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Graduate Funding

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School of Engineering and School of Medicine fellowships

The Schools of Engineering and Medicine have generously funded graduate fellowships opportunities to outstanding students in the Department of Bioengineering. This funding opportunity is intended for outstanding candidates in graduate study leading to the PhD. To be considered for assistance as an entering student, it is necessary only to submit the application for admission to our PhD program with supporting documents. Recipients are notified at the time of admission.

Stanford Graduate Fellowships (SGF)

This prestigious, three-year university award is intended for outstanding candidates in graduate study leading to the PhD. The fellowship is selectively awarded to entering and current graduate students who are pursuing (or plan to pursue) a PhD in Bioengineering. The award provides a quarterly stipend and tuition for 8-10 units per quarter for 12 quarters. The selection process is demanding, requiring nomination and confirmation by both department and university committees.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars fellowships

Join dozens of Stanford Engineering and Medicine students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS).

KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your studies at Stanford.

Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment.

If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 11, 2023. Learn more about KHS admission.

External fellowships

We strongly suggest that students apply for fellowships from outside Stanford University. Below are some of the national fellowships available for students in Bioengineering:

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities
Hertz Foundation
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Vice Provost for Graduate Education Fellowships

Stanford’s Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) provides several fellowships for incoming and current students. A full list of their fellowships and eligibility requirements can be viewed here.

Bio-X fellowships

The Stanford Bio-X Graduate Fellowship Program provides current Stanford graduate students whose research interests are interdisciplinary in nature with three years of funding support. Because Stanford Bio-X Fellows work on the cutting edge at the intersection of disciplines, their potential to generate transformative discoveries for the benefit of human health is profound.

Training grant support

The Department of Bioengineering has access to a variety of training grants sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The availability of these funding opportunities varies from year to year.

To be considered for assistance as an entering student, it is necessary only to submit the Application for Admission to our PhD program with supporting documents. Notifications on financial aid are sent to recipients in March and April. One such funded training program, currently open to Bioengineering students, is Training in Biomedical Imaging Instrumentation (TBI2), which offers students educational opportunities in medical imaging sciences and the opportunity to train with faculty from the departments of Bioengineering, Radiology, Electrical Engineering, Radiation Oncology, Pediatrics and Medicine.

For rising second year PhD students, the Biotechnology Training Program (BTP) provides up to 2 years of NIH funding support.  This program provides an interdisciplinary training experience in biotechnology.  Interested students should apply directly to the training program in the spring.

Research assistantships

Research assistantships (RAs) are provided to both entering and continuing students in the Master of Science and PhD programs. In most cases, assistantships are awarded by individual faculty who have the necessary research funding.

Research assistants typically receive 8-10 units of tuition coverage and a monthly stipend (paid semi-monthly and subject to state and federal tax withholding), in exchange for 20 hours of work per week. RAs that provide less stipend and tuition coverage, and that require fewer hours of work per week, are also available. Entering students are awarded RA positions based upon the information provided in their admissions application. Current students typically contact faculty members to arrange research assistantships.

Teaching and course assistantships

Teaching/course assistantships are offered primarily to continuing students and to a limited number of entering graduate students. TA/CAs typically provide recipients with tuition coverage of 8-10 units and a monthly stipend (paid semi-monthly and subject to state and federal withholding). TA/CA-ships are offered by individuals who have been allocated the necessary funds to hire a TA/CA. TA/CAs must attend the TA Orientation offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning.

Graduate student loans

US citizens and permanent residents can apply for need-based loans. Information on student loans and application packets is available at the Financial Aid Office website.

Other resources

  • FastWeb (Financial Aid Search Through the WEB) — an online searchable database of more than 180,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans for graduate and postdoctoral students.
  • GrantsNet

Coterm Funding

The Bioengineering program does not provide department funding for the coterm program. We encourage all BioE coterm applicants to review the below websites for more information on funding and financial aid opportunities:

Engineering Coterminal Fellowship program
Eligibility: Students must be admitted to an engineering coterm program.

Bioengineering TA Opportunities
Eligibility: Students must be in their graduate tuition group and have completed 180 units

Coterm Funding Opportunities

Coterm Financial Aid