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A research-driven medical school at the heart of Silicon Valley, part of one of the world's top-ranked universities.
5000+ Students trust us
United States
Country
Stanford
City
#3 in the World
Ranking
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
The Stanford Medicine School of Medicine sign on the Stanford campus
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Recognition & Prestige
Stanford University School of Medicine is part of one of the world's top three universities and a leader in US medical research. Its recognition rests on independent global rankings, a deep research culture, and its position at the centre of the world's biomedical innovation hub.
#3
QS World University Rankings 2026 (Stanford University)
Top 5
among US medical schools for research
The medical degree is recognised internationally. Stanford University School of Medicine's MD programme is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), Stanford University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and the school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). An LCME-accredited MD makes graduates eligible to sit the Indian screening examination (FMGE/NExT) for licensing.
Complete Information About Stanford University School of Medicine
Get complete information about Stanford University School of Medicine, including tuition, living costs, admissions and the licensing route for Indian students.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
Stanford pairs a top-three global university with a research-first medical education and a location at the centre of Silicon Valley, taught entirely in English.
Read all about studying medicine abroad in our free guide
Know exactly what options exist for your medical-education-abroad success.
How to Apply
Admission to the MD at Stanford University School of Medicine is through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), based on a completed bachelor's degree, the MCAT and a holistic review, followed by a secondary application and interview. The MD is graduate-entry, so there is no NEET requirement and no direct entry after Class 12.
The AMCAS application for the entering MD class opens for submission.
Final date to submit the AMCAS application to Stanford for the cycle.
Applicants complete the Stanford supplemental application and essays.
Invited candidates complete Stanford interviews.
Offers of admission are released on a rolling basis.
The new MD class matriculates and orientation begins.
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree from an accredited institution before matriculation, together with the required pre-medical coursework. International applicants generally must supplement their studies with substantial work at an accredited university in the United States, and English proficiency is expected of all applicants.
Subjects:
The MD is graduate-entry, so applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree before matriculation. Most matriculants are therefore 21 or older. There is no separate upper age limit.
Applicants must submit the AMCAS application with MCAT scores, then complete the Stanford secondary application and interview. Selection is holistic, with strong weight on academics, research experience, character and motivation.
Entrance Exam
The MCAT is required for all applicants. The median matriculant score is 520; there is no published minimum cutoff and no separate university entrance exam.
English Proficiency
Full fluency in English is expected, as the entire MD programme is taught in English.
Admission is based on the MCAT and a holistic review of the whole application, not on category-wise minimum marks.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) | Required for all applicants. Median matriculant score 520/528 (typical range 514–525). No fixed minimum — reviewed holistically. |
| Undergraduate GPA | Median matriculant GPA is about 3.95–3.96 out of 4.00, with strong performance expected in the pre-medical sciences. |
To apply, students submit essential academic, testing and identification documents:
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
Students follow the Discovery Curriculum, a flexible, research-driven MD structure that combines biomedical, clinical and social-behavioural science with a required scholarly concentration, taught entirely in English.
Total Duration:
4–5 Years (flexible; many include a research year)
Degree:
MD (Doctor of Medicine, equivalent to MBBS)
Pre-clerkship (2–3 years)
Foundational biomedical, clinical and social-behavioural science with flexible learning pathways, which students can complete at a full pace in two years or a slower pace in three:
Clerkships (2 years)
Core clinical clerkships across the specialties at Stanford's teaching hospitals, giving hands-on patient care experience:
Throughout the MD
A required scholarly concentration and dedicated research time run through the programme, reflecting Stanford's discovery-driven mission; students may add dual degrees or a research year:
Clinical training takes place at Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and other affiliated hospitals, beginning with early clinical skills and building to full core clerkships and advanced electives.
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Pre-clerkship | Foundational science and early clinical skills, with flexible learning pathways. |
| Clinical Clerkships | Core clerkships in internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics-gynaecology, psychiatry and neurology at Stanford hospitals. |
| Scholarly Concentration | Required research or scholarly project and advanced electives, running throughout the MD. |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free guide to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Clinical Network
Stanford is a US school and does not run the EU Erasmus+ exchange programme. Instead, it teaches through Stanford Medicine's hospitals and research institutes, where students complete their clinical training. The institutions below are among the principal members of that network.
| Institution | Focus / Role |
|---|---|
| Stanford Health Care (Stanford Hospital) | Flagship adult teaching hospital; broad clinical training and research |
| Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford | Paediatrics, obstetrics and women's health |
| VA Palo Alto Health Care System | Veterans' care and clinical training |
| Santa Clara Valley Medical Center | Community and safety-net clinical training |
| Stanford Cancer Institute | Oncology teaching and research |
| Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign | Medical technology innovation and entrepreneurship |
| Stanford Bio-X | Interdisciplinary biosciences research |
| Stanford Neurosciences Institute | Neuroscience research and teaching |
| Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance | Human performance and health research |
| Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (partner) | Collaborative biomedical research |
Explore the Stanford Medicine Network
The list above highlights selected hospitals and institutes where Stanford medical students train. Get the full picture from our experts.
Legacy
Stanford Medicine has been home to some of the most influential figures in modern medicine and science, including Nobel-winning researchers and pioneering clinicians.
Founded the biochemistry department at Stanford School of Medicine and won the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how DNA is synthesised by DNA polymerase — foundational to modern molecular biology.
A Stanford biochemist who won the 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry as a pioneer of recombinant DNA technology. His discovery launched the biotechnology industry and remains central to modern genetics and medicine.
Pioneered heart transplantation at Stanford and performed the first adult human heart transplant in the United States in 1968, developing the techniques that made it a life-saving standard treatment.
