Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the ongoing satisfactory maintenance of the School of Medicine's academic, professional, and technical, non-academic standards.

The School of Medicine's Committee on Performance, Professionalism, and Promotion (CP3) is responsible for reviewing all medical student records for the purpose of determining continuous progress towards and fulfillment of all standards for SAP. Outcomes for students, determined to not be fulfilling SAP standards, may include (but are not limited to) a prescribed and restricted curriculum and a change in eligibility status for those receiving financial aid. For more information on financial aid eligibility, please refer to the Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility Policy.

A. Academic Standards

Students are required to maintain academic standards in terms of units, number of years, scholarly concentrations, examinations, academic deficiencies, and promotion.

1. Units
   1. Students must take and successfully complete a minimum number of units as follows:
      1. During Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters (except for an approved Graduation Quarter status), a minimum of 9 units are required and, unless otherwise authorized by the CP3, a minimum of 1 unit must count toward the MD degree requirements outlined in Section 4.3: Academic Requirements for Graduation.
      2. During Summer Quarter, enrollment is optional for pre-clerkship students, but a minimum of 9 units are required to maintain financial aid eligibility. For clerkship students a minimum of 9 units are required and, unless otherwise authorized by the CP3, a minimum of 1 unit must count toward MD degree requirements.
      3. Students enrolling in 2 consecutive quarters of 3 (or fewer) units counting toward MD degree requirements will be reviewed by the CP3 to determine whether the SAP requirement is being fulfilled.
      4. Students in master’s or PhD programs that have required courses outside of the School of Medicine (either programs in another Stanford school or interdepartmental medical school programs) will be monitored for a per quarter unit requirement to be set by the other degree program.  For financial aid eligibility, students must enroll in at least 9 units. Professional degrees (e.g., MBA, JD) outside the School of Medicine do not qualify for financial aid funding from the School of Medicine Financial Aid Office.
      5. Per Academic Year: If enrolled in all quarters, students must complete at least 27 MD units each academic year (Autumn/Winter/Spring). Approved leave of absence quarters are excluded. For Summer financial aid eligibility, at least 36 units is required per academic year (Autumn/Winter/Spring/Summer). No financial aid will be disbursed to a student who completes less than the minimum required units.
2. Number of Years to Complete Degree Programs
   1. The number of years allotted to complete MD and combined degree programs is calculated from a student’s date of matriculation. This calculation includes all quarters, regardless of academic activity, including but not limited to enrollment in courses and clerkships, periods of non-enrollment, research and scholarship activities, leaves of absence, and time spent in industry or other non-academic pursuits. Students must also adhere to unit enrollment requirements, dual degree policies, and degree conferral policies.
   2. Standard Time Limits
      1. MD - 6 years
      2. MD + Master’s - 8 years
      3. MD + PhD - 11 years
         1. All students are ordinarily expected to complete the pre-clerkship curriculum within 3 years of matriculation.
         2. Students nearing the standard time limit will be reviewed by the CP3 and may be given stricter timelines for completing degree requirements or be required to pause or withdraw from non-MD degree programs to ensure MD degree progress. See Section 3.29: Dual Degrees for additional information.
         3. Students fail to meet SAP once it becomes evident that they cannot complete their degree program within the standard time limit, not at the point they reach the standard time limit. Students who fail to meet SAP may be subject to academic action, up to and including dismissal from the MD program.
   3. Maximum Time Limits
      1. MD - 8 years
      2. MD + Master’s - 10 years
      3. MD + PhD - 13 years
         1. Extensions beyond the standard time limit require a formal petition and approval by CP3. Approval is not guaranteed and will be based on academic progress, feasibility of the proposed plan, and adherence to the maximum time limit. Petitions must be pre-approved by an Academic Advising Dean and include:
            1. A clear and compelling justification for the requested extension.
            2. A detailed timeline for completing all remaining degree requirements.
         2. Students with approved program extensions must demonstrate continued progress toward completing their degree requirements.
            1. A student fails to meet SAP once it becomes evident that they cannot complete their degree within the approved extended timeline, not at the point they reach the end of that timeline.
               1. This determination may be made at any point based on academic performance, lack of progress, or failure to meet outlined milestones in the approved plan.
         3. Students who fail to meet SAP may be subject to academic action, up to and including a requirement to pause or withdraw from non-MD degree programs or dismissal from the MD program.
         4. Extensions beyond the maximum time limit will not be granted.
         5. Students failing to complete their degree program within the maximum time limit will be dismissed from the School of Medicine MD Program.
   4. Degree Conferral
      1. Students are generally expected to apply for graduation upon completing all degree requirements. However, the School of Medicine and the University reserve the right to confer a degree once all requirements have been met, even if the student has not submitted a graduation application. Additionally, the School of Medicine may require students to complete any outstanding requirements and graduate within a specified timeframe. For additional information, see the University Degree Conferral policy.
3. Scholarly Concentrations
   1. Students must meet Scholarly Concentrations requirements.  Failure to meet scholarly concentration program deadlines, including declaring a scholarly concentration or completing a scholarly concentration will result in a review by CP3.
      1. For additional information, see Section 6.5: Chart of Responses to Student Issues.
      2. Examinations
      3. Students must maintain SAP by meeting examinations requirements, such as USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK and the Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) Series.
      4. Failure to take or successfully pass examinations by School of Medicine deadlines will result in a review by CP3.
      5. For additional information, see Section 6.5: Chart of Responses to Student Issues.
4. Academic Deficiencies
   1. In order to maintain SAP, all academic deficiencies (e.g., Failure (F), Marginal Pass (MP), Continuing (N), Incomplete (INC)) must be corrected by the deadlines set by the courses, clerkships and/or CP3 in a timely manner.
      1. Failure to remediate by the stated deadlines or the cumulation of more than one uncorrected deficiency will result in a review by CP3.
      2. In addition, a student’s failure to attend required meetings, comply with CP3 directives for remediation, or meet CP3 deadlines may result in a review by CP3.
      3. For additional information, see Section 6.5: Chart of Responses to Student Issues.
5. Promotion
   1. Students must meet all the criteria outlined in Section 6.3, Promotion, including:
      1. Promotion to Second Year Pre-clerkship Student
      2. Promotion to Clinical Medical Student
      3. Promotion to Candidate for Residency
      4. Promotion to Eligible for MD Degree

B. Professionalism Standards

Students are required on an ongoing basis to satisfy the School of Medicine Professionalism Principles. A serious breach of professionalism may result in immediate dismissal from the Stanford School of Medicine MD program. For additional information, see sections 6.4 and 6.5.

C. Technical, Non-Academic Standards

Students are required on an ongoing basis to satisfy the School of Medicine, Technical, Non-Academic Standards. Continued fulfillment of such standards is a requirement for ongoing registration in the Stanford School of Medicine MD Program. For additional information, see Section 6.4: Procedures for Addressing Performance, Professionalism and Technical, Non-Academic Standards Concerns.

updated August 2025