Applying
Thank you for considering applying to the Department of Biology’s graduate program. Below you can find information on:
- Application materials
- Standardized and English proficiency tests
- Application deadline
- Application fee
- Interviews
- Financial support
- Non-Discrimination Policy
- Contact
Students applying to the PhD program are required to have a bachelor's degree in biology or a related field. A master's degree is not required. Transfer students are considered for admission using the same criteria.
Application Materials
We request that students apply to the department rather than to individual laboratories. The department seeks students who have a strong commitment to field or laboratory research in fundamental areas of biology.
Applicants are required to submit:
- An online application
- A statement of purpose
- Your statement of purpose should address three general areas of information:
- A summary of your background and why you want to pursue a graduate degree. This is your opportunity to explain your general goals for graduate school and what you’ll bring to the program.
- A summary of your previous research experience, if applicable. Briefly state the aim(s) of your project(s). Spend the bulk of your narrative explaining why the project was interesting, what you learned about being a scientist from that experience, and why it helped prepare you for graduate school. If you were an author on a publication, please tell us about your specific contributions to that publication.
- A summary of your future research interests. Explain what general area of research you’d like to pursue and why you want to pursue it. Tell us why you chose the University of Rochester for graduate school, and name faculty in the program with whom you’d potentially like to work.
- Your statement of purpose should address three general areas of information:
Please be concise; limit your statement of purpose to about two pages.
- College transcripts (for all schools attended).We accept unofficial transcripts for the review process; official transcripts will be required once you are admitted to the program.
- Scores on the TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable. We accept the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, Duolingo English Test.
- Three letters of recommendation (letters must be on letterhead and must be submitted online by the recommender)
- Optional: Scores on the GRE
Please contact Sarah Marvin-Foley at smarvinf@ur.rochester.edu to check the status of your application.
Standardized and English Proficiency Tests
As noted above, the GRE general test is optional. Our department does not require a minimum score for the GRE general exam. The GRE subject test in biology is also optional. The University GRE code is 2928.
All international students whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English language proficiency through the submission of official test scores from one of the following exams:
- IELTS
- TOEFL or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- Duolingo
Scores more than two years old from the application deadline are not valid.
To send in IELTS scores please use the following address:
University of Rochester
Graduate Studies-AS&E
500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd
P.O. Box 270401
Rochester NY 14627
TOEFL scores can be submitted using the code 2928 (A department code is not necessary). Duolingo scores can be sent directly to the University of Rochester at no cost.
Information on waivers for the English Proficiency Test can be found on the Graduate Admissions Website. Requests for a waiver should be sent to graduate.admissions@rochester.edu.
Application Deadline
The deadline for complete applications is December 1, 2024 for fall 2025 admission. We do not admit students in the spring semester.
Applications are not reviewed until after the application deadline. Please be patient as your application is being reviewed by multiple committee members.
Application Fee
There is a $70 application fee. The $70 fee will automatically be waived for applications submitted by November 1, 2024.
If submitting after November 1, and this fee would cause financial hardship, please send an email to smarvinf@ur.rochester.edu and request a fee waiver. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please include your application number when requesting a fee waiver.
International Students
We welcome applications from international students. International applicants will be reviewed without prejudice and are eligible for the same internal funding opportunities as US citizens. The University of Rochester’s International Services Office will assist accepted students with obtaining the appropriate immigration documentation.
Applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the U.S. should visit International Services Office website for additional information.
Interviews
Once PhD applications have been screened, candidates are invited to visit the campus for:
- One-on-one faculty interviews
- Meet-and-greets with graduate students
- Tours of the facilities
- Sojourns into the city
The department covers these expenses. International students who reside outside of the U.S. are not interviewed in person, but may be interviewed by Skype, Zoom, or telephone.
Financial Support
All PhD students admitted to the program are offered a competitive annual stipend (research or teaching assistantship), Aetna health insurance, and a full tuition scholarship. Support is guaranteed for five years subject to satisfactory progress toward the degree. Travel funds are available to PhD students who give a talk or present a poster at a national or international conference. The department also awards Caspari and Holtfreter Fellowships.
We also encourage students to apply for outside funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and private agencies. Obtaining funding from outside sources brings distinction both to the student and the department. Admission to the program is never contingent on students securing their own funds. Please see the fellowship policy PDF for more information.
The department does not offer financial support to master's students. Students may apply for financial aid through the University Financial Aid Office.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University of Rochester values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law. Further, the University complies with all applicable non-discrimination laws in the administration of its policies, admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs and activities.
Questions on compliance should be directed to the particular school or department and/or to the University's Equal Opportunity Coordinator, University of Rochester, P.O. Box 270039, Rochester, NY 14627-0039. Phone: (585) 275-9125.
Contact
If you have questions or would like more information about our graduate program, please contact us. You can also contact our graduate administator:
Sarah Marvin-Foley
sarah.marvin-foley@rochester.edu
(585) 275-7991