International Applicants

Other than financial aid, the application process is the same for all applicants regardless of citizenship or country of residence. Review and follow our First-Year Applicant Instructions or our Transfer Applicant Instructions.

For international citizens who indicate on their application that they will be applying for financial aid, that request will be a factor in our admission evaluation, making the process more selective. Financial aid at Stanford is based on the family’s demonstrated financial need and we will meet the full need of all admitted students regardless of citizenship.

U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and undocumented/DACA students are considered domestic applicants in our application process. If you are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident living and attending school abroad, you are considered a domestic applicant for financial aid purposes, while your application will be read in the context of your secondary school.

Stanford is committed to meeting demonstrated financial need for all admitted students (regardless of citizenship) who have requested financial aid during the application process. We do not offer merit scholarships outside of a limited number of athletic scholarships.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident or an undocumented student, your request for financial aid will be a factor in our admission evaluation. While financial aid resources are limited for international citizens, Stanford does offer admission to a number of these applicants each year. International citizens who indicate on their applications that they will not be applying for financial aid and subsequently are admitted are not eligible to apply for financial aid at any time during their four years at Stanford. However, if your citizenship status changes during the time you are enrolled as an undergraduate, and you become eligible for federal student aid, you may also be considered for need-based financial aid starting in the quarter during which your citizenship status changes.

Stanford is need-blind for all U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and undocumented students regardless of where they attend high school. This means a request for financial aid will not be a factor in our admission evaluation. Visit our financial aid website for more information and to find the required application forms.

Please select the citizenship status option on the Common App that applies to you at the time you submit your application. If your permanent residency application is approved after you submit your application, please email credentials@stanford.edu with a copy of your green card attached and we will update your application to reflect your new status.

Members of our admission staff specialize in reading applications from countries around the world. We are familiar with the nuances of different education systems and consider your application within the context of the resources available to you. We will consider the educational procedures within your school and country, as well as cultural and regional differences. There is no need to have your marks converted into an American Grade Point Average (GPA).

While there are no courses or minimum scores required to secure admission to Stanford, we recommend completing the necessary coursework to apply to a university program for a bachelor's degree in the country you are currently studying in. You must also be in possession of a secondary school diploma (or your country’s equivalent) by the time you enroll in the fall.

To learn more about our selection process and the recommended high school curriculum, please see our suggestions for Academic Preparation.

Please have a school official send us all available internal and external final and predicted marks from your secondary school. If you have trouble accessing your application portal, your school may also email official documents to credentials@stanford.edu.

All of our admitted students enroll in the fall term. We do not offer Winter or Spring Quarter enrollment. You must be in possession of a secondary school diploma (or your country’s equivalent) by the time you enroll. You do not need to have it by the time you submit your application. Please refer to the Requirements and Deadlines page for specific deadlines. If you have enrolled either full-time or as a degree-seeking student after graduating from high school and have received credit, you will need to apply as a transfer student. Refer to the transfer application deadlines.

If you are applying to Stanford University as a first-year applicant, you cannot attend another University or College where you receive credit after graduating high school. If you attend another University or College between your high school graduation and first year at Stanford, you must withdraw from that University/College before you receive any credit.

Yes, transcripts and teacher recommendations must be translated into English. Original copies must also be submitted when applicable. Applicants cannot translate the documents themselves. We recommend asking your English teacher or other school official to translate for you.

If you do not have a guidance counselor, you may have another school official (such as a principal or teacher) submit the counselor letter of recommendation for you.

For students applying for enrollment in the fall of 2024 and 2025, we will not require ACT or SAT scores for first-year or transfer applicants. Stanford will review applications with or without standardized test scores, leaving the decision in the hands of the applicant.

If you do not submit scores from the ACT or SAT, your application will not be at a disadvantage. If you take the ACT or SAT, and you feel that your scores are a positive reflection of your academic preparedness, you are welcome to self-report them.

We are still evaluating our requirements for applicants planning to apply in future cycles.

Refer to the Standardized Testing pages for first-year and transfer applicants for general guidelines.

Note: Stanford reviews applications using either official or self-reported test scores for all applicants. Please self-report your highest scores in the Testing section of either the Common Application. All official scores will be required if you are offered admission and choose to enroll.

No, we do not require any English proficiency exams. While these exams (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, etc.) are useful in helping us determine our applicants’ English proficiency, you may feel your fluency will be clear in other aspects of your application. We have no preferred proficiency exam. Generally, we receive English proficiency exam results from applicants whose native language is not English and/or the primary language of instruction at their secondary school is not English. Please note that fluency in English is a prerequisite for admission to Stanford.

If you wish to take an English proficiency exam but feel that the cost is a financial burden for you, we offer fee waivers for the Duolingo English Test. We are only able to offer fee waivers to students who have demonstrated financial need through a complete submitted application. You must indicate on your application that you plan to apply for financial aid. Once you have submitted your application, please log in to your Stanford portal for more information on fee waivers. In order to ensure your test results reach us in time, please request a fee waiver no later than a week after the application deadline.

Applicants who are international citizens will receive information detailing the student visa application process if offered admission to Stanford. To learn more about the visa and immigration process, please visit the Bechtel International Center: Immigration website .

Bechtel International Center is Stanford's hub for international students and families. Please visit their website to learn about the many networks of support available to international students.

We do not have any exchange programs for undergraduates. If you would like to study at Stanford, you will need to apply as a transfer student, or consider graduate programs, the Stanford Continuing Studies program, or Stanford Summer Session. Please note that admission to the summer program is separate from Stanford’s undergraduate admission and does not provide an advantage in the undergraduate admission process.