Ph.D. Degree Entrance Requirements

Applications for Fall admission are due by the 2nd Friday in February.
Applications for Spring admission are due by the last Friday in August.

• A bachelor's degree or a MS in a relevant field
• Official transcripts
• At least 1120 on the GRE
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Three letters of recommendation
• A faculty sponsor
• A statement of interest

*Note: Please submit transcripts, GRE scores, and application forms to the University Admissions Office. Submit letters of recommendation, statement of interest and TA application (if necessary) and copies of your TRANSCRIPTS to the Department of Biology (see address below).

International Applicant Requirements

• A minimum 550 on the TOEFL -- Paper vs Computer based scores
• A minimum 50 on the TSE for TAs
• Click For DetailsCertification of financial ability
• Medical insurance
  

All Applicants

Completed Application Forms, Fee, all Test Scores, & Official Transcripts should be sent to:

Florida International University
University Park Campus
Graduate AdmissionsOffice, PC 231
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33199

Letters of Recommendation, Statement of Interest, and Assistantship Application and copies of your TRANSCRIPTS should be sent to:

Graduate Program Director
FIU, Dept of Biology
11200 SW 8th St.
Miami, Fl 33199

• A bachelor's degree
  B.A./B.S./Master in a relevant discipline such, as Biology, Botany, Zoology Microbiology, Genetics or Chemistry.
  
• Official transcripts
  Official transcripts need to be provided from each college or university attended. Transcripts in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official English translation.
  
• At least 1120 on the GRE
  A combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1120 on the GRE is required. Without a Masters degree a combined verbal and quantitative 1250 is required.
  
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
  A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale during upper division courses is required.
  
• Two letters of recommendation
  Two letters of recommendation are required (FIU does not provide recommendation forms).
  
• A faculty sponsor
  A faculty sponsor, who must be a tenure-earning or tenured member of the Department of Biological Sciences to serve as major professor must be identified in advance. The major professor will direct the student's research in consultation with the supervisory committee. Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty with similar research interests and inquire about their availability to serve as major professor. Faculty members must submit a letter of support to the applicant's file.
  
• A statement of interest
  A Statement of Interest detailing area(s) of research you will be pursuing towards your degree. This should be a 1 or 2 page summary of your research interests and any research history and/or experience. Please include a resume and/or a curriculum vitae (CV) along with your statement in order to help the graduate committee assess your qualifications. You may wish to address any weaknesses you perceive in your application (relatively low GPA and/or GRE) in this document.

• A minimum 550 on the TOEFL -- Paper vs Computer based scores
  Must demonstrate proficiency in English by achieving a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• A minimum 50 on the TSE for TAs
  Those seeking a teaching assistantship are required to demonstrate their spoken proficiency by earning a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE), if their native language is not English.
• Certification of financial ability
  Must complete a declaration and certification of financial ability to support themselves while a student (contact the FIU International Students Office for further information).