Frequently Asked Questions for the Predoctoral Research Fellows Program

The deadline is typically in early January.

The application link will be available each autumn.

No, there is no fee to apply to the predoctoral program.

The deadline for letters of recommendation is typically one week after the application deadline. At least two faculty members or other references should be able to attest to your relevant skills and experience.

The SlideRoom application platform will send emails directly to your references requesting that they upload their recommendation letters through a provided link that will connect the uploaded documents to your online application.

Letter writers may submit letters of recommendation at any time after receiving the link and do not have to wait for you to complete and submit the application. Please submit recommender names early, even if you plan to finalize your application closer to the deadline.

As a courtesy to the recommenders, you should receive confirmation that the recommender is willing to write a letter, before submitting their names on SlideRoom.

We typically contact shortlisted candidates by mid-February for a phone/video interview and to complete a short data manipulation and analysis exercise using Stata, R, or another programming language.

The King Center will communicate all admissions decisions by the end of February.

Predoctoral Research Fellows will need to be on campus no later than June 30 for a July 1 start.

You may submit unofficial transcripts at the time of application, but final official transcripts may be requested upon acceptance into the predoctoral program.

While we do not require GREs, please include them in your application if you have them already.

Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply if the type of work will provide useful preparation in applying to PhD programs in their chosen field.

Yes, students with master’s degrees are eligible to apply.

No, this program is intended for those who have not yet started a doctoral degree.

You may apply with no formal research experience, but you need to address in your application how your skills and background will help you succeed in research.

We expect Predoctoral Research Fellows to have some experience with data manipulation and analysis—this is why we require a data exercise as part of the application process. You will be expected to rapidly learn and use specific programs such as Stata or R in order to assist on faculty research projects. We also provide some short “bootcamp” courses on data analysis during the first months of the program.

Stanford’s assessment of a foreign degree is based on the characteristics of a national educational system, the type of institution attended, and the level of studies completed. These Stanford University guidelines indicate the minimum level of study required of applicants from recognized academic institutions outside the United States. Please note that the King Center is not authorized to make exceptions to Stanford University guidelines regarding the minimum level of study and international academic credentials required for graduate student admissions.

For the initial application, you may submit transcripts in the original language. In order to be admitted to the program, however, original-language records must be submitted with accompanying official English translations. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records, and all supporting materials must be in English.

The university reserves the right to require additional academic documents. If we are unable to verify the nature or authenticity of your academic documents, you may be asked to obtain an evaluation from a foreign credential evaluation service at your own cost. Please see these Stanford University guidelines for more information.

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required. You 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.

If your first language is not English, you will be required to submit scores from a valid TOEFL exam unless you have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in which English was the only language of instruction. You are not required to submit TOEFL scores with the initial application, but you must submit your TOEFL scores at a later stage in the application process in order to be admitted to the program. 

Some faculty research projects may require proficiency in additional languages.

No, the application must be completed in English.

Predoctoral Research Fellows will be assigned to work on projects within the King Center’s nine thematic areas, including the King Center’s initiatives. 

Predoctoral opportunities will change each year and will be listed on the application and website. Each opportunity listed will include a short blurb about the project and faculty mentors. Each opportunity may also indicate specific skills, like languages, that would be desirable for fellows to have for that opportunity.

The research assistance varies by faculty mentor, but tends to focus on data collection (fieldwork or at times archival work), data cleaning and analysis, as well as literature reviews and report writing.

Predoctoral Research Fellows are eligible to take one class per quarter in autumn, winter, and spring quarters. Classes taken for grades will be noted on your official Stanford University transcript.

King Center Predoctoral Research Fellows receive a financial fellowship that includes:

• Living stipend: We distribute a monthly stipend to support you financially during the program ($62,990 annually based on 2026–27 rate).
• Tuition: You will have the option to take up to one class (and no more than 6 units) per quarter in autumn, winter, and spring quarters in consultation with your faculty mentor, and we will cover the tuition of each class you elect to take.
• Health insurance and services: You will be eligible for health insurance benefits through the university, and we will cover your campus health service fee for access to services provided at Vaden Health Center.
• Transportation to Stanford: We will cover one-way transportation to Stanford to begin the program (up to $1,500 depending on location).

• Dedicated workspace: We will provide you with a workspace co-located with other King Center Predoctoral Research Fellows.
• University benefits: You will have access to a wide array of facilities and resources at Stanford, including access to recreation centers, libraries, and student services.
• Program support: We are here to support you throughout the duration of the program, answering programmatic questions and providing additional resources to support your success in the program. Additionally, you will be part of a larger community of other predoctoral fellows across campus.

Yes. Predoctoral Research Fellows are admitted to Stanford as non-matriculated graduate students, and the university supports predoctoral fellows in obtaining J-1 Research Scholar visas. We do not sponsor H-1B visas.

Yes, students eligible for OPT are encouraged to use it for this program.

No. Because King Center Predoctoral Research Fellows are non-matriculated graduate students, they do not receive a degree, diploma, or certificate.

You may apply to graduate programs at any institution—including Stanford. However, the King Center predoctoral program is not connected to graduate admissions at Stanford or any other institutions, so there is no guarantee of admission to any program.

Yes. The program follows Stanford’s Nondiscrimination Policy.