Admissions & Application FAQ
Before applying:
We invite you to look into our institute's program details for information about application requirements, deadlines and more.
Learn more about Information about Stanford University's general graduate admissions process.
Please review our affiliated faculty members' publications for further insight into their research. If you feel that your academic background and research interests are a good match for our program, we encourage you to apply!
Selecting a Program
What academic background is required for application?
We expect applicants to have a strong applied math background in preparation for the core courses of the program. The courses we recommend are advanced undergraduate level linear algebra, probabilities, introductory PDEs, stochastics, and proficiency in programming. ICME students come from a wide range of academic backgrounds; we accept applications from all undergraduate majors/concentrations.
If you are an international student with questions about whether your undergraduate degree makes you eligible for graduate study at Stanford, we invite you to visit Stanford's graduate admissions eligibility page for international students. ICME is unable to grant exceptions to the linked eligibility policy.
If I apply for your PhD program and am not accepted, will I be automatically considered for the MS program?
No, these two applications are separate processes. You may only choose one program to apply to each year.
What is the difference between the ICME MS program in Data Science and the MS program in Statistics?
The programs are designed to be identical. However, each program includes the opportunity to choose a focus that is either more computational or more theoretical (these are not as strict as the track designations within ICME, just an opportunity to tailor your studies a little bit to your particular research interests). The reasons you may choose one program over the other could be either: interest in working with specific faculty members, or a particular research interest that you feel is more aligned with either statistics or computational mathematics.
Can I apply for multiple Stanford graduate degrees in one year?
No, you are limited to applying for just one graduate degree program at Stanford each year. Exceptions are joint JD or MD/PhD programs, and some MBA programs. Learn more about specific exceptions to this university requirement.
Can I apply to both the ICME MS and ICME PhD at the same time?
No. Students can only apply to one program, and should choose the one that is most aligned with their academic and professional goals. The CME-MS degree is a terminal degree; MS students cannot transition to the CME-PhD without applying separately.
ICME does not offer the choice for applicants not admitted to the PhD program to be re-considered for MS program admission.
Can I complete the MS program in one year?
No. Our MS programs are designed to be completed in two years of full-time study.
Can I complete the MS program online?
The ICME master's program cannot be completed online; on-campus attendance will be required.
Tuition and Funding
What are Stanford's tuition costs?
Information on tuition costs can be found at: https://registrar.stanford.edu/students/tuition-and-fees
What kinds of financial aid are available for graduate students?
All PhD students who are in good standing relative to ICME's program requirements will be funded to the department’s standard. This funding may come from a combination of fellowship, research assistantship, and teaching assistantship. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for external fellowships. Information about external fellowships options are listed on the Graduate Funding page.
ICME does not offer guaranteed financial support for MS students; you should not plan on attending Stanford if such support is essential to you.
Required Application Materials
Where do I send materials for my application?
All application materials should be uploaded through the online application portal. The Admission Committee reviews all graduate applications online, and will have no access to copies of any documents sent via post or email. Please note that we will not upload documents emailed to us for your applicant file.
Please see our ICME Graduate Program Application page for a full walkthrough of each step of our application (MS and PhD).
Required Exams
Is the GRE required?
For students applying for Fall 2025, the GRE is not required. GRE scores will not be accepted or considered as part of the MS or PhD application packet.
TOEFL
TOEFL scores are required of all applicants whose first language is not English regardless of citizenship status. Individuals who have completed a Bachelor's, Master's, or a doctoral degree in the U.S. or another English-speaking country are not required to submit TOEFL scores. The complete policy can be found on the Graduate Admissions website.
Stanford’s minimum TOEFL score requirement varies depending on your field of study and planned degree. For the Stanford School of Engineering (which includes ICME), the minimum scores are:
- MS applicants: 89
- PhD applicants: 100
If you score below 109 on the TOEFL and you are admitted, you will likely be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to the start of classes.
Am I exempt from taking the TOEFL?
You are exempt from submitting a TOEFL score if you meet one the following criteria:
A. You (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally- accredited college or university in the United States (territories and possessions excluded).
B. You (will) have an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.
You do not need to contact ICME to process this exemption; it will be automatically applied after you submit your application.
