Criteria for Admission

DEADLINES:  Completed application and all supporting materials must be received by March 15. Admission is offered for the fall semester only.

• STEP 1.  Apply online and submit the fee ($60 for domestic and $75 for international applicants) by credit card (Visa and MasterCard).  The proposed program name is Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology. The application will not be processed until the fee is paid.

• STEP 2.  Have all transcripts listing the conferral of degrees earned and the coursework sent directly from the institution to the Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 286 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.

• STEP 3.  Letters of reference should be from prior instructors or research supervisors who are most familiar with your scholarship and potential for research. These letters can be submitted online or by mail. If by mail, ask them to send the completed forms directly to Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 286 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801. The completed reference form and letter can also be faxed to 217-244-1224 to be followed by the original signed documents by mail. Letters can be submitted on letterhead from the institution of the remitter instead of using the form provided with the application.

• STEP 4.  Have your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores sent directly from ETS to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The institution number is 1836 and the GRE program code is 00. A minumum of an upper second honours B.Sc. in a relevant life science may be substituted for the GRE for students from Britain and Ireland. The GRE Subject Test is not required.

• Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit TOEFL scores. International applicants must have a TOEFL score of at least 570 (paper-based test) or 230 (computer-based test), or 89 (iBT) to be considered for admission.  The speaking section score of the iBT test must be at least 24.  The TOEFL must be taken within two years of the proposed term of entry; older scores are not valid. The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is required; applicants must receive a score of at least 50. Request that official TOEFL and TSE scores be sent directly to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The institution number is 1836 and the GRE program code is 00. The Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) is required upon enrollment.

• All application material must be received by the January 15 deadline. Incomplete applications due to missing information will not be considered.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to inquire about the status of their application.

• Prospective students are encouraged to e-mail or write faculty members with whom they would like to work. Letters may be sent in care of the Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology Program at the address above.

• If you have additional questions, contact Carol Hall, Physiological and Molecular Plant Biology Program 286 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL  61801; phone: 217/ 333-8208; fax 217/ 244-1224; c-hall@life.uiuc.edu.

Requirements

The Graduate College requires a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) for the last two years of undergraduate work and any graduate work completed for admission to the University.  While the program does not require particular course prerequisites, applicants should have completed a year of college physics, a year of plant science including an introductory course in plant physiology, and a course in quantitative analysis, organic chemistry, and calculus. 

Financial Aid

Financial Support for graduate study is available on a competitive basis in the form of research or teaching assistantships, University fellowships, or traineeships.  Generally support is provided by the graduate student's major advisor.  Support for graduate students includes a competitive stipend and a tuition waiver.  Additional information about financial aid is available through the Graduate College.

Updated 11/12/07