Stanford University International Admissions Guidelines: Applying for Financial Aid Affects Admissions; If You Do Not Apply, You Cannot Apply Again for Four Years

The International Applicants page on the Stanford University Admissions website (updated September 11, 2026) states: The application requirements for international students are the same as those for U.S. students, but the financial aid policies differ. The following points are most important for Chinese students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Financial Aid Application Requires Careful Consideration

For international students, whether to apply for Financial Aid at the time of application will be considered during the admissions evaluation, making the admissions process more competitive. If an international student indicates they are not applying for financial aid during the application process, they will no longer be eligible to apply for it during their four years at Stanford once admitted. Families are advised to make this decision carefully based on their financial situation.

For admitted students who applied for financial aid, Stanford will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need regardless of nationality. Stanford does not offer merit scholarships, only a limited number of athletic scholarships. U.S. citizens and permanent residents studying overseas are treated as domestic applicants for financial aid purposes, and admissions are need-blind.

Standardized Testing and Language Requirements

All applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores. The university does not require English proficiency exam scores, but fluency in English is a prerequisite for admission.

Translation Guidelines for Application Materials

Transcripts and teacher recommendations must be translated into English, and the original copies must be submitted as required. Students are not allowed to translate their own documents; it is recommended that translations be completed by an English teacher or other official school personnel.

Other Important Notes

• There is no need to convert grades to the U.S. GPA system. The university has no specific preference for high school curricula (A-Level, IB, AP, domestic curricula, etc.) and no minimum score requirements; however, students must have obtained a high school diploma before enrollment. Grades and predicted grades must be sent directly by the school.
• If the high school does not have a Guidance Counselor, a counselor recommendation can be submitted by the principal or another school official such as a teacher.
• The university does not work with paid agencies and requires students to complete their application materials independently.

Source: https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/international/index.html. Policies are subject to the latest official updates.