What if I received a degree taught in English from a university outside one of those countries?
You may request a waiver if you (will) have an equivalent degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction.
Recommendation Letters
How long after the application deadline can recommendation letters be submitted?
Recommendation Letters can be submitted up to one week after the application deadline. We cannot add or remove recommenders from the list. It is your responsibility to remind your references to upload their letters of recommendation.
Do I need a letter of recommendation from my undergraduate institution? What if I graduated several years ago?
Three letters of recommendation are required; at least one letter must come from an academic source, however we recommend two. Exceptions to the academic source requirement are made for students who graduated 5+ years ago (these applicants may include 3 professional references).
Does ICME accept letters of recommendation via Interfolio?
No.
Transcripts
Do I need to upload an official transcript? What transcript documents are required?
ICME does not require applicants to submit official transcripts for application review. Unofficial transcripts for all institutions you have attended for at least a year as a full-time student must be uploaded as part of your application.
A PDF generated from an electronic document is strongly preferred; a scanned copy of physical documents is accepted. Official transcripts will only be required if you are accepted. Communication regarding how to submit your transcripts will be sent as part of your acceptance.
Note: for MS applicants who will have fall quarter/semester grades to report, we will not accept updated transcripts after you have submitted your application.
ICME has a full application walkthrough that is strongly recommended for all applicants. For more general guidance on the Stanford graduate admissions process, please see Stanford's general graduate admissions page.
When will the online application system open?
For both the PhD & MS program, the online application system opens in mid-September each year.
When is the application deadline?
The application system will close at 11:59 PM PST on the application deadline (last day of the application window). For current deadlines, please refer to the Important Deadlines page for the current admissions cycle. Late applications will not be accepted.
What is the application fee?
Visit Graduate Admissionsfor the current year's application fee and information.
Is it possible to waive the application fee? And how would I request one?
Yes. The University and School of Engineering provide application waivers. Eligibility requirements and fee wavier applications may be found on the SoE Fee Waivers webpageICME is not authorized to grant application fee waivers.
How can I check the status of my application?
We are unable to answer inquiries regarding the status of any application. Please refer to your checklist on your Application Activity Status Page for updates on your supporting material status.
For updates on your application status:
- Visit: https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/
- Check your "checklist" on your "Application Activity Status Page" to view the status of your official transcripts, official test scores, and letters of recommendation. Your status will remain “incomplete” until we receive all relevant test scores and 3 letters of recommendation.
I am having a technical issue with my application, who can I contact to get help?
ICME admissions is unable to help with application issues; please contact "Application Help" which is at the bottom of the navigation bar on any page within the application portal.
Can I update my application after submitting?
You may update the following information on your status page after submitting your application: recommenders, test scores (TOEFL only, GRE not accepted), contact information (email, phone, address).
ICME will not accept additional updates to applications after you've submitted, including updated transcripts, publications, presentations, job offers, or any other materials.
When will I find out about the decision on my application?
Please check the Important Deadlines page for the decision date of this year's admissions cycle.
If you do not receive an email from our office by the posted decision date, you may email us to inquire about your application status. Include your first and last names as used on the application and your mailing address. Please do not call our office, as we are unable to provide any applicant information over the phone.
Does ICME accept deferrals?
ICME does not allow one-quarter deferrals. A one-year deferral may be approved on a case-by-case basis. Please contact ICME student services after you are admitted to request a deferral. Deferral deadlines vary year to year, all admitted students will receive a deferral deadline with their admission information, and all deferral requests must be received by that deadline.
Does ICME accept reapplications?
Reapplying after not receiving an admission offer is not recommended and it is very rare that applicants applying a second time are successful.
PhD and MS applicants interested in reapplying must submit a new application with all required documents by the application deadline. For re-applicants it is recommended that you indicate in your statement of purpose the ways in which you are a stronger or better prepared candidate than you were in a previous application cycle.
What if I have a question that has not been addressed here?
If your question has not been answered by the above FAQs and links, please email us at icme-admissions@stanford.edu. For MS applicants contacting us in advance of the January 2025 application deadline, please note that we will not be responding to email inquiries during the winter closure (December 20, 2024 - January 6, 2025). We will respond to your email when the office reopens in January.