Apply to Our Graduate Programs

The priority deadline for Fall 2025 MS in Biology applications is January 15, 2025 at 11:59pm EST*

*Applications will also be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until March 15, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. If space in the cohort permits, late applications may be accepted until May 15, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.

Generally the department does not accept new students for the spring semester, although in special circumstances this may be arranged for students in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution.

Ecology, Behavior & Evolution applicants please note that we anticipate limited space available in the Fall 2025 Marine Semester courses; those who are applying for the MS with coursework or scholarly paper tracks with an interest in Marine Biology should plan alternate fall courses or delay application to a future year. 

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The deadline for Fall 2025 PhD in Biology applications is December 4, 2024 at 11:59pm EST

The PhD application will open October 1, 2024

Generally the department does not accept new students for the spring semester, although in special circumstances this may be arranged for students in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution.

Those also interested in the Boston University Graduate Program in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health (BU URBAN) are encouraged to apply by the appropriate deadline. Note that this is a separate application and is not considered an official application to the Biology PhD program. 

Curious about specific program statistics? Check out the Biology PhD Profile to view data on application and admissions; enrollment; career outcomes; and more!

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Prerequisites

Applicants to the MS and PhD programs must have completed a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field. While a degree in biology is not required, it is suggested that you at least have completed biology and chemistry courses before applying. Statistics would also be useful. Depending on your specific interests and the program to which you are applying, the most relevant courses will vary. Admission to graduate programs in the Department of Biology is competitive. We favor applicants with strong academic records, as well as a demonstrated aptitude for research for those applying for the PhD or the MS with research thesis track.
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Application Requirements

• Transcripts
• Three recommendations – We consider letters of recommendation a very important part of your application. Letters from individuals who can address the applicant’s research experience and aptitude are particularly valued for those applying for the PhD or the MS with research thesis track.
• Personal statement/statement of purpose – A thoughtful personal statement is important and should include information on your motivation for attending graduate school. Those applying for the PhD or the MS with research thesis track should also include any research interests and any prior research experience.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Additional requirements for international students – Information for international students on English proficiency and other requirements is available on the International Student Applicant page.

Area of Interest and Faculty of Interest

Applicants should specify the research area(s) of interest on the application:

• Cell & Molecular Biology
• Neurobiology
• Ecology, Behavior & Evolution

Information about all three research areas can be found on our Graduate Research page.

Applicants are encouraged to contact one or more faculty with whom they might wish to pursue their dissertation research. This is especially important for students interested in the Ecology, Behavior & Evolution program area, where applicants are typically admitted to work specifically with one or more faculty members; please visit the Ecology, Behavior & Evolution graduate research dropdown for more information about contacting faculty and to see a list of faculty members currently seeking graduate students. The Cell & Molecular Biology and Neurobiology program areas require laboratory rotations during which students can explore their interests, but it is often useful to contact a faculty member.

Not sure if our programs are right for you? Please review the information located on the rest of this page and be sure to explore some of BU’s related interdisciplinary programs: Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry (MCBB), Neuroscience, and Bioinformatics.

1. Benefit From Our World-Class Facilities

BU Biology students are provided access to training and research facilities such as the Biology Research Building; the Biological Science Center; the Life Sciences & Engineering Building; the Metcalf Center for Science & Engineering; and the Science & Engineering Library. You’ll find teaching and research laboratories at these facilities, as well as departmental common facilities including the Aquarium Room; Stable Isotope Laboratory; the Electron Microscope and Confocal Imaging Facility; and the Biology Media Center.

The close proximity of these facilities allows for a highly collaborative environment between students and faculty within, and outside of, the Department. Students also enjoy access to the Graduate Student Lounge, seminar rooms, and conference rooms.

2. Experience the Advantages of Boston

BU Biology students experience the unique advantages of obtaining an education in Boston—a hub for the scientific and medical community. Students collaborate on research with the world’s top scientific and medical minds, have access to outstanding professional development events, and network with local professionals from both academia and industry. Many graduates of our programs choose to stay in the Boston area, providing a rich base of local alumni available for Departmental events, networking, and mentoring.

3. Become Part of the Boston University Community

We value diversity and inclusion

The Biology Department and Boston University are strongly committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in which our students can learn and grow—both inside and outside of the classroom. BU is proud to be home to the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground (HTC), a space where students of all races, religions, orientations, and ethnicities come together to engage in courageous intercultural dialogues. Many of our Biology graduate students also join groups such as Graduate Women in Science & Engineering (GWISE), which strives to create a community to support and promote women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

We are innovators 

From capturing the first-ever image of a black hole, to making leaps in our understanding of why Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) hits some people harder than others, our faculty and students are on the cutting edge of new discoveries. BU has become a leading global research institution—propelled forward by over $579.4 million in research awards in FY2019. In fall 2012, BU was invited to join the Association of American Universities, an elite organization of 61 other leading research universities in the United States and Canada. Explore our pioneering research.

