Graduate Admissions

The online application is due by the following deadlines:

• PhD: Tuesday, January 5, 2021

• Masters: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 

• Knight Hennessy: Tuesday, December 8, 2020

• Coterminal Masters (internal Stanford students only): end of second week of Winter quarter,  Friday, January 15, 2021

• NEW: Due to the COVID-19 crisis, GRE scores will not be required in the 2021 admission round.

• NEW: All department offices are currently closed, we are not receiving mail and deliveries. Please DO NOT mail paper transcripts at this time.

Transcripts

• Please wait to mail official paper transcripts until we request them.
• Official e-transcripts can be sent directly by the school or clearinghouse to philosophy@stanford.edu
• Please upload an unofficial transcript from each school you attended for a year or more with the application.
• NOTE: An official transcript is one that is received directly from the issuing institution (or CollegeNET CertiFile Service (CHESICC/Educational Perspectives) that bears the seal/signature representing its validity. To be considered official, paper transcripts must be sealed and unopened.
• Transcript information at https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/applying/starting-your-application/required-application-documents/transcripts-academic-records-0

Writing Sample 

• Should be a recent writing sample on a philosophical topic
• We recommend you send an example of your best work
• needs to be uploaded into the application
• Typically samples are around 20 pages or less
• If submitting a thesis or document longer than 20 pages, please include a note pointing to most important passages
• Secondary samples are allowed, please mark which sample is primary if including more than one

Letters of Recommendation 

• Please have your recommenders submit their confidential letter via the online application.
• Letters from recommenders are due by the deadline. Please have them in as soon as possible.
• The application requires a minimum of 3 recommendations.
• If a recommender is unable to submit their letter via the online application, please let us know. We can accept email letters directly from professors. 
• For emailed letters from professors, the applicant must also send us a note saying they waive the right to see the recommendation.

TOEFL

• Please check the grad admissions website for the latest updates about required tests during the pandemic: 
• https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/applying/starting-your-application/required-exams
• Grad admissions requires the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for most applicants whose first language is not English. This includes US citizens as well as international students.
• Applicants who have received a Bachelors or higher degree from a U.S. school are usually exempted from the TOEFL.
• For test criteria, please see the international section of the Grad Admissions webpage. TEST INFORMATION

GRE

• NEW: Due to the COVID-19 crisis, GRE scores will not be required by Philosophy in the 2021 admission round.

• The GRE general test has been required in the past for Philosophy applications. Due to COVID-19 and the lack of available testing sites, GRE scores will not be required in the 2021 admission round. It may be required again in future cycles. If submitting them, GRE scores must be from within the last 5 years.

STATUS

Check the status of your application (e.g., letters of recommendation received, official ETS scores, etc.,) by logging into your application account Activity Log.

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars (http://kh.stanford.edu) program cultivates a diverse, multidisciplinary community of emerging leaders from around the world and guides them to collaborate, innovate, and communicate as they prepare to address the complex challenges facing society. Knight-Hennessy Scholars become part of a supportive family of fellow scholars. Through the King Global Leadership Program, scholars will broaden knowledge, develop skills, and strengthen character; this platform provides a collection of community experiences, workshops, meetings with leaders, domestic and global study trips, and personal development opportunities. Knight-Hennessy Scholars also receive funding for graduate study at Stanford University.

• Apply at https://kh.stanford.edu/apply 
• The KH application deadline is October 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm Pacific Time.
• For more information on the Knight-Hennessy Scholars please see: http://kh.stanford.edu
• Applicants also need to apply separately to the department where they wish to study. 
• The deadline for the application to the Philosophy department for consideration for the KH program is December 8, 2020.

• All department offices are currently closed, we are working remotely and not receiving physical mail and deliveries.

• Please DO NOT mail paper transcripts at this time.

PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
ATTN: GRADUATE ADMISSIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
STANFORD, CA 94305-2155 USA

• Email: philosophy@stanford.edu 
• Phone to list on mailing forms if needed: (650) 723-2547 (for fastest response, please email)

Please note that department and university offices are currently closed, we are working remotely. Please do not mail paper items at this time. 

• For problems with the application website, please check the online help in the website.

For application fee waivers, apply through:

• https://graddiversity.stanford.edu/graduate-fee-waivers

For exam waivers, or general questons, please contact the Central University Grad Admissions office:

• gradadmissions.stanford.edu
• Phone: 866 432-7472
• Email: GradAdmissions@stanford.edu

For other questions, please contact Jill Covington, Philosophy Graduate Administrator 

• Email: philosophy@stanford.edu or jillj@stanford.edu
• Phone: (650) 723-2548 (for fastest response, please email)

For a helpful guide on getting into grad school from the School of Humanities and Sciences, please check:

• https://humsci.stanford.edu/prospective-students/guide-getting-grad-school

The selection of PhD students admitted to the Department of Philosophy is based on an individualized, holistic review of each application, including (but not limited to) the applicant’s academic record, the letters of recommendation, the writing sample, the statement of purpose, the scores on the General GRE (Graduate Record Examination) when required (note not required during the 2021 round due to the pandemic), personal qualities and characteristics, and past accomplishments.