phd in neuroscience requirements

Basic eligibility requirements for admission to PiN include a bachelor’s degree and strong preparation in the sciences. While there are no specific degree subject, course, or research requirements, our curriculum assumes rigorous undergraduate coursework in the sciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics, and prior lab research experience. We welcome applicants who have trained outside of neuroscience and biology, but applicants are expected to have a demonstrated interest in neuroscience. Recognizing that not all undergraduate students have access to the same research opportunities and advising resources, PiN has established an in-house post-baccalaureate program ( PiNBAC , launched in 2021) for students from underrepresented backgrounds and offers informal advising to prospective applicants (see Virtual Open Houses under "How to Apply" below). Many of our current students gained research experience after completing their undergraduate degree through a post-baccalaureate program or as lab assistants or technicians with increasing independence and responsibility, before applying.

Selection Factors expand_more

Our committee takes a holistic approach to application review, carefully reading every section of the application in order to gain insight into the whole person in the context of their unique lived experience. We look for applicants who demonstrate the ability to “think like scientists” through prior lab research, whose academic training has prepared them for successful research in their area of interest, who have made the most of the opportunities available to them, who have shown leadership and resilience, and who are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Most of our successful applicants have at least a year’s worth of sustained research experience completed through their undergraduate program, through a post-baccalaureate program, or working in a lab as a research assistant or technician with increasing independence and responsibility.

PiN does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, or any other protected classification.

Completing the Application expand_more

All applications must be submitted via the GSAS Admissions applicant portal and are due with all supporting materials by December 1. The applicant portal opens in mid-September each year.

Selecting PiN as the Degree Program

On the GSAS application, first select “Division of Medical Sciences” under Degree Program, then select “Neuroscience” under Area of Interest.

Faculty of Interest

Applicants are welcome to list up to three PiN faculty affiliates with whom they would be interested in working if admitted to the program but are not expected to contact faculty during the application process. We’re aware that the GSAS application includes a section on contacting faculty for a subset of graduate programs, but contacting faculty is not required and has no bearing on admissions decisions for PiN. We recognize that students are in the early stages of exploring their research interests and that faculty of interest may change during and after the admissions cycle. Applicants invited to interview will have the opportunity in late December to list 6-8 faculty they’d be interested in meeting with during their visit in January. All first-year students are required to rotate in at least 2-3 different labs before choosing an advisor for their dissertation research and receive programmatic support as they navigate the broad network of affiliated labs.

Statement of Purpose (SoP)

Through the SoP, we’re looking to get to know you as a scientist. How did your background help shape your interests and experiences in science? What are your goals for graduate school? How do your research experiences fit within this context? You are welcome to briefly mention multiple research experiences as they relate to your trajectory, but your SoP should focus on your primary research experience, discussing the question/topic that drove the project, its importance, your hypotheses, how you tested your hypotheses, your findings or possible outcomes, and how you interpreted those outcomes. We’re excited to see evidence of your ability to “think like a scientist” in this section of the application. (No longer than 1000 words)

Personal Statement

Please describe the personal experiences that led you to pursue graduate education and how these experiences will contribute to the academic environment and/or community in your program or Harvard Griffin GSAS. These may include social and cultural experiences, leadership positions, community engagement, equity and inclusion efforts, other opportunities, or challenges. Please note that there is no expectation to share detailed sensitive information and you should refrain from including anything that you would not feel at ease sharing. Please also note that the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content provided in the Statement of Purpose. (No longer than 500 words)

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation (we can accept up to four). Letters from research advisors are the most informative. Your letter writers should know you well and should be able to speak to your intellectual character and other qualities as a scientist. Letters from course instructors can be helpful, but letters from research advisors are preferred. Applicants should make every effort to include a letter from the PI for their primary research experience; if your primary research PI is unable to submit a letter of recommendation, please let us know why in your application (by uploading a brief statement to Additional Materials).

Transcripts

Applicants should upload an unofficial copy of their transcript(s) to complete their application via the GSAS applicant portal and will be able to add fall term grades after the December 1 deadline as needed. Only matriculating students are required to submit official transcripts (with a deadline in July before enrollment). The PiN admissions committee reviews transcripts considering whether your academic coursework provides sufficient background knowledge and predicts success in your research area of interest.

PiN no longer accepts GRE scores (as of 2019). If you submit them, they will not be seen by our admissions committee.

