Dates & Deadlines
2026 Dates and Deadlines
In preparation for your arrival, review these important dates and deadlines and complete the following items.
June 1 | SUNet ID & Mailing Address Deadline
After you accept your offer of admission, please create your Stanford University Network ID (SUNet ID). Once Approaching Stanford begins, you will need to use your SUNet ID to check your Stanford email account and to complete your Approaching Stanford Requirements. All Approaching Stanford and official university communications will be sent to your Stanford email account.
Please also log in to Axess and verify your Mailing Address is correct. In early June, a small mailing will be sent to your Mailing Address, as listed in Axess.
June 5 | Approaching Stanford Begins
In early June, the Approaching Stanford program begins for new transfers! Check your Stanford email for the Approaching Stanford Handbook and the first of your weekly newsletters. You are responsible for regularly checking your email and completing any required action items throughout the summer. On June 8, you will be able to log in to the Approaching Stanford Canvas course for the Approaching Stanford Requirements and access to your Approaching Stanford Forms and Transfer Housing Application, due June 30.
June 15 | Summer Bridge Program Application (Optional)
If interested, apply to participate in one of the Summer Bridge Program sessions taking place this summer prior to the start of New Student Orientation. Online options are offered at varying dates. Application deadline for transfers is June 15 for Online Session II, Online Session III, and Bridge Pre-Orientation.
Mid-June | Pre-Orientation Programs Application Deadlines (Optional)
If interested, apply to participate in one of the Pre-Orientation Programs taking place in the week prior to the start of New Student Orientation. Application deadlines, program dates, and fees vary.
June 30 | Approaching Stanford Forms & Housing Application Deadline
Log in to Canvas to complete the Approaching Stanford Forms, which include the Transfer Housing Application. These Forms collect personal information; academic interests; housing application and preferences; and family contact information for the university. Transfer students living in undergraduate and graduate housing options will apply for housing as part of the Approaching Stanford Forms. Forms submitted by the deadline will be given equal consideration. Housing assignments are not made in the order of submission. University staff will begin reviewing the Forms to get to know you and to make assignments as soon as the deadline has passed.
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not submit their Approaching Stanford Forms.
June 30 | Academic/Housing Accommodations Registration
If applicable, register with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) by this deadline in order to ensure proper academic and/or housing accommodations have been implemented prior to Autumn Quarter.
June 30 | Preferred Name Update
If you wish to have your preferred name printed on your ID Card, update your preferred name in Axess under My Information > Names by June 30. The ID Card Office will use your name as listed in your account in Axess. Updates to preferred names after this date are not guaranteed to be included on your ID Card; your legal name may be used instead. You will collect your ID Card when you move to campus.
June-July | Language Placement Tests
If applicable, complete language placement tests for course placement for language courses at Stanford or to see if you can satisfy the Language Requirement.
July 10 | Summer Civil Dialogues Program Sign-Up Deadline (Optional)
If interested, sign up for the Summer Civil Dialogues Program. Join peer-facilitated small group discussions in August to begin building the skills necessary for active participation in campus discourse, robust intellectual growth, and engaging in conversations with diverse perspectives. Through four 90-minute virtual sessions of no more than 10 participants, students will hone and practice skills for engaging in productive dialogue across difference, share political values in a pluralistic setting, and build small communities through conversation. This program is optional, but strongly recommended.
July 15 | Final Official Transcripts & Test Scores Deadline
Submit your final college transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admission by July 15. Official test scores are required for all ACT and SAT sittings that were self-reported on your admission application. Please contact the ACT or College Board to send these scores to Stanford. Check your Stanford portal to see which required documents have been received, and which ones are still due. Email credentials@stanford.edu with questions.
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not submit their final school transcripts and/or test scores, if applicable.
Mid-July | Parent & Family Newsletter
The first of this monthly Approaching Stanford newsletter will be emailed to the parent(s) or family member(s) you listed on your Approaching Stanford Forms. You are required to list at least one family contact. To add a contact to our email list after the Forms deadline, students should email approaching@stanford.edu with the contact's name and email address. Please note that we can only add contacts provided by you, the student, not your parent/family member.
August 1 | Annual Student Information Update Deadline
You will be required to complete the annual “Student Information Update” every year in Axess. For new students, the Student Information Update will be available in Axess in early June and it will take about five minutes to complete. After you've completed it, the fields will remain available all year round for you to update. Students should complete this requirement by August 1, 2026.
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not complete the Student Information Update.
August 15 | University Health Requirements Deadline
Review and complete the 2026-27 University Health Requirements. You will need to upload or submit an official immunization record to Vaden Health Center. For questions regarding the Health Requirements, please submit a Help Ticket to Vaden (responses may take a few business days due to volume of inquiries).
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not complete their Entrance Health Requirements and Forms.
Mid-August | Student Housing Notification
Check your Stanford email for notification of your housing assignment from R&DE Student Housing. Transfers living in undergraduate housing will also receive an email from Residential Education. Transfer students living in graduate housing will be supported by the Graduate Life Office.
