Frequently Asked Questions

To learn more, please review the information found on the Office of Graduate Admissions website.

If you are interested in applying to the M.S. in CHPR and would like to receive information about upcoming information sessions and program updates, please fill out the following form.

Applications for the M.S. are accepted only once per year. Learn more about our application deadlines on the Admissions Page.

For information regarding eligibility for graduate study at Stanford, please see the Graduate Admissions eligibility page.

To check the status of your application (e.g., letters of recommendation received, official TOEFL scores, etc.), go to the Graduate Admissions "Apply Now" page and click on the "Visit Your Status Page" button at the bottom of the page.

All materials, including all letters of recommendation, must be received by the due date. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

There are no particular prerequisites for the CHPR program, and we welcome all majors. That being said, it serves candidates well to have taken a college level statistics course and have some experience doing research and handling data. Your transcript and experience should show that you are prepared to handle graduate level work successfully.

No. We only require transcripts (academic records) from postsecondary institutions you have attended as a full-time student for one year (i.e., three quarters or two semesters) or longer.

If you are applying as part of a T-32 grant, you may apply on a rolling admission basis for Autumn quarter start. Please contact TO Preising for more information on how to apply.

Yes. CHPR welcomes applications from Knight-Hennessy Scholars candidates. Due to applications for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program being due in the fall, we offer an earlier admission review for CHPR for Knight-Hennessy Scholars candidates only. Please see the External Applicants page under "Application Timeline for Knight-Hennessy Scholars Candidates" for more information.

The online application fee is $125 for all applicants, both domestic and international. If you are considering applying to Stanford graduate programs and need assistance with the application fees, consider applying for a fee waiver. 

Please note that as a master's program in the School of Medicine, CHPR program applicants are not eligible for a school-based fee waiver.

See here for tuition rates. Note that CHPR is a 45 unit masters program which most students complete in four academic quarters: autumn, winter, and spring, with one unit in summer to complete their thesis. CHPR is in the regular Graduate program category, not School of Medicine category, which is the (more expensive) MD program rates. 

For a holistic Stanford graduate school budget estimator which includes room, board, fees, and expenses, see here.

NOTE: CHPR is unfunded and does not have scholarships, fellowships or student employment such as TAships or CAships for its students. Most CHPR students fund their program through a combination of loans, savings, outside scholarships, and part-time jobs. We urge all applicants to think carefully about how they will fund their masters program before accepting an offer.

You must upload one scanned version of your official transcript(s) in the online application.

If admitted, you will find details about where to send your official transcripts on your application status page, after accepting the offer of admission.

Any offer of admission is contingent upon authentication of official transcripts submitted directly to Graduate Admissions. Electronic transcripts are preferred.  See here for more transcript information.

Applicants need three recommendations from faculty or other non-family members qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. At least one evaluation and letter should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years). Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work.

Recommenders are to submit the letters online - not by mail, fax, or e-mail. When you enter the names and email addresses of your recommenders in the online application, they will receive a message with instructions on how to set up a recommender account. They will then be able to electronically submit their recommendations directly to Stanford.

No. Stanford no longer accepts recommendations via Interfolio. 

Recommenders are to submit the letters online - not by mail, fax, or e-mail. When you enter the names and email addresses of your recommenders in the online application, they will receive a message with instructions on how to set up a recommender account. They will then be able to electronically submit their recommendations directly to Stanford.

While there is no minimum GPA required to apply, your transcript should show that you are prepared to handle graduate level work.

GRE or MCAT test scores are optional.

Official scores must be reported directly to Stanford from Educational Testing Service. Stanford's ETS institutional code is 4704. Individual department code numbers are not necessary.  As long as the institutional code of 4704 is selected, the score will be electronically delivered to Stanford.

To submit MCAT scores, see the FAQ "How do I submit my MCAT scores?"

You will upload a screenshot of your MCAT scores in the Document Uploads section of the application, but first you must advance past the (required) GRE General Test score reporting questions. To do this,

1. In the “Testing Information” section of the application, for “GRE General Test”,:

1. select “I have a future GRE General Test Date”, then
2. enter a dummy future test date

2. Then in the “Document Uploads/Additional Information” section of the application

1. select “Other” and 
2. upload a screenshot of your MCAT scores

3. Email chpradmissions@stanford.edu with the subject line "MCAT submitted by [your last name]".

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. International students enrolled at Stanford must be able to read English with ease, understand rapid idiomatic English as used in lectures and group discussions, and express thoughts quickly and clearly in spoken and written English.

