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Frequently Asked Questions

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CEE Graduate Admissions FAQs

These answers are brief summaries. Potential applicants should follow the links and read the in-depth information at Graduate Admissions.

Where do I find further information?  
For University requirements, please thoroughly explore Stanford's Graduate Admissions website.

When may admitted applicants visit Stanford?  
CEE Visit Day is held during spring each year. Admitted applicants will be notified of the CEE Visit Day timeline in their letter of acceptance. If you have been admitted and are seriously considering Stanford's CEE program, please reserve this date for your Stanford visit, as we will be unable to accommodate a request to visit at another time.

How long does it take to get the MS degree?  
Our MS degree programs can be completed in one academic year (3 quarters). However, most students choose to complete the degree in 4 or 5 quarters.

How many faculty members do you have and how long have they been teaching?  
Please see our faculty roster. Our faculty is well-distributed in terms of experience and areas of emphasis.

What sort of job opportunities does the MS degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford usually enable?  
Graduates of our department are extremely versatile with regards to their post-MS careers. Our MS graduates enter a range of positions upon graduation, as engineers and consultants in private and public companies of all sizes, government agencies, and non-profits. You will find companies from all sectors actively recruiting Stanford Civil and Environmental Engineering graduates.

What are the application deadlines?  
Please check the deadlines provided on the Application Timelines and Deadlines page. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.

What if I have updated documents or information, or previously forgotten documents or information I want to add to my application after submission?
You cannot make any changes to your application materials after submission. Any application materials over email will not be accepted so please do not email them to us. All application materials must be submitted through the official application portal.  

May I apply to start graduate work in other times of the year than Autumn Quarter?  
No. For programmatic and curricular reasons, admitted students should plan to commence studies at the beginning of the academic year, in September.

Are GRE scores required for admission?  
No, the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department does not accept or consider GRE scores. 

Are TOEFL scores required for admission?  
In general, yes, if your first language is not English. On your application, self-report both your ETS scores and percentages. The Graduate Admissions website has further details about the university-wide test requirements and exceptions. Any request for a TOEFL waiver must be directed to central Graduate Admissions. Individual academic departments may not approve requests for waivers. In general, there is a high expectation for English language fluency in both formal use and informal interactions, in written and oral situations. One of the key goals of our educational programs is the further development of communication skills in English and ongoing opportunities are built into the curriculum.

For applicants applying to MS programs within the School of Engineering at Stanford, the minimum TOEFL scores are 89 (internet-based TOEFL test) and 575 (paper-based TOEFL test).

Can I submit IELTS scores instead of TOEFL scores?  
No, Stanford does not accept the IELTS.

Can my recommender use Interfolio to submit their letter?  
No, CEE does not consider letters submitted through Interfolio.

My transcripts are not in English. Will you accept them?  
Transcripts must be submitted with English translations from your school or a professional translating service. The translations must be literal, complete versions of the original documents.

What about Financial Aid?  
Please see our Graduate Funding page. You can find additional information on the Stanford Financial Aid website.

What is the usual size of the incoming Civil and Environmental Engineering MS Class?  
The typical MS cohort ranges from 20-60 MS students depending on the MS program.

Where do I send supplemental documents for my application?  
All application documents must be submitted electronically as part of your application. Official paper transcripts are not required unless admission is offered. Any application materials over email will not be accepted. You cannot make any changes to your application materials after submission. Please note that we cannot guarantee the review of materials, including letters of recommendation, received after the deadline.

Will there be any follow up interviews for my application?  
PhD applicants may be contacted for follow up interviews during the review of applications. However, please note that the number and timing of interviews do not signify any particular outcome regarding admissions decisions.

Do I need to submit a financial support form or other proof of ability to pay?  
Do not submit documents detailing financial support or ability to pay when applying. If you are accepted into Stanford, we will inform you of the information we need and send you the necessary forms. Do not send financial statements in advance.

How much will my tuition and other mandatory fees cost?
Please see here to calculate and estimate of your total costs

When will I find out about the decision on my application?  
Applicants can expect to hear from us in early March. All applicants must maintain current and correct email addresses so we can communicate with you via email. All decision letters are posted on your ApplyWeb account. Within fifteen minutes of your decision being posted, you will receive an email notification, unless you happen to check the portal within those fifteen minutes. 

If I want to enroll in online classes to get a head start before I start my CEE graduate program in the fall, where do I enroll?
Enroll as a Non-Degree Option (NDO) student through the Stanford Online platform. You can skip the application if you email scpd-gradstudents@stanford.edu a copy of your CEE admit letter and list the course(s) you want to enroll in. Stanford Online is managed by the Stanford Engineering Center for Global & Online Education (CGOE). You are responsible for paying the tuition cost. 

  • You will take the same courses as Stanford students who are already here, and earn Stanford credit and a Stanford transcript. Up to 18 units earned as an NDO student may be applied towards a Stanford master's degree.  
  • Classes are online only. NDO classes do not qualify you for Stanford housing over the summer.
  • Here is more information about the NDO Program
  • IMPORTANT: DO NOT enroll under the Summer Session Program if you want your units to be applied towards a Stanford master's degree. Summer Session units do not count towards a graduate degree per Stanford's Registrar's Office, even if the Summer Session courses look equivalent to the NDO courses. 

How to get more help:

Please carefully review the information on our website under the Graduate Admissions sections since most of the answers are posted there. If you still have further questions that are specific to graduate admission to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, contact cee-admissions@stanford.eduPlease be patient as we get many inquiries, especially around admission season. For help with the online application system and required application documents, submit a help ticket through your application portal instead. 

NOTE: Decision feedback is not available to applicants denied admission. We recognize that you devote a great deal of time and effort to your application, and may wish to discuss it with a member of our admissions committee or a faculty member. Regrettably, we are unable to provide individual feedback to any applicant due to the volume of applications received.
 

If you have MS program-specific questions after reading the information on our web site, please contact that MS program directly by sending an email to:

ProgramEmail
Atmosphere and Energyttsung2@stanford.edu (Tim Tsung)
Environmental Engineeringjchiueh@stanford.edu (Jack Chiueh); mfeldis@stanford.edu (Marjorie Feldis)
Sustainable Design & Constructiongwtuttle@stanford.edu (Geoffrey Tuttle)
Structural Engineering and Mechanicskvonner@stanford.edu (Kim Vonner)