A major chosen after university-wide admission
Stanford says you apply to the university as a whole, and the majors you indicate do not bind you in any way. The pages read describe no separate application to Science, Technology, and Society.
Undergraduate · Stanford
Stanford Science, Technology, and Society: a gateway, a core and a pathway of your own
Stanford does not admit applicants to a major. Applicants apply to the university as a whole, and majors indicated do not bind them. The Bulletin describes an interdisciplinary STS BA that asks students to build technical skills in one or two areas while studying their social dimensions, through a gateway requirement, six disciplinary courses, a pathway area of at least 50 units, or a self-designed pathway approved by the associate director.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Stanford says about Stanford Science, Technology, and Society
Taken from the Stanford Bulletin entry for the Science, Technology, and Society BA and Stanford Undergraduate Admission's First-Year, Testing and International pages, 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.
A gateway and six disciplinary courses
One must be a writing-in-the-major course and one a global course.
A pathway of at least 50 units
At least twelve courses come from the pathway's course list.
A self-designed option
Students can design their own pathway with approval of the associate director.
The SAT or ACT is required
Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required and sets no minimum. It has no preference for a specific curriculum, naming A-Level and IB.
Official sources
- Stanford Undergraduate Admission: First-Year Applicantsadmission.stanford.edu
- Stanford Bulletin: Science, Technology, and Society (BA)bulletin.stanford.edu
- Stanford Undergraduate Admission: Testingadmission.stanford.edu
Read on 2 November 2026 on the Stanford Bulletin entry for the Science, Technology, and Society BA and Stanford Undergraduate Admission's First-Year, Testing and International pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The Stanford Bulletin's requirement lists, the department website, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the Bulletin says the STS BA is
The Bulletin describes the programme as an interdisciplinary framework for understanding how science, technology and the social world interact, taught by affiliated faculty from over a dozen departments including Anthropology, Computer Science, Law and Political Science. The BA needs a minimum of 76 units within 180 university units: a gateway requirement, a disciplinary requirement of six courses and a pathway area of at least 50 units. All courses are taken for a letter grade with a C or higher.
Is it the right major?
STS beside Film and Media Studies and Public Policy
Stanford lists these as separate majors, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
STS fits if
you want to pair technical skills with a critical study of science and technology in society.
Film and Media Studies fits if
you want media and cinema as the subject. Avandy's Stanford Film and Media Studies guide covers it.
Public Policy fits if
you want policy analysis as the frame. Avandy's Stanford Public Policy guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A Stanford application, an SAT or ACT and A levels or the IB
Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required and that there are no minimum test scores required to be admitted. It does not have a preference for a specific curriculum, naming A-Level, IB, AP and national curricula, and asks international applicants to complete the coursework needed for a bachelor's degree programme in their home country. The major is not a separate application. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Stanford's.
Which pathway would you build around?
The Bulletin lists pathway areas and a self-designed route.
Which technical skills would you add?
Students develop technical skills in one or two areas.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB?
Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required and sets no minimum.
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 major page and the Stanford Bulletin entry, and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
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 Science, Technology, and Society?
No. Stanford says you apply to the university as a whole, not to a particular major, department or school.
Can I apply directly to STS at Stanford?
No. Stanford says you apply to the university as a whole, not to a particular major, department or school.
Can I design my own pathway?
Yes, subject to programme approval. The Bulletin says students must work with the associate director and have their proposal approved at least two quarters before graduating.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Stanford says ACT or SAT scores are required, and that there are no minimum test scores required to be admitted.
Do A levels and the IB count?
Stanford says it does not have a preference for a specific curriculum, naming A-Level, IB, AP and national curricula.
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 Science, Technology, and Society
Tell us about the student's curriculum, which pathway interests them, what technical skills they want to build 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.