Admissions

Application deadline for Fall 2026 admission: December 2, 2025

IMPORTANT: Information about the GC Admissions Match (and how to obtain an NMS number)

The MS Program in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling at Stanford University is participating in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match through National Matching Services (NMS) beginning with admissions for Fall 2018. The GC Admissions Match has been established to enhance the process of placing applicants into positions in masters-level genetic counseling programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). The Match uses a process that takes into account both applicants’ and programs’ preferences. All applicants must first register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs. At the conclusion of all program interviews, both applicants and programs will submit ranked lists of preferred placements to NMS according to deadlines posted on the NMS website. The binding results of the Match will be released to both applicants and programs simultaneously in late April. Please visit the NMS website at (https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions) to register for the match, review detailed information about the matching process, and to view a demonstration of how the matching algorithm works.

GCEA has established a waiver for the $100 fee associated with the NMS Match. Prospective students who demonstrate financial need AND have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater can apply for a match fee waiver. Prospective students should apply for a fee waiver BEFORE registering for an NMS number. Match fee waivers cannot be awarded to applicants who have already registered for the Match and paid the registration fee.

Applications for the match fee waiver are due by October 3, 2025. Applicants will be notified by October 31, 2025 as to whether they have received a waiver. There are a limited number of waivers, so not all applicants will receive a waiver. Instructions for how to register for the NMS match will be provided to those who receive a waiver.

Waivers are non-transferable to future match cycles or other prospective students. Prospective students who are applying for a match fee waiver will be required to write a short essay and to upload at least one of the following documents demonstrating financial need:
1. A copy of a letter verifying unemployment benefits received within the past two years.
2. A copy of a letter on official letterhead from a government agency verifying that you or your family have qualified for public assistance based on low income criteria anytime within the past 5 years
3. A copy of your financial aid award letter from another / previous institution dated within 5 the past years
4. A copy of your approved GRE fee waiver (for tests taken within 5 years of the application deadline)
5. A copy of your federal Student Aid Report (SAR) that verifies you qualified for financial aid within the past 5 years based on a family contribution of:
* Not more than $1,500 if the student is a dependent student
* Not more than $1,900 if the student is an independent student
To apply, click here: https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/applicants/register.html

Please direct any questions about the Match Fee Waiver process or requirements to gcmatchwaivers@gcea.onmicrosoft.com

IMPORTANT: Information about the SU-GC Program and the Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Join dozens of Stanford Medicine students who receive up to three years of funding and valuable leadership skills as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS).

KHS admits up to 100 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 multidisciplinary and multicultural cohort, participate in up to three years of KHS's leadership program, and receive full funding for up to three years of your graduate 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.

If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 8, 2025. Learn more about KHS admission.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars application deadline: 1:00pm pacific time, October 8, 2025

MS Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling application deadline: December 2, 2025

Callan Russell (2020 KHS Cohort)

"The combination of the SUGC and KHS programs created a graduate school experience unlike anything I imagined. My first friends (and eventual roommates) at Stanford were fellow Knight-Hennessy scholars who I met at my interview weekend. Living with three other KH scholars who were all from very different parts of the world and working toward very different graduate degrees afforded me the opportunity to experience new cultures and worldviews from the intimacy of my home, all while being exposed to countless others in the KHS program with diverse experiences and expertise. My world grew larger daily as I met new KH scholars and learned about the problems and projects they were passionate about. This, coupled with the opportunity for collaboration across disciplines, provided me with the inspiration and tools to engage in meaningful connection and teamwork to work toward achieving my own goals and the goals of others. Completing my genetic counseling training while in the KHS program elevated the already extraordinary GC training I was receiving. I was afforded the opportunity to focus on my GC training while supplementing my learning through KH programing and leadership development. Both programs undoubtedly shaped the genetic counselor I am today. I am grateful to the SUGC program who fostered my clinical skills while encouraging thoughtful consideration about diversity within genetic counseling, building my autonomy as a genetic counselor, and prioritizing my career goals. Because of these two programs, I stepped into my first day as a clinical genetic counselor equipped with confidence in my clinical skills as well as the tools necessary to identify needs within my community and clinic and work toward creative solutions to meet these needs."

Application Overview

Eligibility: To be eligible for admission to any graduate program at Stanford, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

You must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Stanford, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.
For applicants who earned their qualifying degree outside the United States: If you are unsure whether your international degree is considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, we recommend using the degree equivalency tool offered by World Education Services (WES).

As a graduate student enrolled at Stanford, you will be expected to read English with ease, understand rapid idiomatic English as used in lectures and group discussions, and express thoughts quickly and clearly in spoken and written English.

Effective for applicants starting graduate study in 2026: You are not required to submit English proficiency test scores if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Your first language is English.
You earned a U.S. bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, or international equivalent from a university where all instruction was conducted in English.
You have two or more consecutive years of professional or educational experience in English, in the past 10 years.

If you do not meet any of the criteria listed above, then at the time of application you are required to submit an official test score from an approved English proficiency test.

Required Application Materials: All applicants will be required to submit Stanford's online application for graduate admission (available in late September-early October). Instructions about submitting these application materials are found within Stanford’s online application.

$125 application fee
- Click HERE for information about graduate application fee waivers
3 letters of reference
English Proficiency Test (TOEFL/IELTS) (if applicable)
CV (Resume)
Personal Statement
Supplemental Essay
Transcript(s) from all postsecondary institutions you have attended as a full-time students for one year or longer or from which you completed a relevant course
- Applicants must upload one scanned version of their transcript(s) to the online application
- ONLY matriculated students will need to have official transcripts sent to our program

Please carefully review our How to Apply page for additional details about our program's application requirements.

Enhancing Stanford's learning community

The MS Program in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

The MS Program in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review process is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, prior research experience, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field and how they might enrich the learning community at Stanford.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Stanford University admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or marital status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University. Consistent with its obligations under the law, in the administration of the University's programs and activities, Stanford prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law; Stanford also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence. This policy applies to Stanford programs and activities both on and off-campus, including overseas programs.

2025 Prospective Applicant Webinar

Our co-directors hosted our annual SUGC webinar for prospective applicants on October 7, 2025. We encourage you to watch the recording if you were unable to join us live: https://tinyurl.com/2t99nvy7

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