DARE: Diversifying Academia, Recruiting Excellence

The DARE Doctoral Fellowship Program awards two-year fellowships to advanced Stanford doctoral students who want to investigate and prepare for academic careers and who will support and/or contribute to the diversity of their field and the professoriate.

Stanford’s definition of diversity is broadly conceived. It includes, but is not limited to:

• First-generation college students
• Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds 
• Women in fields such as natural science and engineering
• Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students
• Students with disabilities
• Students who have demonstrated perseverance and achieved excellence in the face of challenging personal circumstances including overcoming discrimination, lack of educational opportunity, and similar circumstances 
• Students with a demonstrated commitment to fostering learning and research environments that support diversity and inclusion 
• Students with military service 
• Students who are a member of a federally recognized tribe 
• Others with work and life experiences that would diversify the professoriate in their academic fields.

Applicants from all backgrounds are welcomed.

The DARE Program's objectives are to better prepare students from diverse backgrounds for academic careers and to have them, at the same time, enrich the educational experiences of others. Thus, the program expands the academic “pipeline” in two ways.

DARE was initially created as a four-year pilot program for three cohorts of students on two-year fellowships. The first cohort of DARE Fellows was selected in spring 2008.

Browse DARE Doctoral Fellows

DARE Doctoral Fellowships include:

• Stipend and TGR tuition. An annual stipend and TGR tuition for two 4-quarter academic years beginning autumn quarter. The 2024-25 stipend is set at $54,800 annually, $13,700 per quarter.
• Structured seminars and professional development modules to investigate and prepare for academic careers.
• Mentorship with a Stanford faculty member in addition to the dissertation advisor.
• Projects to support the diversity of Stanford’s graduate student population, and to enrich the educational experience of the student community.
• Recruiting trips to talk about fellows' research and encourage promising undergraduates to apply to graduate school.

A printer friendly version of DARE overview (PDF) is available

How to Apply

Application opens: January 27th, 2025

Deadline to apply: March 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST)

Applications are sought from Stanford doctoral students from all degree programs and fields. Please review the application instructions and FAQs to learn more about program details, eligibility, and the selection process. Fellowship award decisions will be made in compliance with the principles set forth in the Supreme Court’s June 2023 ruling on affirmative action.  

Application information will be available in January each year. All materials, including letter of support and assessment from the primary advisor, must be submitted electronically. Fellowship award decisions will be made in April of 2025.

• Overview Handout about DARE (PDF)
• DARE Application Instructions (PDF)
• Guidelines for DARE Dissertation Advisor Letter of Recommendation (PDF)
• DARE Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend an information session (dates announced in January each year) to learn about the program's goals and expectations, the application process, and selection criteria.