This page details the application process for the graduate program in Biology, including the application timeline, application requirements, and information for international students and students with disabilities.
MIT Graduate Biology is a doctoral program. There is no Masters offered. The average length of time until degree is 5 1/2 to 6 years.
The Biology department also participates in a number of Interdisciplinary and Joint Degree Programs, including the Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience graduate program, the joint MD/PhD program, the Biophysics Certificate program, and the joint program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. If you are interested in any these programs, please make sure you explore the different requirements to participate in or apply for these programs.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | October 1 |
| Application Deadline | December 1 |
| Interview invitations sent via email | Mid-January |
| Open House / Interview Dates (by invitation) | February 10 – 12, 2024 February 24 – 26, 2024 |
| Admissions decisions sent | Following interviews |
Application for admission is completed through our online system GradApply. For fullest consideration, it is in your best interest to complete all parts of the application by or before the deadline. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed. A complete application should include:
Submit an unofficial transcript(s) from each college or university you have attended in PDF format using the online application.
With regards to specific prerequisite courses for the Biology Program, basic requirements would include Calculus, one year of college physics, organic chemistry and subjects including general biochemistry, genetics and physical chemistry. However, students may make up some deficiencies over the course of their graduate work.
If you are unable to submit an unofficial transcript before the application deadline, you should complete the “Subjects Taken” page on the online application. You should then submit an official transcript by mail as soon as possible. To be considered official, transcripts must be received in envelopes sealed by the institution.
Mailing Address:
Biology Graduate Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Building 68-120
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
The standard application fee is $75 payable by credit card on GradApply. The Office of Graduate Education offers fee waivers for applicants that meet specific eligibility requirements. Please note that we cannot waive this fee for international applications.
We require three letters of recommendation submitted electronically using the online application system. At least two must be academic recommendations. You are responsible for sending the links to your recommenders, tracking the status of the letters (on the “Letter Status” page under “Evaluations”), and following up as needed.
Your recommendation letters should include details that highlight:
Non-native English speakers who did not complete their undergraduate education in English are required to submit scores for the IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English Qualifications C1 Advanced, or Cambridge English Qualifications C2 Proficiency and meet the minimum score requirements. We encourage you to take the exams with enough time to have the scores submitted before the application deadline. Scanned PDF scores are considered unofficial documents and sufficient for review purposes. Official scores must be submitted electronically from ETS before an admissions decision can be made. You can learn more about required standardized tests on the MIT Graduate Admissions website.
Your Statement of Objectives should discuss your past and current scientific and research interests and experiences, and outline particular areas of interest for graduate study. You may also discuss the long-term professional goals that motivate you to work towards a PhD. This is also an appropriate place to clarify details of your academic and work experience to date.
In-person interviews are required for an offer of admission to the Biology program. Invitations will be sent out to selected applicants by email in mid-January along with further details about the interview process. The program will cover interview travel expenses, or provide cost-sharing for international students.
Fluency in spoken and written English is essential for success in our program. We judge fluency in several ways, including scores from standardized tests.
More information about these tests is available on the MIT Graduate Admissions website.
MIT is committed to equal access for qualified students. Interested students may contact the MIT Student Disabilities Services office to learn about resources on campus.
The Biology Application Assistance Program (BAAP) is a student-led effort to support MIT Biology applicants and lower the application information gap for applicants from underrepresented or non-traditional backgrounds. If you are a prospective graduate student applying during this application cycle, submit an application to participate in student-led application activities, including office hours and panels with current MIT Biograds, to help you prepare your application before submission. BAAP applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 15, 2024. Questions? Email mitbaap@gmail.com or visit the BAAP website to learn more.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to requests for updated status of application materials received or to provide feedback about unsuccessful applications.
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