Graduate Program

Financial Aid

Financial support of graduate students is provided in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. Historically, all graduate students in good standing have received full financial support (tuition and stipend) for the duration of their graduate studies at Stanford.

First-year students (except those with fellowships) usually receive teaching assistantships for three quarters, which provide a stipend plus full payment of tuition. Support in summer months and in succeeding years is typically provided through research assistantships or fellowships. First-year students for the 07-08 academic year will receive $28,340.

Teaching opportunities for first-year students include classroom or laboratory instruction. These require about 15 hours per week for three quarters, and are specifically arranged so as not to interfere with normal academic progress. Sources of funding for research assistantships include grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense in addition to industrial contracts, corporate gifts, and Departmental fellowships.

In addition to the national fellowships, the Chemistry Department will nominate its top 12-15 applicants for the prestigious Stanford Graduate Fellowship. This institutional fellowship will provide the recipients with full tuition support as well as stipend at a level competitive with the national fellowships. As Stanford Graduate Fellows, the recipients will also enjoy exclusive events and lectures organized by Stanford and the School of Humanities and Sciences. For more information about the SGF, please visit the website at: www.stanford.edu/dept/DoR/Fellows/

Details of student financial support are provided in a separate letter following admission. Stipends are set such that the students' net income is equivalent to the net income received at other major universities, and is consistent with the cost of living in the Stanford area. Additionally, first-year students arriving from distant locations may receive a travel allowance to partially defray the cost of necessary travel.