The GRE is required
The page says an official GRE score is required and evaluated holistically.
Doctoral · Stanford Economics
Stanford Economics PhD: a required GRE, a 250-word statement and a coursework spreadsheet
The Stanford Economics PhD page, labelled for Academic Year 2027-28, says the Economics Department requires an official GRE score and evaluates it holistically. It asks for a statement of purpose of at most 250 words, three letters of recommendation, a writing sample of up to 10 pages, unofficial transcripts and a coursework spreadsheet. It does not describe the Graduate School of Business programmes, which are separate.
Official information · last verified for 2027-28 entry
What Stanford asks for in Stanford Economics PhD
Taken from the Stanford Department of Economics Applying to Stanford page and doctoral-programme page and read on 2 November 2026. The page describes 2027-28 entry. For a 2028-29 start, applied for in 2027-28, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; Stanford's requirements, dates and funding for 2028-29 are awaiting publication, and none is stated here.
A 250-word statement
The statement of purpose has a maximum of 250 words, with an optional further statement of up to 250 words.
A coursework spreadsheet
Economics-related coursework is listed in a standardised format alongside transcripts.
Official sources
Read on 2 November 2026 on the Stanford Department of Economics Applying to Stanford page and doctoral-programme page, which describes 2027-28 entry. The application portal, deadlines, funding and the English-test scores were not used and are not stated. No deadline, fee, funding amount or place number is stated.
The decision
Does your record fit what the programme page asks?
This guide concerns only the Stanford research degree. The reading below is Avandy's judgment (heuristic), built from what the programme page says.
It fits if
you can take the GRE early, have academic or research letter writers and can write a very short statement and a writing sample.
Think again if
you are looking for the Graduate School of Business route. That is a separate programme on separate pages.
Check the page
The Graduate School's programme page is the source; deadlines, funding and score thresholds change by cycle and are not stated here.
How the application is read
What the programme page lists
The page lists the required materials for Academic Year 2027-28: an official GRE score, a statement of purpose of at most 250 words, three letters of recommendation, a writing sample of up to 10 pages, unofficial transcripts from each institution attended for at least a year, proof of a bachelor's degree or equivalent, a TOEFL iBT Academic score for those whose first language is not English, and a coursework spreadsheet. It says the committee gives each complete application an individualised, holistic review. This guide states no deadline, fee or funding term.
How the programme runs
Focus and working pattern
The doctoral-programme page describes a full-time PhD. Students complete the first-year core sequences in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, choose two major fields, complete four further graduate courses, take field seminars and complete one quarter of teaching. A core course may be waived only on prior coverage of at least 90% of the material, by request to the Director of Graduate Studies.
Avandy's judgment
Where an application can go wrong
These points are Avandy's heuristic reading of the page. They are not Stanford rules and carry no probability.
Assuming the GRE is optional
For Academic Year 2027-28 the page says an official GRE score is required.
Writing a long statement
The statement has a maximum of 250 words, so there is little room for general background.
Mixing up two Stanford economics routes
The Department of Economics PhD and the Graduate School of Business programmes are separate; this page covers the Department only.
Next steps
A sensible order of work
The order is Avandy's suggestion, built from the page's own steps.
Check your record
Compare your coursework and experience with the stated expectations.
Prepare the written work
Draft the statements and writing sample the page asks for, in the formats it lists.
Plan the tests
Check which tests are required, optional or not accepted.
Read the current page
Read the programme page for the cycle you apply in.
Planning for 2028-29 entry
Planning for 2028-29 entry: what carries over and what awaits publication
Stanford's programme page describes entry in 2027-28. A start in 2028-29 means applying in the 2027-28 cycle, under rules Stanford has not yet published. Each item below is either last verified for 2027-28 entry, which means Stanford published it for the previous cycle and it may change, or awaiting publication for 2028-29 entry.
The structure of the programme and the application
The expectations, the written work and the test policy are described on Stanford's programme page, which carries no entry-year label. Stanford has not published the following cycle.
Deadlines, places, funding and fees
This guide states none of them. Stanford publishes them per cycle; read the page again for the cycle you apply in.
What to do now
Check your record against the programme page, prepare the written work it lists and plan any required test.
Support
Independent support with the research statement and fit
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Stanford University or any of its departments, and it has no relationship with any member of staff. Support sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant and a PhD-level Academic Mentor help the applicant test a research idea against the department's published research areas and plan their own statement. Support here is limited to testing a research idea against the department's published research themes and planning the applicant's own statements; it does not extend to contacting staff on the applicant's behalf. Avandy does not write or submit any part of an application, cannot arrange a supervisor and promises no outcome or funding.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What does the Stanford Economics PhD ask for?
For Academic Year 2027-28 the statement of purpose has a maximum of 250 words, with an optional additional statement of up to 250 words.
Is a test required?
For Academic Year 2027-28 the page says the Economics Department requires an official GRE score, evaluated holistically, and requires TOEFL iBT Academic scores from applicants whose first language is not English, with alternative English tests not accepted. This guide concerns the Department of Economics PhD, not the Graduate School of Business programmes.
Does this guide state a deadline?
No. The page carries no entry-year label and this guide states no deadline, fee or funding. Check the programme page for the cycle you apply in.
Does the programme include funding?
This guide did not use Stanford's funding sections and states no funding.
Students and families
Talk to us about the Stanford Economics PhD
Tell us about your degrees, your research experience, the research question you want to pursue and the supervisors or groups you have in mind. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to develop the research statement.