Application Details

Application Deadline

Autumn 26-27 applications are due on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 11:59 PST. 

Fee waiver requests are due by Tuesday, November 18, 2025. 

The following items must be received by the application deadline:

• Submit an online Stanford Graduate Application. Please see more information about the application sections below:
  • Application fee ($125 for all applicants, see funding section regarding fee waivers)
  • Statement of purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Academic Transcripts
  • GRE General Test scores
  • TOEFL scores (if applicable)
  • CV & Experience
  • Supplemental application questions

Statement of Purpose

Explain the nature of your interest in the department and reasons for wanting to study at Stanford. You are encouraged to discuss your interest in working with one or more specific faculty members in the department. Include details about your preparation for this field of study, your future career plans and goals, and any other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. It is also helpful to discuss life experiences such as challenges that you have met or that lead you to commit to advanced study in geophysics. The admission committee evaluates all applicants for evidence that (1) they will be successful in coursework, (2) have the potential to perform independent research, (3) show persistence,  and (4) have a research match with a faculty member in the Geophysics department. The maximum recommended length for your statement of purpose is 1,500 words.

Do not upload academic papers, theses, or dissertations as part of your statement of purpose. These items are not required.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are requested. The letters should be written by those who know you in either an academic or employment setting. If possible, at least one should be from a university professor familiar with your academic work. Your recommendations should directly address your suitability for admission to the Geophysics department. We pay extra attention to the potential for future excellence, as indicated in letters of recommendation. The most important factors we look for in the letters are quantitative and analytic strength, communication skills, leadership, overcoming obstacles, perseverance, maturity, and focus. 

Letters of recommendation are handled via an online recommendation system, which is part of the online application. Applicants will be required to register the contact information of their recommenders who will then receive an email with directions on how to proceed. We do not accept emailed or paper recommendations. 

Note: If you have any concerns that any of your recommenders will not be able to submit their letter, you may want to consider requesting letters from additional recommenders. This will increase the likelihood that three letters will be submitted.

Official Academic Transcripts

Upload each transcript as a single PDF file in the online application. Do not upload a student copy of the transcript printed from the university website. Please read the Applying section of central Graduate Admissions website for important information on submitting transcripts. If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degree conferral documents.

Official transcripts do not need to be emailed or mailed to the department unless the applicant is unable to upload official copies in the online application. Only if the applicant is unable to upload an official transcript in the online application, it is preferred the send the official transcripts using a credited e-transcript service. Please email the official transcripts to: gp-admissions@stanford.edu. Please only submit one request via certified electronic transcripts. 

**The University reserves the right to request additional information.GRE General Test

GRE General Test

Stanford Geophysics requires the GRE General Test for our M.S. and Ph.D. applicants. 

Self-Reported Scores

To self-report your GRE scores, list all GRE tests you took within the past five years that you wish to be considered by the admission committee. Do not enter “superscores” (a single entry that includes your highest section scores from multiple test dates). The application system will automatically display to the admission committee the highest score you earned in each section as well as all reported scores.

Any scores you self-report on the application are considered unofficial but sufficient for the initial review process.

Official Scores

Stanford Geophysics requires applicants to report official scores directly to Stanford from ETS. Stanford’s ETS institutional code is 4704. If a department code is required, it does not matter which one you choose. As long as you select the institutional code of 4704, the score is electronically delivered to Stanford.

Upon successful receipt of your official scores, they will appear on the Test Scores page of your application with a status of “Verified.”

Scores expire after five years and will not be available from ETS. See below for the earliest test date Stanford considers to be valid.

English Proficiency Test (TOEFL/IELTS)

Please refer to the Stanford Office of Graduate Admissions for more information on english proficiency tests for Geophysics applicants. 

CV & Experience

Applicants should upload an optional one-to-two-page curriculum vitae describing their academic, extracurricular, and professional activities. The application also features sections for applicants to optionally upload their research experience, publications/presentations/papers, awards and honors, and relevant work experience.

Application Status

Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot respond to individual inquiries about the status of documents submitted or the status of the application. All application materials are due by the application deadline. Any materials submitted after the deadline will be processed accordingly.