Frequently Asked Questions:

What Is Hopkins Marine Station?
Hopkins Marine Station is a marine biology research and teaching facility that operates as a branch of Stanford's Department of Biology. The Station is located approximately 90 miles south of the main campus on the scenic Monterey Peninsula. Surrounded by the rich, diversely populated intertidal and offshore waters of a marine reserve, the Station is ideally situated for research and teaching in marine biology, cellular and developmental biology, neurobiology, comparative physiology, behavior, population genetics, ecology and biomechanics. Ten faculty members and approximately 25 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are resident at the Station year round.

Who Can Take Courses At Hopkins?
Any Stanford student with any major. Courses are not restricted to biology majors, and intellectual diversity among students is encouraged.

When Is The Best Time To Take A Hopkins Course?
Generally the best time is your junior year, although many students enroll in their sophomore or senior year. As with attendance at Stanford's overseas campuses, some advance planning is needed to free up a quarter or two away from main campus. Advice is available directly from Hopkins or from the Biology Student Services Office or Earth Systems office.

Can I Commute For Specific Courses?
In theory, yes. In practice, it is very difficult. The drive from Stanford to Hopkins takes about 2 hours during non-rush hours and 2.5 hours when the traffic is heavy. As a result, you would likely spend 4-5 hours on the road to attend each lecture. If you are thinking of commuting, consider finding other students with similar interests and forming a carpool. However, commuting students miss a great deal of life at Hopkins.

Do I Have To Be Able To SCUBA Dive To Come To Hopkins?
No. The waters adjoining the Station provide excellent opportunities to dive, and permission to dive can be arranged for students who are scuba-certified and complete a diving physical. However, SCUBA diving is entirely optional, and none of the courses offered during the Winter and Spring Quarters require SCUBA certification.

Where Do I Live At Hopkins?
Stanford Student Housing Services provides housing within a 10-minute walk of the Marine Station. Students enrolled at Hopkins are asked to fill this housing before looking elsewhere in Monterey for accommodations. Our Belden Street complex includes four apartments in the Abbott House, a large Victorian residence at 651 Belden; a one-bedroom house (Berlin) behind the Victorian; a one-bedroom garage apartment; and a two-bedroom house (Floyd) at 675 Belden. The apartments and houses are all furnished. They vary in occupancy, depending on enrollment fluctuations. Residents do their own cooking and cleaning. Rental rates are the same as for comparable graduate student apartments at Stanford and tend to be lower than local rental rates.