- Extend funding
- Extend time to degree
In April 2018 the Student Families Working Advisory Group recommended that funding for the birth parent who is funded on an RA or TA be extended from 6 weeks to one quarter. In May 2018 the Committee on Graduate Studies endorsed this change. The new policy begins in the 2018-19 academic year; the policy, linked below, will be updated to reflect that change. Contact Rebecca Jantzen in VPGE with questions via email or phone, 650-736-9793.
Research Policy Handbook
The Research Policy Handbook (RPH) describes policies, guidelines, and resources related to Stanford's research mission. Selected research-related policies directly affect graduate students.
Office of Community Standards
The Office of Community Standards upholds Stanford’s Honor Code, which articulates the university's expectations of students and faculty in establishing and maintaining the highest standards in academic work, and the Fundamental Standard, which sets the standard of conduct for all members of the Stanford community.