A Stanford radiation oncologist who co-developed the medical linear accelerator and used it to transform Hodgkin's lymphoma from a fatal disease into a largely curable one.
Shared the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the co-discovery of RNA interference, a mechanism cells use to switch genes off — now a powerful research tool and a new class of medicines.
Shared the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for revealing the structure and workings of G-protein-coupled receptors, the targets of a large share of modern drugs.
A Stanford neuroscientist who shared the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for uncovering how nerve cells communicate — central to understanding the brain and disorders such as autism.
Stanford medicine is taught by a large faculty spread across its teaching hospitals and research institutes, including practising physicians and surgeons, basic scientists and Nobel-laureate researchers. This blend of world-class research and hospital-based clinical teaching is central to the Stanford MD.
Nobel-laureate researchers
Physicians and surgeons at top US hospitals
Faculty with major international publications
Leaders in biomedical innovation and Biodesign
Small, mentored MD class
Faculty advising and mentorship
Clinical supervision during clerkships
Research mentorship through the scholarly concentration
About University
The Memorial Arch entrance to the Stanford University Main Quad
Aerial view of Stanford University with Hoover Tower
Get all information about Stanford Medicine in our free guide
Read on to find out how the Stanford MD pathway works and what it realistically takes for Indian students.
Role in medicine
Hoover Tower beside a sandstone arched building at Stanford University
Get all information about Stanford Medicine in our free guide
Read on to understand the Stanford MD pathway and how it fits an Indian student's plans.
Cost of studying
The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States, so living costs are high, well above typical MBBS destinations in Europe or Asia. Here is an approximate monthly breakdown for an MD student, quoted in Indian rupees.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (rent, Stanford / Palo Alto area) | ₹1,60,000 – ₹3,00,000 |
| Food | ₹50,000 – ₹75,000 |
| Transportation (Marguerite shuttle / Caltrain) | ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Health Insurance & Other (utilities, internet, personal) | ₹50,000 – ₹85,000 |
Average monthly living cost
₹2,80,000 – ₹4,70,000
Housing
Stanford offers on-campus graduate and professional housing as well as off-campus options in the surrounding Bay Area. On-campus housing places students close to classes, the library and the teaching hospitals, which is valuable in an area where private rents are very high.
Stanford offers on-campus graduate and professional housing, including the Escondido Village Graduate Residences, within easy reach of the medical school and campus facilities.
Living on campus keeps commutes short and gives easy access to libraries, labs and the hospitals, which many first-year students value in a high-cost, spread-out region.
Students can choose from a range of studio and shared apartment layouts, furnished or unfurnished, depending on budget and preference.
Most apartments include kitchens and shared common areas, making it easy and economical for students to cook their own meals, including Indian food.
Housing costs in the Bay Area are high. On-campus rates are set by Stanford; confirm current housing charges with the Stanford housing office when planning your budget.
On-campus housing is requested through Stanford after admission. Demand is high, so students should apply as early as possible once they receive an offer.
The free Stanford Marguerite shuttle and nearby Caltrain connect the campus with Palo Alto and the wider Bay Area, helping students manage transport without a car.
Many students rent in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View and Redwood City. Rents are among the highest in the US, so use university housing listings and reputable local platforms and begin the search early.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Indian and vegetarian food is exceptionally easy to find in the Bay Area, which has one of the largest Indian communities in the United States.
Stanford and the medical campus have dining halls and cafes serving affordable daily meals near classes. Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available.
Location
291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
Nearest Airport
San Francisco International Airport (SFO); San Jose International (SJC) also nearby
Local Transport
The free Stanford Marguerite shuttle and Caltrain (Palo Alto station) connect the campus with the wider Bay Area
Your Roadmap to Success
On completing the programme, graduates earn the MD (Doctor of Medicine) from one of the world's leading universities, a degree recognised internationally and equivalent to the MBBS.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
To practise medicine in India after earning the Stanford MD, Indian students follow a clear licensing path set by the National Medical Commission. An MD from an LCME-accredited US school is accepted for this route, provided the graduate meets the NMC's foreign medical graduate criteria.
Step 1
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. This is currently the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which is transitioning to the National Exit Test (NExT).
Step 2
After qualifying, students complete a one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, gaining supervised clinical experience across the major departments.
Step 3
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council, after which the graduate can practise as a doctor in India.
Student Life Style
Studying for the MD is a mix of intensive academics, clinical exposure and personal growth, set on a beautiful California campus. With a strong research culture and Silicon Valley on the doorstep, Stanford offers a rich and distinctive student experience.
An open green field with hills in the distance near the Stanford campus
Scholarship & Financial
Stanford offers substantial need-based financial aid to MD students, and students who take part in approved research may qualify for reduced tuition.
Stanford School of Medicine provides need-based scholarships and grants to help eligible MD students meet the cost of the programme, reducing the amount students must borrow.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at Stanford University School of Medicine.
4.9
120 reviews
Compare
Compare Stanford University School of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Stanford University School of Medicine vs AIIMS Delhi
| University | Stanford School of MedicineStanford, California, USA | AIIMS DelhiNew Delhi, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Private, non-profit | Public (Institute of National Importance) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 4–5 years (MD, graduate-entry) | 5.5 years (MBBS, incl. internship) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹66.9 lakh ($69,663) | ~₹1,600 (nominal government fees) |
| Admission | Bachelor's + MCAT + AMCAS (no NEET) | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | LCME / WDOMS; NMC-eligible via screening | NMC-recognised |
| Global Ranking | QS World #3 (2026) | India's top government medical college |
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Our blog
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FAQ
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying the MD at Stanford University School of Medicine.