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit a recent official score from an English Proficiency Test (TOEFL/IELTS). U.S. citizenship does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking an English Proficiency Test if the applicant's first language is not English. For guidance on English profiency, see the Office of Graduate Admissions webpage International Applicants- English Proficiency and  Exam Requirements for International Applicants.  

Yes. The CHPR program requires a minimum of TOEFL score of 110 and a minimum IELTS score of 8.

Applicants should have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) send scores electronically to Stanford. Our university code is 4704. It does not matter what department code is specified. You will either self-report your scores or indicate the date you will take the test in the online application. Self-reported scores will not be considered official until Stanford receives the electronic record directly from ETS and the scores match. Any offer of admission is contingent upon the self-reported TOEFL scores matching those from ETS.

Scores submitted to Stanford must be from a test taken within the last 18 months. No scores are valid beyond the date ETS will send or resend them to schools.

Only valid test scores will be accepted.

You are required to take the TOEFL/IELTS if your first language is not English and you do not qualify for an exemption/waiver. Refer to Test Scores for more information, including exemption/waiver guidelines. Our team does not make determinations regarding exemptions/waivers.

If you apply for a waiver with Graduate Admissions, once you have submitted that form please also email chpradmissions@stanford.edu with the subject line "English Proficiency waiver requested by [your last name]".

If your school has not converted your GPA for you, enter 0.00 in the GPA fields of the online application. Your GPA will be calculated from your transcripts.

You will be asked to upload your statement in the online application. You may upload only one file (not to exceed two pages in length, single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to a Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts.

Please contact Technical Support by submitting a request via the "Request Application Support" button on the "Instructions" page of your application.

Please review these helpful resources to learn more about coterminal programs at Stanford:

• The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education
• Stanford Bulletin
• Stanford UNDERGRAD Information

If you are interested in applying to the M.S. in CHPR and would like to receive information about upcoming information sessions and program updates, please fill out the following form.

Applications for the M.S. are accepted only once per year. Learn more about our application deadlines on the Admissions Page.

Check the status of your application and whether all materials, including letters of recommendation, have been received by going to the Coterm Application Home page and clicking on "Returning User". 

All materials, including all letters of recommendation, must be received by the due date. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

To be eligible, applicants must satisfy the below criteria. 

• Applicants must be current Stanford undergraduate students.
• All applicants must have earned 120 units toward graduation (UTG) as shown on the undergraduate unofficial transcript. This includes allowable Advanced Placement (AP) and transfer credit.
• Applicants must have a major(s) declared.
  
• Applicants must have completed six non-summer quarters at Stanford (or two non-summer quarters at Stanford for transfer students)

CHPR accepts coterm applications once per year. Per university policy, coterm students must not confer their undergraduate degree before matriculating into their graduate career. Coterm students should contact the CHPR office before applying to graduate from their undergraduate program.

No. You must decide which courses will count toward your undergraduate degree and which courses will count toward the M.S. degree. You cannot double count courses between two degrees. After admission, you can request that eligible courses be transferred from your undergraduate career to your graduate career by filing a Course Transfer Request, which is an eForm in the Axess eForm portal.

For more information on course transfer, please see Student Services' Coterm Course Transfer page.

As a coterminal student in the M.S. in CHPR, you may count eligible courses taken no more than three non-Summer quarters back from your first graduate quarter.

Courses eligible for transfer:

1.     All CHPR subject code courses or their crosslistings taken for a letter grade within the eligible three quarters back term;

2.     No more than one Biostats and Methods pre-approved course listed on the CHPR Preliminary Program Plan (tab 2 "Other Biostatistics and Methods") taken for a letter grade within the eligible three quarters back term. The CHPR program plan is on the CHPR Forms page.

Please note that you cannot double count courses between your undergraduate and master's degree. To count eligible previously taken courses toward the M.S. degree you will file a Course Transfer Request, which is an eForm in the Axess eForm portal. The form will be routed for approval to your undergraduate major department(s), the CHPR Office, and the Registrar's Office.

Please see Student Services' Coterm Course Transfer page for more information.

The GRE is not required for coterm applicants.

No.

