Overview

Course programs in the areas of faculty interest are tailored to the student's needs and interests with the aid of his or her research adviser. This Earth and Planetary Sciences program is offered at Stanford University.

About the program

Students are encouraged to include in their program courses offered in other departments in the School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences as well as in other departments in the University.

Graduate Studies in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (formerly Geological Science) involve academic coursework and independent research. Students are prepared for careers as professional scientists in research, education, or the application of the Earth and planetary sciences to mineral, energy, water, and space resources. Course programs in the areas of faculty interest are tailored to the student’s needs and interests with the aid of their research advisor. Students are encouraged to include in their program courses offered in other departments at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and other departments in the university.

PhD students are encouraged to broaden and deepen their knowledge by taking formal coursework in earth sciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and engineering. Students must consult with their research advisor(s) regarding course selection. Some specific programs in EPS have additional course and examination requirements that must be fulfilled before advancing to PhD candidacy. Students should consult with their advisor(s) about possible requirements in addition to the general EPS requirements.

Programme Structure

Research topics include:

surface processes
geomorphology
geomechanics
structural and regional geology
tectonics
sedimentary geology and basin analysis
life and planetary evolution
petrology
geochemistry
mineralogy and mineral physics
environmental geology
geochronology and thermochronology
geostatistics

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-22 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-12-06 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

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Credits

135 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Stanford, United States

Disciplines

Geology Geographical Information Systems (GIS) View 68 other PhDs in Geology in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

Other requirements

General requirements

Online application
Application fee
Statement of purpose
Supplemental questions (Answered in the online application)
Three letters of recommendation
Scanned copy of official transcript(s)
TOEFL, if applicable

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Stanford University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

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International

25440 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 12720 USD per semester during 60 months.
National

25440 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 12720 USD per semester during 60 months.
In-State

25440 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 12720 USD per semester during 60 months.

quarterly tuition

Living costs for Stanford

1100 - 1600 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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