Coterminal Application

There are three Public Policy coterminal application deadlines for the 2012-13 academic year: November 16, 2012, February 22, 2013, and April 26, 2013. Students graduating Spring 2010 or earlier are not eligible. Seniors wishing to apply to the coterminal program must apply during the November or February application cycles. All application materials must either be submitted directly to the Public Policy student services office, SIEPR Gunn Building, first floor, or can be emailed directly to publicpolicy@stanford.edu Letters of recommendation must include the recommenders' contact information, and if emailed, should be scanned and submitted as PDFs.  

Please note that beginning in the 2012-13 academic year, coterminal degree applicants will also need to submit GRE scores.

To apply for admission to the Public Policy coterminal M.A. program, students should submit the following:

• coterminal application;
• 1-2 page statement of purpose;
• a current resume;
• a preliminary program proposal that conforms to the degree requirements for majors or non-majors;  
• a statement indicating whether the student intends to later seek an MPP or to cease study after earning the MA;
• a current unofficial undergraduate transcript; 
• two letters of recommendation from Stanford faculty familiar with the student's academic work;
• All applicants must have completed (or be currently enrolled in) required preparatory coursework (MATH 51, ECON 1A, 1B, 50, 51, 52, 102A and 102B) prior to application, although exceptions will be made;
• official GRE scores sent to the Public Policy Program and an unofficial copy of GRE scores submitted with the application

  There is no cost to apply for the Public Policy coterminal degree.  Beginning Autumn 2013-2014, if you are accepted and begin the MA degree program, a $125 admission fee will be assessed by the University Registrar. 

 University regulations govern both the coterminal M.A. degree application process and the requirements for the degree. It is very important to consult the Stanford Bulletin for details. Undergraduates with strong academic records may apply for admission upon completion of 120 units, but no later than the quarter prior to the expected completion of the undergraduate degree.

Enrollment in the Public Policy coterminal program is limited and admissions decisions are based on the strength of each applicant’s academic record at Stanford and, to a lesser extent, on the applicant’s intention to pursue a career related to public service. The University requires that units for a given course may not be counted to meet the requirements of more than one degree; that is, no units may be "double-counted". Also, no courses taken more than two quarters prior to admission to the coterminal master’s program may be used to meet the 45-unit University minimum requirement for the master’s degree.