Ph.D. Degree Requirements

A minimum of 135 units, with at least 90 units taken at Stanford. For additional information about minimum residency requirements for PhD students, please see the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook, Section 3.2. Please also view doctoral degree requirements in the Stanford Bulletin.

Complete all required courses with a grade of B or better

Pass the qualifying exam

A minimum of one first author publication on the topic of the dissertation

Pass the University Oral Exam (thesis defense)

Submit a written dissertation

Ph.D Program Overview and Degree Timeline

The Neurosciences Program teaches students how to approach and solve research problems by developing skills in modern methods of neuroscience research, the ability to appraise the scientific literature and make scientific judgements, to be self-confident and skillful in communicating research results and ultimately to function as independent creative neuroscientists. Students work closely with faculty, postdoctoral fellows and other students to achieve these goals.

Incoming students attend a two-week boot camp in early September. Comprised of lectures and labs, students learn a host of techniques in cellular and moledular aspects of neuroscience while getting to know and work with their classmates.
Coursework in the first year is NEPR 212: Responsible Conduct of Neuroscience and the 8 core modules. First year students may also attend the journal club course taken by 2nd and 3rd year students.
The program hosts weekly talks with faculty as an introduction to research in program labs and explore options for rotations and thesis work. Students may also attend talks by senior students in the program.
Students complete at least 3 laboratory rotations to gain hands-on experience in a variety of approaches and methods, get to know faculty members and their laboratory groups, and gain information about the research area for their thesis.
Students apply for extramural fellowships and grants for which they are eligible (e.g., NSF GRFP, HHMI)
Students join a thesis lab at the end of the first year.
After joining a lab, students meet with their mentor to complete the Individual Development Plan (IDP), a roadmap to complete their degree and pursue their chosen career path.

Students continue to enroll in coursework to fulfill degree requirements, including a Journal Club course to gain experience reviewing scientific publications and giving public presentations.
The second year is occupied by the initiation of a thesis project.
The Qualifying Examination is taken by the end of the second year in the program.
After successful completion of the Qualifying Exam, students will apply for Doctoral Candidacy and form their thesis committee.
Students will also meet with their thesis advisor to complete the annual IDP.
Students apply for extramural grants and fellowships for which they are eligible (e.g., NSF GRFP, NDSEG)
Starting in the second year, students may also begin to take on leadership roles in the program by serving as student representatives for admissions, curriculum, community activities, student speaker events, the program retreat, or the SNI Speaker Series.
Students may also begin doing work as Teaching Assistants at Stanford.

Students continue to enroll in coursework to fulfill degree requirements, typically completing the Journal Club requirement this year.
Thesis research continues, as does annual meetings with the Thesis Advisory Committee to ensure progress towards successful completion thesis research.
Students also revisit the Individual Development Plan with their thesis advisor annually.
Students apply for fellowships and grants for which they are eligible (e.g., NIH NRSA, HHMI)

Students should finish required units and coursework by the end of Spring quarter of the fourth year.
Thesis research continues, as does annual meetings with the Thesis Advisory Committee to ensure progress towards successful completion thesis research.
Students also revisit the Individual Development Plan with their thesis advisor annually.
Students apply for fellowships and grants for which they are eligible (e.g., NIH NRSA, HHMI)

Students continue to meet regularly with the Thesis Advisory Committee to ensure progress towards successful completion of thesis research. Starting in the fifth year these meetings may happen more frequently.
Students give their Thesis Defense, a public seminar presenting the student's research findings followed by an oral examination of the candidate by the Thesis Committee.
Students publish a first-authored article and submit a written dissertation prior to being conferred the Ph.D. degree.
The Ph.D. program typically takes approximately five years to complete.

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Ph.D. Degree Requirements

Ph.D Program Overview and Degree Timeline