We cultivate future leaders

Boston University is one of 8 universities selected to participate in the AAU PhD Education Initiative and Biology is one of 6 BU departments participating. This initiative “aims to change the culture surrounding doctoral education at AAU member institutions so that graduate education is more student-centered, placing greater emphasis and focus on students as individuals with diverse educational and professional interests, needs, and challenges.” The Initiative’s objective is to make the full range of PhD career pathways visible, valued, and viable for all students. Learn more about the long-term goals here.

In addition to university-wide events, the Department of Biology hosts a number of professional development and social events just for our graduate students. Many student groups also offer professional development and social opportunities relevant to our Biology graduate students.

 

Heather Hook, PhD program, Siggers Lab “The most compelling factor that made me choose BU was the faculty. Every faculty member that I have engaged with is open, ensures that I am getting the most out of my time at BU and becoming a better scientist. I also liked how the department is collaborative. Many of the faculty members do joint research projects, which helps you get exposed to techniques or certain areas of research that are outside the scope of your lab. Not only are the faculty collaborative, but the graduate students are as well. Graduate students in the Biology Department never hesitate to help one another out. This help can range from just sharing an aliquot of a reagent that you just ran out of to troubleshooting your experiment. The Biology Department really is one strong knitted team.”

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Maria Valadez Ingersoll, PhD program, Gilmore & Davies Labs “BU allows me the freedom to explore all of my interests within the realms of science, advocacy, and beyond. Through BU I have connected with K-12 educators to workshop marine conservation curriculum for elementary, middle, and high schoolers, I have gained my certification as a scientific SCUBA diver, and I have established a student group to become a chapter of the national SACNAS organization. BU offers amazing opportunities to progress your career as a scientist and as an active member of our global community.”

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Elif Ozsen, PhD program “I chose BU for my Ph.D. in Neurobiology because of its welcoming and positive environment. I immediately connect with the faculty during my interviews and my research interests aligned very closely with several professors at the institution. BU provides endless opportunities for me to learn more about my field, allowing me to grow as a scientist and researcher. Also, the students in the program are very supportive and I learn new things from my peers each day.”

The Biology Prospective Scholars Program (PSP) invites prospective graduate students to a virtual event that provides an overview of the graduate admissions process in Biology at BU. The PSP event will connect participants with BU faculty and graduate students within Biology and affiliated departments, provide opportunities to meet one-on-one with prospective faculty mentors, introduce graduate student groups on campus, provide professional development resources, and facilitate discussions with participants and current graduate students on issues of diversity and inclusion, academic life, and living in Boston, among others.

Prospective students from under-represented backgrounds in science are strongly encouraged to apply. Note that this is a separate application and is not considered an official application to the Biology graduate programs.

We are in the process of restructuring the PSP event; check back at a later date for updated information!

Applications for the upcoming fall admissions period become available in early September for the MS and early October for the PhD each year.

Application deadlines for Fall 2025 admission are December 4, 2024 at 11:59pm EST for the PhD program and January 15, 2025 at 11:59pm (priority)/May 15, 2025 at 11:59pm (final) for the MS program. Note: For full consideration for the MS program, applications must be received by January 15th. Late MS applications may also be considered if space in the cohort permits.

Yes – we welcome applications from all over the world.

Transcripts; Three recommendations – We consider letters of recommendation a very important part of your application. Letters from individuals who can address the applicant’s research experience and aptitude are particularly valued for those applying for the PhD or the MS with research thesis track; Personal statement/statement of purpose – A thoughtful personal statement is important and should include information on your motivation for attending graduate school. Those applying for the PhD or the MS with research thesis track should also include any research interests and any prior research experience; Curriculum Vitae; Additional requirements for international students – Information for international students on English proficiency and other requirements is available on the GRS Academic Admissions page and on the International Student Applicant page.

The Biology Department does not have a minimum GPA for admission. We consider the full application when reviewing applicants.

No, the GRE is not required. However, if you feel that your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them. The admissions committee fully recognizes that there are many components to your application and that GRE scores have a limited scope of predictive power in the evaluation of a candidate for their long-term success as a student.

Yes, the minimum scores are strictly enforced by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Your most recent test scores will be used to determine if you have met the English proficiency requirements. You cannot combine sections from different test dates and you must meet the minimum score for every section of the test to be considered for admission. We accept the following English proficiency tests and minimum scores:

TOEFL:  100 Overall Score (25 recommended in each section). Internet-based Test (iBT) only. We do not accept “MyBest Scores.”

IELTS:  7.0 Overall Band Score

Cambridge English Qualifications: 185 Overall Score on B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams

Duolingo:  130 Overall Score

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements of English proficiency are not eligible for admission.

The proof of English proficiency requirement is waived if you meet any of the criteria listed on the GRS website; see “English Proficiency Requirement”.

All applications must be complete by the deadline; any application materials received after the deadline may not be reviewed by the Department.

Applicants who would like to request an application fee waiver must follow the fee waiver instructions on the GRS website. Note that you must be a US citizen or a US permanent resident in order to be eligible to apply for a fee waiver. Non-US citizens are not eligible to apply for a fee waiver through GRS.

In exceptional circumstances, applicants who are non-US citizens may be granted a Department fee waiver; please fill out the Biology fee waiver request form to be considered. We accept fee waiver requests September 1st to about three weeks prior to the application deadline.