Mid-August | Navigate Classes 2026-27
Visit Navigate Classes to view Stanford's official class schedule for the 2026-27 academic year. Begin browsing courses and course planning resources. Make a list of questions to share with the Transfer Advisor. After completing an advising meeting with the Transfer Advisor, your New Student Advisement Enrollment Hold will be released and you can begin enrolling in Autumn Quarter courses in early September, when enrollment opens for continuing students, if you have completed your Approaching Stanford Requirements.
Mid-August | Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Email
Check your Stanford email to learn about featured VPUE courses for transfers: Introductory Seminars (IntroSems), Program in Writing & Rhetoric (PWR), and Transfer 101. Transfers have priority for sophomore-preference IntroSems.
August 17 | Transfer Visit Day (Optional)
Hosted by Academic Advising and the Office of Undergraduate Admission, Transfer Visit Day is a structured program where you can: meet new and current transfers, learn about campus resources that can support your transition to Stanford, Explore Stanford’s beautiful campus, and talk with faculty members and campus leaders.
Late August | Move-In Information
Check your Stanford email for instructions about moving to Stanford, including packing/shipping guidelines, a printable map, and details of what to expect. New Student Move-In is Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Students living in graduate housing may be able to choose an earlier move-in date, depending on your circumstances. We advise waiting to make travel arrangements until you have scheduled your move-in date. If you are bringing a car to campus, you must purchase a campus parking permit.
Late August | University Bill Payment Notification
In late August, log into Axess to view your first University Student Bill. Also set up Authorized Users and Direct Deposit, if desired. Your first student bill is due by September 20. The 2026-27 payment schedule will be posted later in the summer.
September 1 | Civic Engagement Information Acknowledgment Deadline
Every fall, a 'Civic Engagement' Enrollment Hold is placed for every student to encourage them to review information on civic engagement and to register to vote (if eligible). The Civic Engagement information will be available to view in Axess on/around August 1. To have the hold released, simply check a box to acknowledge the recommendation of civic engagement. You do not need to register to vote in order for the hold to be released, but if you have not yet registered to vote, you are strongly encouraged to do so at this time. For more, see stanfordvotes.org.
An Enrollment Hold will remain on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not acknowledge the Civic Engagement recommendation.
September 2 | Autumn 2026 Course Enrollment Opens
After you meet with the Transfer Advisor this summer, your New Student Advisement Enrollment Hold will be released, allowing you to enroll in Autumn Quarter courses when course enrollment opens in September. You will have until 5:00 p.m. on September 22, the first day of Autumn Quarter, to register your preliminary study list in Axess.
Note that you will only be able to enroll in courses if you have completed all other Approaching Stanford New Student Requirements, including: submission of your Approaching Stanford Forms, submission of school transcripts, submission of test scores (if applicable), completion of the University Health Requirements, completion of the Student Information Update, and acknowledgment of the civic engagement recommendation.
September 14 | New Student Required Trainings Deadline
Check your Stanford email in mid-August for notification about these required trainings. Complete them by September 14, before NSO begins:
- Office of Community Standards (OCS): Fundamental Standard and Honor Code
- Office of Substance Use Programs, Education & Resources (SUPER): Binge Thinking, Stanford Cannabis Education, Stanford Naloxone & Opioid Education
- Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Education (SHARE) Title IX and Title VI Office: Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates
- Student Affairs: StandUp to Hazing
- Office of Sustainability: Zero Waste Training
September 15 | Cardinal Care Health Insurance Decision Deadline
Between August 14–September 15, you must log into Axess and formally acknowledge the Cardinal Care Health Insurance Policy. Students who wish to waive Cardinal Care can submit a waiver request at that time. Students who do not waive Cardinal Care by September 15 will be automatically enrolled for the plan year (September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027).
September 15 | New Student Move-In Day
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 is New Student Move-In Day All new students are required to move to campus on New Student Move-In Day. Check-in will take place near the residences at the designated check-in locations from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All new students must be checked in by 5:00 p.m. on New Student Move-In Day. At check-in, students will receive their Stanford ID card and their dorm room key. Students living in graduate housing may be able to choose an earlier move-in date, depending on your circumstances.
Pre-Orientation Programs: Students participating in pre-orientation programs that take place on campus may have an earlier move-in date. Please see details of your program when your participation is confirmed.
September 15-20 | New Student Orientation (NSO)
Welcome to Stanford! NSO will introduce you to the Stanford community and each other. NSO is held the week prior to the start of Autumn Quarter and is required for all new students. We will have a full schedule of programs and events that you will be expected to attend. Please do not make any plans off-campus during this week.
Family members and guests are welcome to accompany you to New Student Move-In and the first day of NSO: September 15. Please plan to say your goodbyes just before dinner on September 15, as you will be fully engaged in NSO programs and events for the remainder of the week.
Stanford supports students, faculty, and staff in celebrating religious holidays of significance to them. NSO and residential staff are aware that religious commitments may influence attendance at some events.
September 22, 5:00 p.m. (PDT) | First Day of Autumn Quarter & Preliminary Study List Deadline
Register your Autumn Quarter courses in Axess by the Preliminary Study List Deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, the first day of the quarter. You can make adjustments to your study list (Add, Drop, Adjust Variable Units) until the Final Study List Deadline at 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 3. The deadline for Course Withdrawal or Change of Grading Basis is 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 8.