Students with Children
Being a Stanford student is an exciting, challenging and life changing endeavor. Being a Stanford student with children adds an additional component that is equally exciting, challenging and life changing. We are here to support you and your family by connecting you to various campus resources, facilitating access to support services, and organizing events for all members of the family.
Information for Students With Children
- WorkLife Office: The WorkLife Office provides a comprehensive portfolio of services and resources for Stanford students, faculty and staff.
- Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD): Parents with older children can enroll their children within the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). The registration requirements and process is available on their website and the office provides extensive support to assist with getting your child(ren) registered. For on-campus residents who need a rental verification letter, please log into the myHousing portal and select "My Requests" link to retrieve your rental verification letter.
The Graduate Family Grant will provide up to $20,000 per year per family to eligible graduate students with dependent children. Funds may be used flexibly as needed to cover expenses such as childcare, healthcare and rent. Awards will be disbursed via the student’s account and are considered taxable income. More details can be found on the financial aid website.
The application form for the upcoming academic year will be available starting August 1st. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please allow at least two weeks for application review.
- Students are eligible for one grant per family, per year (September 1 through August 31).
- Special note for families living in Escondido Village with 2 or more children: You are also applying for the Escondido Village Family Fund (EVFF) with the Graduate Family Grant application. If you meet the criteria for the EVFF, a portion of your grant will be funded by this endowed fund per the donors’ wishes. The total of both awards will not exceed $20,000.
- Grad-wide Events for Families: The Graduate Life Office Community Associates partner with many departments to bring resources and programs to all graduate students with children year around. Our partners include the Graduate Student Council (GSC), the WorkLife Office, the Office of the Provost, Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS), and more.
- Events include:
- SUDPS BBQ for Families (August)
- Pumpkin Patch (October)
- Annual Provost's Egg Roll (March)
- Annual Family Carnival (May)
- Events include:
- Courtyard Programs: Each courtyard hosts a variety of local programs based on the interest of the community.
- Family Movie Nights
- Kick-off to Summer Party
- Courtyard Clean-ups
- Weekly Story time and Playgroups
- Family Dinners
The Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures handbook (the GAP) is a compilation of university policies and other information related to the academic progress of Stanford graduate students, from their application and admission to the conferral of degrees and retention of records. See VPGE's "Expecting a new child: A step-by-step guide to preparing to welcome a new child while at Stanford."
Review campus and community resources that are available for students who need assistance managing their basic needs. Student Care Coordinators are also available to assist you in navigating these and other resources.
Graduate students who plan to have a car while living on campus are required to purchase a residential parking permit from Parking and Transportation Services (P&TS). Graduate Students living on campus with children have access to “EVF” permits. Students are allowed to purchase a maximum of two parking permits. Access to additional parking permits may require parking further away from Escondido Village. Stanford also offers free transportation around campus and to specific off campus locations via the Marguerite Shuttle. Stanford is ranked as a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University with many students, faculty and staff using bicycles to navigate the community. The P&TS website has helpful information on bicycle safety and maintenance on campus.
Living at Stanford With Children
Graduate or undergraduate students with children living with them at least 50 percent of each week are eligible for studios, one-, two-, three-, or four-bedroom units depending on the number of occupancy-eligible members of the family (student, child(ren) and spouse or domestic partner). For students with children, Stanford uses an occupancy limit of two persons per studio, and two persons per bedroom + one for larger units. For example, depending on availability, 1) a family comprised of a student-parent and child is eligible to live in a studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom; 2) a family comprised of a couple and one child is eligible to live in a one-bedroom or two-bedroom; 3) a family comprised of a couple and three children is eligible to live in a two-bedroom, three-bedroom or four-bedroom.
Graduate students with children desiring to live on campus are assigned to Escondido Village in one of the five family-courtyard communities. The courtyards are home to over 200 Stanford students, their spouses/partners and children. Each courtyard consists of two-story townhouse-style apartments with an enclosed playground for children. Courtyards are supported by Community Associates (CAs) hired by the Graduate Life Office (GLO), who are graduate students or spouse/partners whose primary purpose is to build a sense of community for residents. CAs welcome residents to the community and serve as a point of contact for residents needing support and resources. CAs also bring residents together by offering programs and events suited for all members of the family.
Note: The five family courtyards are supported through collaborative partnerships with R&DE Housing Service Centers. If you are experiencing safety or facilities issues such as broken plumbing, power outage, inability to secure a locking door, broken window/glass, etc. that require emergency maintenance or that occur outside of regular Housing Service Center business hours, call: (650) 725-1602.
- The Five Family Courtyards
- Abrams - approximately 50 families
- Barnes - approximately 63 families
- Hulme - approximately 80 families
- Thoburn - approximately 25 families
- EV South - approximately 41 families
Stanford students living on campus are automatically included in communication sent from the Housing Service Centers. We highly recommend that non-student spouse/partners also opt-in to the email list to receive important communication from housing by calling or visiting the Housing Service Centers. CAs in each courtyard maintain their own local listservs which you can opt-in or opt-out. For additional information about Graduate Housing and living on campus, please visit Residential and Dining Enterprises.
Support & Resources
We are so happy you are with us! Here, you can find resources recommended by current families.
- The Graduate Life Office (GLO) provides services, programs and advocacy for all of Stanfords 9400 graduate students.
- WorkLife Office, primarily offers services and resources to faculty and staff. However, some services like childcare and lactation support are also available to graduate students with families.
- Early Childhood Education Programs (On Campus)
- Early Childhood Education Programs (Off Campus)
- Arriallaga Family Dining Commons - Children eat for free! Weekly menus are published on their Facebook page.
- Cardinal Kids Club - Cardinal Kids Club members receive an official t-shirt, VIP pass, lanyard, birthday card, special invitations to exclusive events and free admission to more than 75 events (including all men's soccer, women's soccer, women's volleyball, women's basketball and baseball home, regular season events)!
- Graduate Community Center - Sydney Room is located on the 2nd floor of the GCC is a kids play room with books, toys and opportunities to meet other families.
- Stanford Courtesy ID Card - for spouse/partners which provides access to campus libraries, dining halls, gym, tennis courts, pool and recreational facilities.
- Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) - Graduate students can begin registration before moving to campus. However, the final step of the process can only be completed once you move in.
- Stanford Center for Professional Development
- Stanford School of Continuing Studies
- The Graduate Family Grant - The Graduate Family Grant will provide up to $20,000 per year per family to eligible graduate students with dependent children. Funds may be used flexibly as needed to cover expenses such as childcare, healthcare and rent. Awards will be disbursed via the student’s account and are considered taxable income.
- Student Aid Fund - established to assist graduate students experiencing hardships with paying University fees for the current academic year.
- Emergency Grant-in-Aid Funds - assist graduate students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses (e.g., medical or dental) causing financial hardship. This program is designed to assist those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships or loans.
For current students who are planning a family, a GLO Dean is available to meet and discuss additional considerations, support and resources.