• PhD applicants – Generally, we do not accept applications for submission after the deadline has passed.
• MS applicants – For full consideration, applications must be received by January 15th. Late applications may also be considered if space in the cohort permits.

Please contact the Graduate Program Specialist to find out if your application can still be submitted.

Generally, the department does not accept new students for the spring semester, although in special circumstances this may be arranged for students in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE).

Applicants to the MS or PhD programs must have completed a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field. While a degree in biology is not required, it is suggested that you at least have completed biology and chemistry courses before applying. Statistics would also be useful. Depending on your specific interests and the program to which you are applying, the most relevant courses will vary. If you are applying for the PhD or MS with research thesis track, prior research experience will also make your application more competitive.

Some BU courses may be available for non-degree students if you would like to take courses before applying. Please contact the Graduate Program Specialist for more information.

A master’s degree is not needed to apply to our PhD program. Students who apply with a master’s degree may have an opportunity to transfer credits towards the program. Admission into the program is competitive and we favor applicants with strong academic records, as well as a demonstrated aptitude for research for those applying for the PhD or the MS with research thesis track.

Applicants interested in applying to our MS (Coursework Track or Scholarly Paper Track) do not need to contact faculty before applying. It is recommended that PhD and MS (Research Track) applicants contact one or more faculty with whom you might wish to work. This is essential for students interested in the Ecology, Behavior & Evolution program area, in which applicants are typically admitted to work specifically with one or more faculty members. Please visit the Ecology, Behavior & Evolution research dropdown for more information about contacting faculty and to see a list of faculty members currently seeking graduate students. The Cell & Molecular Biology and Neurobiology program areas require laboratory rotations during which students can explore their interests, but it is often useful to contact a faculty member. We do not provide a list of faculty members who are currently seeking graduate students in the Cell & Molecular and Neurobiology program areas.

Information about our different research areas can be found on the Graduate Research page.

No – you can list more than one area of interest on your application. You do not need to submit multiple applications.

Yes, prospective applicants can contact the Graduate Program Specialist or any faculty member with whom they may wish to work to schedule a time to visit. The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences does not offer tours of the campus however, prospective students can sign-up for tours with undergraduate admissions.

PhD

Cell & Molecular (CM) and Neurobiology applicants: Initial Zoom interviews will be conducted in late January. Selected applicants currently in the continental US will be invited to visit the campus for Prospective Students Day in late February/early March to learn more about Boston University, the surrounding area, and to meet with many of the faculty and current students within the department. Admission decisions are usually sent out the week following this visit to campus (early-mid March).

Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE) applicants: Individual faculty often schedule Zoom interviews as the next step after reviewing applications, or based on initial email communication. Selected applicants will be invited to visit the campus for Prospective Scholars Day i late February/early March or individually, on dates that are convenient for their prospective advisors. Admission decisions are sent on a rolling basis, generally after the last applicant seeking entry to a particular lab has visited.

MS

Admissions decisions are sent out in rounds depending on application submission date—typically mid-February, late-April, and mid-June.

Admission rates vary each year. However, you may view the Biology PhD Profile to view data on application and admissions; enrollment; career outcomes; and more!

Tuition and mandatory fees for the current academic year can be found on the GRS website.

The Biology Department guarantees support for five years for all PhD students, contingent on satisfactory performance in the program. This includes tuition, a stipend, and health insurance. You can learn more about the different fellowships that are offered on the GRS website.

The Biology Department does not guarantee financial support for MS students, although limited partial scholarships are available, and there are often Teaching Assistant positions available for MS students that provide $6,000 per semester. If interested in these opportunities please indicate this in your application. Some resources are available on the GRS website for MS students seeking financial aid.

Yes. The Department of Biology offers several competitive awards and fellowships that are available to graduate students.

MS students must complete the degree within 3 years, though most of our students complete this within 2 years. PhD students must complete the degree within 7 years, though most of our students complete this within 5-6 years.

MS students can transfer a maximum of 8 credits from other universities. PhD students can transfer a maximum of 32 credits. Your coursework would be reviewed by faculty to determine what is appropriate to transfer based on the program and what credits you would still need to take moving forward. This could certainly decrease the time to degree, but PhD and MS with research thesis track students would still need to complete research credits and the length of time for completion can be different depending on the research projects that you take on and the progress of your dissertation/thesis. More information about the transfer of credit policy can be found online.

Course requirement information for MS students can be found here.

Course requirement information for PhD students can be found here.

The department requires a minimum of two semesters of teaching during a student’s graduate career as part of the PhD program. During the first semester of teaching, students are required to enroll in our first-year seminar course, GRS BI 697 A Bridge to Knowledge. The course provides guidance and training on pedagogy and other aspects of graduate school.

MS students are not required to teach but there are sometimes opportunities for MS students to teach if interested.

It is possible to take classes part time if you are in the master’s program or if you want to take a class or two before officially enrolling in the program. However, we do not offer evening courses, so if you have a full time job and are interested in taking one or two courses, this may not be a good fit for you. The PhD Program is a full-time program.