Current Graduate Students

Current graduate students wishing to continue at Stanford after receiving an M.S. degree must be approved for further study by the Autumn Quarter of their second year in the M.S. program. (This includes approval for the Ph.D. or Engineer’s degree in Aero/Astro, or for a degree in another department.) Such students may submit an application for the Ph.D. program in the Autumn Quarter (October 14, 2025 deadline) of their second year in the M.S. program.

If a student is approved for the Ph.D. program, a Graduate Program Authorization petition ($125 fee) must be submitted online through AXESS and fully approved before the M.S. is conferred. Enrollment as a Ph.D. student, including funding, will begin in the Winter Quarter of year two.

Current Stanford M.S. students interested in adding a Ph.D. program to their academic career should speak with the staff at the Aero/Astro Student Services Office about the necessary paperwork and relevant policies.

Students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. will need to verify their funding for the new degree and update their visa documentation, as part of the Graduate Program Authorization procedure. These forms are available from the Bechtel International Center. Support from research assistantships can be verified by the professor providing support and the Aero/Astro Student Services Office.

If you leave Stanford for employment or study at another institution and later wish to return for further degree work, you will need to submit a standard admission application to the department. Check with the Aero/Astro Student Services Office to verify deadlines and required credentials. International students will be subject to visa requirements when they are considered for admission.

Current Stanford Graduate Students in Other Departments

You may apply for admission to any of our degree programs, either for an additional degree or to transfer from your current department. Doctoral students may also elect a Ph.D. minor in Aero/Astro (and Aero/Astro Ph.D. students may minor in other fields). For information and the relevant forms, please come to the Aero/Astro Student Services Office.