Apply to the university, not a major
Stanford says you apply to the university as a whole and are not bound by any prospective major you indicate.
Undergraduate · Stanford
Stanford Bioengineering: a major, not a separate application
Stanford admits students to the university as a whole, not to a particular major, department or school, and applicants may indicate prospective majors without being bound by them. Bioengineering is one of its engineering majors, combining engineering with the life sciences through core BIOE classes from the second year, a student-selected depth area and a senior capstone. For an A-level or IB applicant, the questions are how the major is reached, what mathematics the Bulletin expects and what Stanford requires, including the SAT or ACT. This guide claims no direct admission to Bioengineering.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Stanford says about Stanford Bioengineering
Taken from Stanford Undergraduate Admission's First-Year, Testing and International Applicants pages and the Stanford Bulletin's Bioengineering BS page, read on 31 October 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Stanford's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Engineering fundamentals first
Students complete engineering fundamentals including an introduction to bioengineering and programming.
A depth area and a capstone
Core BIOE classes from the second year lead to a student-selected depth area and a senior capstone design project.
Mathematics sequence
Math 19, 20 and 21 are prerequisites for later requirements, and the CME series is strongly recommended over the MATH series.
SAT or ACT required, no curriculum preference
Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required, with no minimum, and has no preference between A-Level, IB, AP or national curricula.
Official sources
- Stanford Undergraduate Admission: First-Year Applicantsadmission.stanford.edu
- Stanford Bulletin: Bioengineering (BS)bulletin.stanford.edu
- Stanford Undergraduate Admission: Testingadmission.stanford.edu
Read on 31 October 2026 on Stanford Undergraduate Admission's First-Year, Testing and International Applicants pages and the Stanford Bulletin's Bioengineering BS page, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Stanford's Bioengineering department site, the School of Engineering handbook, the full BioE depth-area lists, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the Bulletin says Bioengineering is
The Bulletin describes a fundamental engineering degree whose raw materials and toolkits are defined by the properties of living systems, aimed at discovery, health care, manufacturing and policy. Students take engineering fundamentals, then core BIOE classes from the second year, then a depth area and a senior capstone. The department organises a summer REU programme. On mathematics, the Bulletin advises that Math 19, 20 and 21 precede the later requirements and recommends the CME series and CME 106 for statistics. This guide did not read the depth-area lists.
Is it the right major?
Bioengineering, Biology or Computer Science
Stanford describes each as a separate major, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Bioengineering fits if
you want engineering methods applied to living systems, with a capstone design project.
Biology fits if
your interest is life science rather than engineering design.
Computer Science fits if
your interest is computing. Avandy's Stanford Computer Science guide covers it.
Admission and testing
SAT or ACT, no minimum, and no curriculum preference
Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required, that there are no minimum test scores required to be admitted, and that it has no preference for a specific curriculum, naming A-Level, IB, AP and national curricula. International applicants should complete the coursework needed to apply to a bachelor's programme in their own system. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Stanford's.
Do you want engineering applied to biology?
The Bulletin defines the major that way.
Is your mathematics ready for the calculus sequence?
Math 19, 20 and 21 are the starting prerequisites.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT?
Stanford says one is required.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Stanford's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Stanford's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 31 October 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Stanford has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Stanford for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Bulletin's Bioengineering page and plan the SAT or ACT.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Stanford University or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Stanford University. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Stanford Bioengineering?
Stanford says you apply to the university as a whole, not to a particular major, department or school.
Am I bound by the major I indicate?
No. Stanford says applicants are not bound by their selections in any way.
What mathematics does the Bulletin expect?
The Math 19/20/21 series is a prerequisite for later requirements, and the CME series is strongly recommended over the MATH series.
Does Stanford prefer A-Levels or the IB?
Stanford says it has no preference for a specific curriculum, naming A-Level, IB, AP and national curricula.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required, with no minimum.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Stanford's wording with no entry-year label. Check Stanford's pages again when Stanford publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Stanford Bioengineering
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics and biology, whether bioengineering or another major fits and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.