Application Pre-requisites 
Official online application, , ?The application period for UChicago Biosciences programs starting in Autumn Quarter 2021 is now open. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all materials are submitted by the December 1 deadline. Our approach to evaluation of candidates is holistic; applications are reviewed as a whole. The admissions committee takes into consideration the entire application package, including submitted transcripts and scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and, especially, academic and research background. Evidence of a sound background in the applicant’s intended field of study is important, as are academic credentials suggesting that the applicant has the ability to successfully pursue advanced study and research. The University of Chicago recognizes that standardized test scores may not be good indicators of ability or potential for all candidates; submission of GRE scores is therefore optional. Previous research experience is considered a strong asset. Candidates are assessed in the context of the opportunities that have been available to them. Additional guidance to applicants is provided on our FAQ page., , All postsecondary education transcripts from which a degree was awarded, , ?Transcripts must be scanned and uploaded to the link provided in the online application. Transcripts must be in the original language (with an authorized translation if that language is not English). Unofficial transcripts obtained from the school’s registrar are acceptable for the application review, but an official transcript displaying the seal of the degree-granting institution will be necessary before matriculation for admitted students. , , Candidate Statement, ?Your statement should discuss your previous research projects and other relevant professional activities, and how these experiences have prepared you for graduate studies. Tell us about your future objectives; what kind of questions you are interested in and why, and what kind of expertise you would like to gain in graduate school. If relevant, you may also discuss any challenges you have faced or road-blocks you have overcome during your preparation, and the personal strengths and/or unique characteristics that make you a qualified applicant. In particular, as this past year, 2020, has been challenging across the globe, you may also briefly discuss how you coped with the many rapid adjustments forced upon you by local and national restrictions. , , Your Candidate Statement is an important part of your application. It allows you to showcase all the academic pursuits, research projects, activities and experiences that have motivated you to pursue a PhD and shaped your future objectives. In addition, the statement allows you to put your experiences, achievements and challenges into a broader context. For instance, working full time to support yourself or your family may have lowered your grades, but it may also demonstrate work ethic, adaptability, and perseverance. We highly recommend that the statement highlights the whole suite of attributes that we will consider in our review process; see Holistic Review & Application Guidance., , Your statement is an important part of your application. It should be clear, concise, and well-crafted., Three letters of recommendation, , ??Submit letters electronically via the online application. Please see the Holistic Review & Application Guidance section for additional recommendations regarding your letters. If using a recommendation letter service such as Interfolio, the service must include the ability to upload each letter individually to the unique link provided. We cannot accept a single upload containing all of your letters., , Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, , ?GRE test scores are optional. If submitted they must be from within the last five years. The University of Chicago institution code is 1832. The majority of our graduate programs have elected not to use submitted GRE scores as part of the review process. The PhD programs in Public Health Sciences, Medical Physics and Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics do consider submitted GRE scores., , $90 application fee, , Original notification of English language competence, , Applicants to the graduate schools and divisions of the University of Chicago who do not meet the criteria below must submit proof of English language proficiency. This policy applies to all graduate programs; the score level required for admission varies by program. Only the TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic tests are accepted as proof of proficiency., , Waiver criteria:, , English has been a primary language of communication and schooling for you since childhood; or you were enrolled for at least one academic year in full-time status in a course of study at an accredited English-medium post-secondary institution in one of the following countries or territories within the past ten years: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States., , Education in English-medium institutions in other countries or territories does not qualify for the exemption. Please visit the UChicago Grad site for more information on the English language proficiency policy. , , Additional Information, If you are seeking advice or wish to make a visit before applying to our programs, please contact the individual program. We encourage you to seek information and advice from any of our programs or their faculty members. Because of the volume of applications and requests for status updates we receive, we are not able to evaluate individual credentials or resumes., , UChicago Biosciences does not release information regarding the number of applicants, number of students accepted, number of international applicants, or any other statistic pertaining to our applicants; however, some programs may share statistics for their individual programs., , The average time to degree is ~5.8 years across all our programs; additional data on time to degree and other metrics in specific programs can be accessed here., , International Students, We welcome international students to share their unique perspectives and expertise with our diverse student body. For admissions and aid purposes, an international applicant is defined as one who holds, or hopes to enter the United States on, a nonresident student visa. International applicants submit the same application as do US citizens, permanent residents, and refugees, but are subject to additional requirements with regard to financial resource viability and demonstrated English proficiency., , Our financial package is available to all students. International applicants are given equal consideration for all awards and sources of University of Chicago support for which they qualify, but because they are not eligible for federal training grant appointments or student loans, the available sources of tuition and stipend aid are limited and competitive. International applicants are thus urged to seek aid from other areas (e.g., fellowships awarded through their native country) before seeking admission to graduate programs at the University of Chicago., , Prior to being offered formal admission, the international applicant must document the ability to meet the financial requirements necessary to obtain a student visa.
