If you do not qualify for the GRE Fee Reduction Waiver or the Program Participation Waiver, you may apply for a School-Based Waiver.
Click on the link below that corresponds to the school to which you are applying:
*This school offers fee waivers to doctoral applicants only. Master’s applicants are not eligible.
Not sure which school your intended graduate program is in? Visit the Explore Graduate Programs page to find out.
If your graduate program is in multiple schools, refer to the guidance below:
| If you are applying to. | Request a School-Based Waiver from. |
|---|---|
| Bioengineering | School of Engineering |
| Biophysics | School of Humanities and Sciences |
| Civil and Environmental Engineering | School of Engineering |
The Stanford Graduate School of Education is able to offer a limited number of fee waivers to applicants experiencing financial hardship. Preference is given to low-income, first-generation domestic applicants.
GSE Admissions reviews and releases our School-Based Waiver decisions in rounds. Rounds for Fall 2025-26 cycle will be open for applications starting in September 2024 and are scheduled as follows:
| Round | Submission Period | Decision Notification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 13 - October 3 @ 12pm PDT | October 4 |
| 2 | October 4 - October 24 @ 12pm PDT | October 25 |
| 3 | October 25 - November 7 @ 12pm PDT | November 8 (Last day for KHS Master’s or PhD applicants) |
| 4 | November 8 - November 21 @ 12pm PST | November 22 (Last day for PhD applicants) |
| 5 | November 22 - December 12 @ 12pm PST | December 13 |
| 6 | December 13 - January 6 @ 12pm PST | January 7 (Last day for Master’s applicants) |
*Note: You will continue to have access to make changes to these pages after you submit your fee waiver request.
You are notified via email when your request is approved or denied. If your request is approved, the fee waiver is automatically applied to your account and you are not prompted to pay the application fee to submit your graduate application.
If you have questions about the Graduate School of Education Waiver, contact the GSE Admissions Office at gseadmissions@stanford.edu.
Priority for fee waivers in the School of Engineering is given to students applying to doctoral programs who are: first-generation, low-income, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and domestic undocumented or DACAmented students. International and master's program applicants who are first-generation or low-income are also eligible to apply.
The deadline to receive your fee waiver request is 10 business days (two weeks) before your intended graduate program’s application deadline. We do our best to review and respond to your application within two weeks of receipt.
*Note: You will continue to have access to make changes to these pages after you submit your fee waiver request.
You are notified via email when your request is approved or denied. If your request is approved, the fee waiver is automatically applied to your account and you are not prompted to pay the application fee to submit your graduate application.
If you have questions about the School of Engineering Waiver, contact futuregradengineer@stanford.edu.
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Priority for fee waivers in the School of Humanities and Sciences is given to students who are applying to doctoral (PhD, DMA) and MFA programs, and who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or domestic undocumented or DACAmented students. International applicants are eligible to apply, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
To ensure timely review of your fee waiver request, please submit the fee waiver request at least two full weeks (10 business days) prior to the graduate program’s application deadline.
*Note: You will continue to have access to make changes to these pages after you submit your fee waiver request.
You are notified via email when your request is approved or denied. If your request is approved, the fee waiver is automatically applied to your account and you are not prompted to pay the application fee to submit your graduate application.
If you have questions about the School of Humanities and Sciences Waiver, email recruit_hs@stanford.edu.
The School of Medicine prioritizes fee waivers for applicants to doctoral programs who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or domestic undocumented or DACAmented students. International applicants are eligible to apply, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Fee waivers are only available for students applying to doctoral programs; master's applicants are not eligible.
We begin reviewing fee waiver requests for autumn 2025 entry on October 14, 2024. The deadline to receive your fee waiver request is Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. We do our best to review and respond to your request within two weeks of receipt.
*Note: You will continue to have access to make changes to these pages after you submit your fee waiver request.
You are notified via email when your request is approved or denied. If your request is approved, the fee waiver is automatically applied to your account and you are not prompted to pay the application fee to submit your graduate application.
If you have questions about the School of Medicine Waiver, contact oge-helpme@stanford.edu.
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS) is providing a set number of fee waivers to students who would like to apply to graduate programs in the SDSS and are in financial need.
The deadline to receive your fee waiver request is 10 business days (two weeks) before your intended graduate program’s application deadline. We do our best to review and respond to your application within 10 business days (two weeks) before the graduate application deadline.
*Note: You will continue to have access to make changes to these pages after you submit your fee waiver request.
You are notified via email when your request is approved or denied. If your request is approved, the fee waiver is automatically applied to your account and you are not prompted to pay the application fee to submit your graduate application.
If you have questions about the Doerr School of Sustainability Waiver, contact sustainability_students@stanford.edu.
