Deferred Enrollment

If you are eligible for deferred enrollment you may apply for direct or deferred enrollment. However, for most college seniors, deferred enrollment is the better choice, especially if you are unsure about your long-term professional path and would like to explore an industry (or two) before earning your MBA.

Additionally, certain industries — private equity and biotechnology in particular — tend to recruit MBA candidates who have pre-MBA experience or specialized knowledge in that field. Management consulting firms also typically prefer MBA candidates with prior work experience. Deferring your enrollment for a couple of years may be a wise decision if you wish to pursue one of these industries.

We will ask you in the application what your plans are for the period between graduation and your enrollment at Stanford. If you are admitted for deferred enrollment, we expect you to be productively engaged (such as in full-time work or full-time study) during the deferral period. Pursue opportunities that enable you to build expertise, enhance your skills and knowledge, expand your perspective, and develop professional judgment and self-confidence.

If you meet the criteria for deferred enrollment, you may apply either to attend business school immediately following your university program (direct enrollment) or to work before attending business school (deferred enrollment).

In your Stanford MBA application, you will select the year that you prefer to enroll. There is no separate application for deferred enrollment. Note that even if you request direct enrollment, we may grant you deferred enrollment if we feel you would better contribute, grow, and learn at Stanford GSB after gaining full-time work experience. Based on our assessment of your application, we may offer a deferral for a different amount of time than you request.

If you are eligible for deferred enrollment, you will pay a reduced application fee of $100.

We offer three application rounds. You should apply in the round that makes the most sense for you. We encourage applicants for direct enrollment to apply in Round 1 or Round 2. If you are applying for deferred enrollment, however, Round 3 may be an excellent choice.

Financial Aid at Stanford GSB is need-based and you will apply for financial aid the year you enroll. Approximately half of Stanford MBA students receive need-based fellowship funds. The average Stanford GSB fellowship for the class of 2023 was approximately $42,000 per year or $84,000 in total awards. Eligible students may also apply to be a BOLD Fellow. The BOLD Fellows Fund supports students with financial hardship and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

If you are applying for deferred admission (for example, if you are a college senior) and would like to apply for a specific fellowship such as Knight-Hennessy Scholars, you must apply for that fellowship the year before your enrollment at Stanford GSB.

If you meet the eligibility for deferred enrollment and hope to begin at Stanford GSB in the following year, you may apply for the fellowship at this time. However, if you do defer your enrollment or we admit you for a different year, your essay and application for any fellowship will not carry over. You will be required to apply again for the fellowship in the year before your enrollment.

If you are applying for deferred admission and wish to pursue a joint or dual degree, some programs recommend applying in the year before your enrollment in the MBA program, while others allow you to apply during your first year at Stanford GSB. Also, some joint/dual degree programs offer flexibility for where you initially enroll. Learn more about joint and dual degree study requirements and timelines.

If you are currently a full-time student, we encourage you to select recommenders who have supervised your extracurricular activities or work, such as internships or part-time jobs.

Use your personal email address, not your university email, for your application. This ensures that if you are admitted and deferred, you will continue to receive important information after you graduate and during your deferral period.

All applicants must submit a valid GMAT or GRE score. We accept both exams and have no preference for one over the other. As you prepare to take the GMAT or the GRE, a helpful resource might be this year’s class profile. Consider the ranges, not just the averages, to realize the diversity of successful applicants for admission.