At least one letter should be a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years). Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work.

We require an academic writing sample, in English. It must be between 7-15 pages, double-spaced (excluding title page, end notes, and bibliography). If possible, the topic should be related to international policy; however, a piece of analytical writing in another field is acceptable. You must be the sole author of the submitted writing sample. Submissions range from analytical papers written for an undergraduate or graduate course, to excerpts from a thesis, or published articles.

We require a recent resume and/or CV. Submissions are often one to two pages in length, but there is no page limit for this document.

Official scores from the GRE General Test are required for the upcoming application cycle (Fall 2023). Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers required exams. Applicants are encouraged to register early to maximize the chances of scheduling preferred test dates and times. It is recommended to take the GRE no later than December. For details and registration information explore the ETS website. Stanford's ETS institutional code is 4704.

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit an official test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Stanford accepts only ETS (Educational Testing Service) scores. IELTS scores cannot be accepted.

The MIP program requires University-level introductory coursework in microeconomics and macroeconomics, taken either as part of a student's undergraduate education, at another accredited educational institution, or through an approved online course. In addition, while not required, we strongly recommend applicants to complete an introductory course in statistics. An understanding of calculus may also be helpful in preparation for the Research Methods course sequence. All prerequisites must be completed prior to the start of classes in late September, however they do not need to be completed at the time of application.