Stanford is located between San Francisco and San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, and is recognised as one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions.
Leland and Jane Stanford founded the university to "promote the public welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization." Stanford opened its doors in 1891, and more than a century later, it remains dedicated to finding solutions to the great challenges of the day and to preparing its students for leadership in today's complex world.