Your transcript should show that you are ready and able to handle graduate work successfully, but there is no minimum GPA required to apply.

No. All majors are welcome to apply.

The application requirements for current enrolled Stanford graduate students are different from those of external applicants and coterminal applicants.  To learn more, please visit the Stanford Graduate Student Applicants page.

If you are interested in applying to the M.S. in CHPR and would like to receive information about upcoming information sessions and program updates, please fill out the following form.

If you still have questions about the M.S. in CHPR or your application, please contact:

TO Preising, Assistant Director, Operations

SPRC Education Programs

preising@stanford.edu

See here for tuition rates. Note that CHPR is a 45 unit masters program which most students complete in four academic quarters: autumn, winter, and spring, with one unit in summer to complete their thesis. CHPR is in the regular Graduate program category, not School of Medicine category, which is the (more expensive) MD program rates. 

For a holistic Stanford graduate school budget estimator which includes room, board, fees, and expenses, see here.

No. CHPR is unfunded and does not have scholarships, fellowships, or student employment such as TAships or CAships for its students through the program or the department.

Most CHPR students fund their program through a combination of loans, savings, outside scholarships, and part-time jobs. We urge all applicants to think carefully about how they will fund their masters program before accepting an offer.

The Stanford Prevention Research Center has no funding/financial aid available for M.S. students. To learn more about graduate financial assistance, please visit the Stanford Financial Aid Office. All financial aid information must be confirmed by the Financial Aid Office. The CHPR program does not have any authority or responsibility regarding financial aid.

Please note: Stanford undergraduates who have received financial aid should check with the Stanford Financial Aid Office before applying to determine the impact of enrolling in the coterminal M.S. on their financial aid package.

There are many MPH programs offered across the country and not all are the same. Researching specific MPH programs of interest will help you better understand the key differences and areas of overlap between our Master of Science program and any MPH programs you may be considering.

Yes, the master's thesis is required for all CHPR students. Please see more information on the Program Requirements Page.

Applicants: please do not reach out to faculty to ask about the program or about their labs and research. Our mentors have been asked to refer all enquiries to the CHPR Office.

Admitted students: please do not contact faculty with questions outside of the matching process. The CHPR mentor matching process begins in late summer/early autumn quarter, and you will have opportunities to discuss your interests and learn about the faculty and their research during the matching process.

The CHPR mentor matching process begins in late summer/early autumn quarter. To respect our mentors' time, CHPR students should not contact faculty with questions outside of the matching process. You will have opportunities to discuss your interests and learn about the faculty and their research during the matching process.

At the beginning of the matching process, we ask students to let us know three things: 

Ideally, we will match you with a mentor that hits all three of your interests above, but it is more likely that we will match you with a mentor that hits one or two. CHPR students are placed in a wide variety of internships, with no particular one being typical. Most of our mentors only take on one or two students for the year, and mentor research may change from one year to the next due to the variable nature of research in academia. First and foremost, it is important for students to understand that we cannot match you with research that is not being done at Stanford. Finally, we work with our mentors to ensure that students have the best experience possible as they go through the program.

No. The required community-based research internship must take place after you officially enroll in the M.S. program. Your internship must take place over 2 consecutive quarters (not including Summer) and must be supervised by your CHPR mentor.

In that situation, your mentor must be willing to and agree to supervise you as you work on an internship project with that specific community partner. This is less likely to take place if your internship project does not fall within your mentor's general area of expertise or it is unclear how this community partner will allow you to apply the CHPR curriculum within a 2-quarter long internship.

Most students are not matched with their mentor until well after Autumn quarter begins, and it is not possible to start the internship at that time. Also, the focus of the first quarter is on coursework to help provide the CHPR students with an intellectual basis to inform their internship. For these reasons, most students should plan to do their internship during winter and spring quarters.

The program is designed to be completed in one academic year, typically Autumn through Summer, with the summer quarter used to finish the thesis.

All requirements for a master's degree must be completed within three years after the student's first term of enrollment in the master's program. Students pursuing a coterminal master's degree must complete their requirements within three years of their first quarter of graduate standing.

We highly recommend admitted students have taken basic college statistics before beginning the program. if that is not possible, Khan Academy or similar online courses for health sciences may be helpful for those who do not have a grounding in statistics. If you take these types of online courses before applying, you should mention it on your application.

Please see Stanford's policy on auditing courses.