The application deadline is December 1 each year

Admission to the Graduate Program in Molecular Biosciences is highly competitive. A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is required for admission. Appropriate undergraduate preparation might include a concentration in biology, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, microbiology, neurobiology, genetics or a related field. Successful applicants have typically had some exposure to laboratory research and are able to articulate why further training in graduate school is desired.

Superior ability needs to be demonstrated by grade-point average (minimum GPA of 3.0) and letters of recommendation.  We do not require the GRE test.  TOEFL scores are required of students from countries in which English is not the primary language. 

Required Materials and Information

**It is the responsibility of each applicant to make sure that all required credentials have been received by the December 1 deadline.

  •         Online application
  •         Application fee (non-refundable $70). Please see Graduate Admissions website for information on fee waivers.
  •         One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. 
    • Your application will be reviewed with an unofficial transcript.  Please use the upload links in the Grad Portal to upload your own, unofficial transcript copies.  This will enable the Admissions Committee to review your application without waiting for individual institutions to send originals.  If you are offered admission, you must submit your official transcript at that time.
  •         A personal statement
    • Explain your motivation for pursuing a PhD degree.
    • Describe your previous research experience(s) highlighting objectives, challenges and outcomes.
    • If there is something you feel the admissions committee should know about you, include it in your statement.
    • Your personal statement should be between 1 and 2 pages in length.     
  • Three letters of recommendation
    • Letters from faculty who supervised your research or know you well from a classroom experience will help the admissions committee evaluate your motivation, work ethic, curiosity, initiative, persistence, intellectual ability and willingness to work with others
  •  TOEFL or IELTS (for international applicants)   
  •  GRE general test is not required.
  •  Curriculum Vitae (resume) may be uploaded as supporting documentation (this is strongly suggested)

The Admissions Committee for the Graduate Programs in Molecular Biosciences reviews application for five participating degree-granting graduate programs. Specifying any one of the five programs does not limit a student’s choice of laboratories in which to work. At the end of the first year, regardless of which program was specified during the application process, a student may select any one of the five programs in which to continue.

Please click here for access to the Graduate Admissions portal for Rutgers University. For admission to Molecular Biosciences, please search by Program Code to apply to ONE of the following 5 programs:

Program Name

Program Code

Biochemistry 16:115
Cell & Developmental Biology 16:148
Microbiology & Molecular Genetics 16:681
Pharmacology, Cellular & Molecular 16:718
Physiology & Integrative Biology 16:761