Graduate Admissions

Admissions Requirements

Students must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and demonstrate good preparation in the following subjects: Biological Sciences, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

A minimum graduation grade-point index of 3.0 or equivalent is required for unconditional admission. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 does not guarantee admission. Applicants with GPAs of 3.0 or slightly above will be expected to have a science course GPA of 3.0

Note to 2011-2012 Applicants: Application Status & GRE Update

Application Process:

Online Application
In the online application, please make sure you complete all sections. This includes the Personal Statement, Departmental Question, and Recommendations sections. It is helpful to include your name on all typed, uploaded documents.
In the Educational Objective Section, you must select: Academic Objectives: Biology (Purdue University)

For the Personal Statement: Provide a statement (approximately 750 words) that identifies your academic goals, career objectives, why you are applying to this program, and the qualifications you have that make you a strong candidate for this program.
(On the application, ignore the statment that says "check the department page for more specific information". The statement provided above is sufficient for the writing your personal statement.)

In the Departmental Question section, you must specify which program you are pursuing. The choices are as follows: Pre-Professional Non-Thesis, MS non-thesis, MS thesis, and PhD. Simply write a sentence saying "I am applying for the .... program." and upload it.

The last step before submitting an on-line application is the application fee. You must pay this fee in order to submit your application. IMPORTANT NOTE: An email will be sent to you when our department receives your complete application. If you do not receive an application submission email within 3-4 weeks, please email or call to verify that we have it. We have several students who mistakenly select the wrong Academic Objective and their application goes to another department. It is important to check your email to verify we received your application. If your application is mis-directed, it can be easily switched over to our department.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required. The preferred method is using the on-line section within the application. If you have a person who does not wish to fill out the recommendation on-line, he or she may write a standard letter and mail it to the department. They can also include an optional recommendation form, but it is NOT required. Or, you may call the Department of Biology at (317) 274-0577, or e-mail biograd@iupui.edu, with your address to have the optional form mailed to you. We also accept "committee packets" that universities put together for their students. At least two letters should come from professors in previous science classes and should address the applicant's aptitude and potential in a biology program at the graduate level.
Transcripts
Two original copies of the official transcript(s) of all previous university work are required, including IU campuses: IUB, IUPUI, IUPUC, etc. Please have official copies sent directly to the address below.
Exams (GRE & TOEFL)
GRE. All applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination General test. For those students who took the GRE exam prior to August 1, 2011, a cumulative score of 1000 with a minimum score of 400 in the verbal section is considered the minimum required for admission. These scores corresponded to an average verbal plus quantitative totals in recent years of 1170 for M.S. programs and 1200 for the PH.D. Greater than 3.5 is the minimum score required on the Analytical writing portion of the GRE.
The new GRE test implemented August 1, 2011 will have corresponding minimal score requirements as follows:
- A combined total of 295 for the verbal and quantitative sections of the test.
- A verbal score of not less than 146 and a quantitative score of not less than 145.
- A 3.5 score on the analytical portion of the test is required.
MCAT scores and scores from other professional exams do not substitute for the GRE score.

Please have the documentation of your score mailed directly to us from Educational Testing Service.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International students must take the TOEFL.
- The minimum scores required for admission are 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the internet-based test (foreign students only).
- There are no automatic waivers.
- iBT overall score ≥ 80
  - Writing ≥ 18
  - Speaking ≥ 22
  - Listening ≥ 16
  - Reading ≥ 19
- Please ensure you meet all minimum requirements BEFORE you apply to our program.

To be eligible for Teaching Assistantships, foreign applicants must pass the English Language Proficiency screening administered by the IUPUI ESL Program.

GRE and TOEFL codes: IUPUI = 1325, Biology Department = 0203

Fellowships & Assistantship

If you are interested in applying for a fellowship, please download and mail to us the form: "Release of Confidential Information to the University Fellowship Subcommittee". Note: Fall semester deadline to be considered for a Fellowship or a Teaching Assistantship is March 15. In addition University Fellowships are available. Those have an earlier deadline of January 15.

International Students

For more information, visit the International Admissions Website.

Application Deadlines 2011-2012

Ph. D.: Recommended application date: January 1; final deadline: March 1
M.S. Thesis (full time with support)
Fall entry: May 1
Spring entry: October 1
Pre-Professional Non-Thesis and M.S. Non-Thesis
Fall entry: July 15
Spring entry: December 1

All materials must be submitted to the department before the graduate committee will review your file.

Letters of recommendation, transcripts and exam scores should be mailed to:

IUPUI Biology Department
ATTN: Graduate secretary
723 West Michigan Street, SL 306
Indianapolis, IN 46202