The admissions process for graduate studies at the University of Georgia consists of two parts: an application to the Graduate School and an application to the department of study. Please note that you have to complete both parts in parallel to ensure that your application receives full consideration. If you have questions about the process and/or your application feel free to contact the departmental graduate admissions counselor. PhD applications must be received by December 1st for Fall admission of the following year. MS applications must be received by January 15th for Fall admission. Part 1: Your application to the UGA Graduate School Application to the Graduate School Consult this link for additional information concerning Graduate School admission requirements. In brief, you will be asked to complete an application for admission, pay an application processing fee, provide official transcripts from universities and other schools of higher learning you have attended, provide the e-mail contact of three professors/employers who will be contacted for letters of recommendation, and provide official entrance test scores. The UGA institutional code for ETS reporting is 5813. Note that international applicants will need to provide additional information. You will find specific requirements for academic records, proof of degree, US degree equivalencies and English language proficiency at the Graduate School in their Supplemental Information for International Applicants. Department requirements for admission include a TOEFL Speak Score of at least 23. We do not require a GRE score. These may differ from the University of Georgia Graduate School general admission requirements. Part 2: Your application to the Department of Cellular Biology PhD The PhD program in Cellular Biology admits students through the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program. The ILS program allows first-year graduate students to explore the research areas of more than 270 faculty and 16 participating PhD graduate programs. A hallmark of this competitive graduate program is its emphasis on existing and emerging interdisciplinary research areas. During the Fall semester, entering students perform three laboratory rotations and follow a streamlined and innovative curriculum designed to facilitate the transition to graduate education and research. At the end of the Fall semester, students choose a graduate program and thesis advisor to oversee their thesis research. From that point forward students are a member of their chosen graduate program. Please visit the ILS website (www.ils.uga.edu) for more details on the program, participating faculty, and admissions processes. ILS only admits students for Fall semester; applications for matriculation in spring or summer semesters are not accepted. ILS program applications must be submitted to the UGA Graduate School using the ILS major code (PHD_ILSC). All application materials must be complete by December 1st at 11:59 PM EST for the following Fall term. For example, applications to begin the program in Fall 2025 must be completed in entirety by December 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST. MS Supplemental applications for an MS degree should be submitted to the Cellular Biology Department. MS applications must be received by January 15th for Fall admission. Admission decisions are made in February. To complete your application, you will have to provide three documents directly to the Department of Cellular Biology: Background & Interest Form. Download the Background and Interest Form to your computer and use a suitable program (e.g. Adobe Reader 9 or newer) to complete the form. Save the form with your last name in the file name (e.g. Smith_background.pdf). Statement of Purpose. Please describe in no more than two pages your motivation to pursue graduate training in cellular biology, in particular previous experiences you might have had in research, and outline your educational and professional goals for graduate school and beyond. Save this file with your last name in the file name (e.g. Smith_purpose.pdf). Curriculum Vitae. Please be sure to list your education as well as research experiences including publications, honors and awards. For research experiences please include the name and affiliation of the scientist/professor you have worked with. Save this file with your last name in the file name (e.g. Smith_CV.pdf). Please email the three files (application, purpose, & CV) to the Cellular Biology Graduate Coordinator. You can also send these materials as printed hard copies by mail to: Graduate CoordinatorDepartment of Cellular Biology136 Cedar Street Building C, Room 420University of GeorgiaAthens, GA 30602USA Phone: 706-542-3067 What happens after I apply? The graduate school will ask for letters of recommendation on your behalf and verify and collate the information you have provided to the Department. The departmental graduate admissions committee will review all of these materials. The Graduate Coordinator will contact you via e-mail to inform you of your acceptance into the program. If you have questions about your status of your PhD application, feel free to contact the ILS Graduate Coordinator. Questions regarding an MS application should be directed to the Cellular Biology Graduate Coordinator.
