PhD (Doctoral) Admissions Overview

Our research-intensive program cultivates the next generation of leaders in academia and industry. Electrical Engineering doctoral students work alongside faculty, fellow students, and researchers who are leaders in their disciplines.
 

Application Timeline & Deadlines

September 12, 2024Online application opens
October 09, 2024Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) application deadline. KHS is an optional scholarship program. Read the description below.
November 5, 2024Deadline to take TOEFL to ensure timely arrival of scores
December 6, 2024Deadline for Autumn 2025-2026
Late February 2025Notification of admission decision sent via email
April 15, 2025Deadline for admitted students to respond to offer of admission

Did You Know?

• A master's degree is not required prior to applying to the PhD program in Electrical Engineering.
• Applications are reviewed on an annual basis for autumn quarter start only.
• December 7, 2024 is the application deadline for Autumn 2025-2026.
• Typical completion time for the PhD degree is 5-7 years.
• All PhD students who maintain satisfactory academic progress receive full financial support for the duration of the doctoral program.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program is designed to build an interdisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The program awards up to 100 high-achieving students every year with full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford, including the M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. To be considered, you must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars and separately apply to the Electrical Engineering department.

 

Additional Resources

PhD Financial Assistance Learn how funding works for PhD students in our department.
PhD FAQ Find answers to frequently asked questions.
EE Research Areas Explore our research areas and affiliated faculty.
Graduate Degree Progress Learn about the PhD degree milestones.
EE Graduate Handbook Read about our degree requirements in detail.