About PhD Program,
The Stanford Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program uses rigorous training in fundamental principles of neuroscience research to develop leaders at every level of our society. The signature feature of the Stanford Neurosciences Program is the combination of outstanding faculty researchers and exceedingly bright, energetic students in a community that shares a firm and longstanding commitment to understanding the nervous system at all its levels of function.
Since 1962, the philosophy of the the interdepartmental PhD Program is to offer a single program to train future leaders in neuroscience, with directors and faculty from all relevant departments, rather than several small competing departments.
The Neurosciences Ph.D. program is one of 14 Biosciences Home Programs in the Stanford School of Medicine.
The Stanford Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program (IDP) offers interdisciplinary training leading to a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. The primary goal of the program is to train students to become leaders in neuroscience research, education and outreach. Graduates of the program will be innovators, investigators, and teachers whose programs and pursuits are founded on research. The signature feature of the Stanford Neurosciences IDP is the combination of outstanding faculty researchers and exceedingly bright, energetic students in a community that shares a firm and longstanding commitment to understanding the nervous system at all its levels of function.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
You are asked to enter both GPA and GPA scale for each institution you list on the application. Enter your GPA as it appears on your transcript. Do not convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale if it’s reported on a different scale. If your institution did not calculate a GPA for you, leave this section blank.
The Stanford Neurosciences Program is committed to training a diverse group of neuroscientists who come from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Qualified applicants who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents are eligible for admission.
The Neurosciences program 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.
The Neurosciences program 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 process is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, prior research experience, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field and how they might enrich the learning community at Stanford.
Students are admitted into the program each year from a variety of disciplines. There is no one “right” way into the Neurosciences Program and no one “composite” student. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Neurosciences, students are enrolled with backgrounds ranging from computational to biological; the program selects talented and highly motivated students with evidence of creativity and scientific rigor, regardless of exact disciplinary background.
Students are selected from diverse backgrounds based on a variety of factors, including academic achievements, letters of recommendation attesting to research and academic skills, and statement of purpose. The admissions committee works very hard to holistically evaluate each applicant.
There is no minimum GPA requirement and GRE scores are not considered.
We do not publicly share information about the average scores of applicants or matriculated students.
The program does not have specific course requirements or recommendations to be considered for admission. However, students from traditional biology backgrounds are expected to show strong achievement in molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and neuroscience. Students from more quantitative backgrounds should demonstrate considerable competence in mathematics (calculus, differential equations, linear algebra), physics, probability theory, and statistics. Students from psychology backgrounds should be well versed in cognitive science, experimental psychology, neuroscience and statistics. Advice on how to choose between neuroscience and psychology programs is offered here by one of our faculty members.
Research experience is very important, but the exact disciplinary area is not critical.
Publications are not required for admission.
You will only need an advanced degree (M.A., M.S.) to apply if you do not meet the Minimum Education Requirements which can be found on the Graduate Admissions website.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Sources of funding for graduate education range from government agencies, employers and foundations to academic departments and schools. Financial assistance can be divided into three broad categories:
- Fellowships, Scholarships or Grants— “Free money” that does not need to be repaid upon completion of enrollment.
- Assistantships— Wages are paid for research or teaching performed while enrolled as part of your academic program. Tuition support is also provided.
- Student Loans— Funds advanced to you by a governmental or private lender, to be repaid (or possibly forgiven) after graduation.
We strongly recommend that you investigate all possible funding options in order to maximize your grants and scholarships and minimize loan obligations.
Application Requirement,
Eligibility for Admission
Application Fee and Fee Waivers
Home Program Selection and Faculty of Interest
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts (Academic Records)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – General Test and Subject Test
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – Requirements, Exemptions, and Waiver Requests
Additional Supporting Application Materials
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee,
The application fee is $125 and is nonrefundable.
