Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Program

Requirements for Application

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Applicants are not required to find a PI/Advisor for their graduate research prior to applying to the program. Students who are admitted go through 4 different consecutive lab rotations in their first year.  The expectation is that the student will end up in one of these labs to complete his/her thesis research.  The rotations allow the student and the PI to see if they are a good fit.

The MCB graduate program strongly recommends that undergraduate preparation include courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, physics, general and organic chemistry, microbiology, and cell biology.  It’s important that prospective students seek opportunities to carry out undergraduate research. Selection is based on the evaluation of a student's undergraduate record for indications of the ability to excel in independent and creative research. Applicants must have completed a baccalaureate or advanced degree by the time of matriculation.

The application will open on August 1st.

Application Deadline: December 1

Application Fee: $100

Include your educational background, course work in progress, work experience, honors, internships, awards and prizes, and papers that you have co-authored, if any.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application review and admission decisions.  Applicants can upload this onto the application portal when submitting the application.  If admitted, final official transcripts must be sent from the institution or approved evaluation agency.  Details on how to provide official transcripts can be found on the Graduate School's website.

The MCB program welcomes applications from foreign students. The program currently includes students from more than 10 different countries.

All students who are not native or primary speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in English to be admitted to the Graduate School.
You do not need to submit English language proficiency scores if:
  • you hold a degree (HS diploma, bachelors, masters or PhD from an institution where the primary instruction was in English
  • you are a US citizen or Permanent Resident
  • you served as a Teaching Assistant at an institution where the primary instruction was in English
To be considered for admission, an applicant who is not a native or primary speaker of English or doesn't qualify to be exempt by the criteria above, must present a minimum score for either TOEFL, IELTS or Gateway tests as defined below:
TOEFL iBT:
  • Exams taken prior to 1/21/2026: Overall score of 90
  • Exams taken after 1/21/2026: Total score of 5
IELTS: Overall score of 6.5, with no subsection to be below 6
Gateway English Test: Overall score of 495

You will be required to take Oral Academic English (OAE) course(s) if your speaking score is below levels indicate on the Graduate School's website.

Please note: If your overall score is below the minimum, you will not be considered for admission.  If your speaking score is so low that you are ineligible to TA, you will not be considered for admission.  
If you submit scores, even if not required to do so, the scores will be considered in the admission review process.

DuoLingo scores are not accepted.

Unofficial test scores are acceptable for admission review and decisions.  Official scores will be required if admitted.

Please include specific information about your research experience, what inspired you to pursue graduate studies, why you are interested in our program, and what are your research goals. The statement of purpose is submitted in lieu of a personal statement.

A minimum of 3 letters are required. When you list your references, they are automatically sent instructions on how to submit a letter of recommendation, and an evaluation. Be sure that the email addresses are correct.

The review is done online through the application portal.  Please do not email application materials to the program.

Students who are members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. Applicants with varied cultural experiences and educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to include these factors in the review of their application.

GREs are not required.

A full listing of application requirements can be found on The Graduate School's Admission page.

The review of applications is done online through the application system. Please do not email application materials to the program.

Applicants who are members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.  Applicants with varied cultural experiences and educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to include these factors in the review of their application.