Stanford Internal Admissions

The Symbolic Systems M.S. Program admits a very limited number of current Stanford graduate students for a joint or additional Master's degree in Symbolic Systems. We maintain a Joint Degree Program with the Stanford Law School, and are open to applications from current graduate students in other schools at Stanford for "internal" admission to Symbolic Systems as an additional degree. Stanford internal students usually complete the program in one to two academic years.

Application Requirements

  • Project Area Statement: Current Stanford students are strongly encouraged to include a Project Area Statement (PAS) with a commitment from a prospective project advisor when applying for admission to the M.S. program. The PAS should be attached to the application, in the Additional Information section (page 15). Read more about the PAS requirement
    • Note: Students who expect to take more than one year to complete the Symbolic Systems M.S. program may apply without including a PAS. 
  • Original Research Paper: all applicants are highly encouraged, but not required, to include in their application one original research paper. A draft or work in progress of the paper is acceptable. 
  • In addition, your application must include the following:

    • Official online application and application fee
    • M.S. Program Proposal
    • Statement of Purpose outlining your goals and motivations for applying to the program.

    • Two letters of recommendation (one of which should come from a student’s prospective project advisor if a Project Area Statement is included).

    • Two official copies of your undergraduate and any graduate transcripts. Official Stanford transcript is requested and submitted through the online application. Please do not request an official paper transcript from the Registrar’s Office.

    • NOTE: The GRE is not required for Stanford-internal Applicants (Law, GSB, etc)

Application Deadline

The first round application deadline is February 1, 2023. The entire application and supplemental materials must be submitted online and are due by the deadline stated above (please note that we will not upload documents sent to us via email to your online application). Applicants will be notified in mid-March.

A second round deadline of May 1, 2023 is available to current Stanford students only. The entire application and supplemental materials must be submitted online and are due by the deadline stated above (please note that we will not upload documents sent to us via email to your online application). Applicants will be notified by early June. In order to apply for this second round, please contact symsys-sso [at] stanford.edu (symsys-sso[at]stanford[dot]edu) directly to ask for an application deadline extension request of May 1.