Students & Postdocs

Stanford treats undocumented students as U.S. domestic students in the undergraduate admission process, assessing their applications under the same need-blind admission policy it uses for citizens of the United States.

Below, read about Stanford’s commitments to undocumented students from Provost Persis Drell about financial assistance available to current students who need support renewing their DACA status, and for those who may be subject to the expiration of work authorization.

Stanford’s commitments to undocumented students 

Undocumented and DACAmented undergraduate applicants are not considered international students in the application process. Stanford will use institutional funds to meet the full demonstrated financial need of those undocumented students who are admitted More information for undocumented undergraduate applicants is available on the admission and financial aid websites.Citizenship and immigration status are not a condition of admission, and Stanford does not require undergraduates to have DACA status to enroll or receive financial aid. We welcome applications from all students who are ready to make the most of the extraordinary academic opportunities available at Stanford.

Learn about Undergraduate Admissions

Graduate admissions at Stanford are managed by individual schools; different graduate programs have different work and training requirements. Please visit the website of the school you are interested in for admissions and financial aid information.

Explore Graduate Admissions

The Leland Scholars Program and the Stanford Summer Engineering Academy are four week programs in the summer prior to one’s first quarter at Stanford that aim to help students from marginalized backgrounds in easing their transition into Stanford through taking courses, introduction to academic and personal support, and other programming. This program also extends throughout students’ Frosh year, as program mentors teach additional courses to continue to support the transition into a college setting. All students, regardless of immigration status, are invited to apply to either of these college-preparatory programs.

• Contact
  • The Leland Scholars Program Team
  • Stanford Summer Engineering Academy Program

• Academic Advising - The Academic Advising office provides academic support both individually and in small groups, with your primary academic advisor and your academic advising director (AAD). The Academic Advising office also provides specialized advising appointments for returning, pre-professional, transfer, and co-terminal students.
• Residential Education - The essential conviction of Residential Education is that living and learning should be integrated, not separate; that formal teaching, informal learning, and personal support in residences is integral to a Stanford education. The undergraduate residential experience is designed to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, health and well-being, belonging and community, and intellectual and personal growth.
  • Ethnic Theme Housing - There are many housing options available, but in particular members of the DACA/undocumented community may be interested in the ethnic theme housing.
    • Casa Zapata is the Chicanx and Latinx ethnic theme house, celebrating the rich diversity of the Latinx community at Stanford.
    • Muwekma-Tah-Ruk meaning “House of the People” in Muwekma Ohlone, is an ethnic theme house created to celebrate the diversity of Native American, Alaskan Native, and Pacific Islander folks.
    • Okada is an ethnic theme house that fosters community and opportunities for exploration for any student who feels connected to the Asian-American community.
    • Ujamaa is an ethnic theme house with a focus on the history and culture of the Black diaspora, hosting programming to educate and create bonds in/within the Black community.
• Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) - BOSP lets Stanford students study in 11 countries and New York for one or more quarters. It aims to promote cultural literacy and understanding of other perspectives. DACA students can participate but must get advance parole first. For details, email us.

• Graduate Life Office (GLO) - The Graduate Life Office (GLO) provides support and resources, but also helps refer graduate students to other support systems for academic, immigration, and safety needs.
• Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) - Serves Stanford’s entire graduate community aiming to enrich students’ academic experiences through fellowship programs, providing networking opportunities and promoting academic innovation.
• Your Department - Your department is the chief academic home at Stanford. If you need assistance to talk to an advisor about your status, work, projects, stipends or fellowships, please contact For Dreamers.

• Support Offices
  • Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
  • Centers for Equity, Community and Leadership
  • CareerEd (with specific resources for the PostDoc community)
  • The Diversity & Access Office ensures University-wide compliance with federal, state and local regulations concerning non-discrimination and disability access. The Diversity & Access Office works closely with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs to assist postdocs who need assistance with requesting disability-related accommodations. Discrimination support and resources are also available. The Diversity & Access Office is within the division ofInstitutional Equity & Access which also includes the office of the Ombuds and SHARE Title IX office.
• Wellness
  • Faculty-Staff Help Center
• Organizations
  • Stanford University Postdoctoral Association (SURPAS)
  • LGBTQ+ Postdoc Group
  • Stanford Chinese Postdoc Association (SCPA)
  • Stanford Latinx Postdoc Association (SLPA)
  • The Stanford Black Postdoc Association