Overview

About the program

Most subfields of Religious Studies at Stanford University involve intensive text and language study as part of graduate training. Students are expected to explore a wide range of methodological approaches to their chosen area of interest.

The department works collaboratively with faculty in other departments, and students are encouraged to use the resources available through the departments of History, Art and Art History, Comparative Literature, Philosophy, Anthropology, and elsewhere, as appropriate.

Students benefit from a steady flow of outstanding visiting scholars, collaborative relationships with other institutions (including Stanford’s graduate exchange program), and opportunities to study abroad. The annual student-run Graduate Student Conference is also a significant event in graduate student life.

Programme Structure

Fields of study include:

American Religions
Buddhist Studies
Islamic Studies
Jewish Texts and Traditions
Late Antiquity
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy
South Asian Religions
Individually Designed Program

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-22 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-12-05 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

Theology and Religious Studies View 98 other PhDs in Theology and Religious Studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

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Other requirements

General requirements

completed application form (including indication of intended area or field of study in the department)
application fee
statement of purpose
unofficial transcript for each institution attended for a year or more
Official copies of each transcript will be requested after decisions are made.
three confidential letters of recommendation (recommenders upload to online application)
writing sample of recent work on a religious studies topic

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.

Get your student insurance now

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

To always see correct tuition fees

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 Religious Studies.

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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