TOEFL/IELTS

If English is not your native language and you completed your undergraduate degree in a language other than English, you are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting TOEFL (minimum 100) or IELTS Academic (minimum 7.0) scores. We are not able to accept any other proof of proficiency. A master’s degree or other graduate degree is not accepted as proof of English proficiency. This requirement applies to all applicants regardless of residency or citizenship status. More here .

Application Support expand_more

Application fee waiver.

GSAS is committed to ensuring that the application fee does not create a financial obstacle. Applicants can determine eligibility for a fee waiver by completing a series of questions in the Application Fee section of the application. Once these questions have been answered, the application system will provide an immediate response regarding fee waiver eligibility.  More here .

Virtual Open Houses

PiN hosts a series of virtual open houses for prospective applicants in October and November each year, where the admissions chair and program directors are joined by current faculty and students to discuss all aspects of the program and the application process. See below for dates and registration links!

PiN Application Assistance Program (PiN AAP)

We are excited to announce the launch of a new PiN student-run application assistance program (PiN AAP) in the fall of 2024, aiming to support applicants to PiN with the understanding that the path to graduate education can present unique challenges, including difficult, unclear, or hidden expectations, especially for individuals who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

PiN AAP will pair applicants with a current PiN student mentor who will provide feedback on the written application. Please note that because PiN AAP is a volunteer program initiated and run by students, space is limited, and not all applicants are guaranteed to be matched with a mentor. PiN AAP is in no way affiliated with the PiN admissions committee, and participation does not guarantee admission to any Harvard program.

PiN AAP especially encourages applications from students who are from  underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds  (see also  NOT-OD-20-031 ). Applications are open to all, and race, ethnicity, and national origin are not considered in reviewing applications.

If interested, please  apply here  by October 15, 2024.

Application Review & Interviews expand_more

The PiN admissions committee comprises current PiN faculty with substantive experience mentoring students. Committee members complete diversity, equity, and inclusion training in admissions prior to application review. Each application is read by multiple committee members, who take a holistic approach to review (i.e., carefully reading every section of the application in order to gain insight into the whole person in the context of their unique lived experience). All applicants are reviewed in the same pool regardless of citizenship status or other demographic factors. The committee invites around 55 applicants to interview in January and makes around 30 offers for an average of 24 places in each incoming class.

Interviews are held in Boston the third weekend in January every year. We schedule five faculty interviews and one student interview for each applicant based on research interests and applicant requests, on Friday, in addition to offering recruitment events Thursday afternoon through Saturday evening. Interviews are casual but focused on scientific discussion. Our interviewers are excited to talk to you about their research and to hear about yours! PiN student interviewers are given the same weight as faculty interviewers in the interview evaluation process. The interview weekend is designed to help applicants get to know us as a community, get to know each other, and have fun along the way!

Timeline expand_more

Student snapshot & career outcomes, frequently asked questions, application assistance program, hils virtual open house 1/2.

Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) admissions panel focused on letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and personal statement followed by individual program Q&As with faculty & administrators. 5:00-6:00 PM EST (GMT -4:00): PhD Admissions...

PiN Virtual Open House

Join our faculty director, admissions chair, curriculum directors, and current students for a brief overview of the program and admissions procedures followed by Q&A in themed breakout rooms.

HILS Virtual Open House 2/2

Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) admissions panel focused on graduate school interviews followed by individual program Q&As with faculty & administrators. 5:00-6:00 PM EST (GMT -4:00): PhD Admissions Panel 6:00-7:00 PM EST (GMT -4:00): Breakout...

Meet PiN faculty & students at the following events to learn more about our PhD program and other fantastic opportunities to do neuroscience research at Harvard!

BP Endure Graduate School Fair at SfN

Society for neuroscience (sfn) graduate school fair, abrcms conference, sacnas conference.

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Section 6: Requirements for the PhD in Neuroscience

6.1 objectives.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Neuroscience shall reflect a mastery of such areas as cellular, molecular and developmental neurobiology, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, behavioral neuroscience, neuro-oncology, neuroimmunology, and neurotrauma.  During the course of study, the student has the option of deciding whether to specialize in one or more of the above areas.  All students are strongly encouraged to complete the doctoral degree within a five (5) year time period.

6.2 RESIDENCE AND CREDIT HOUR REQUIREMENTS

All doctoral students must fulfill the Graduate School’s residence and credit hour requirements.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree requires the equivalent of at least 3 academic years of work beyond the baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 80 hours of graduate credit.  If a student has earned a master’s degree in a relevant area, then a minimum of 50 graduate credit hours beyond the master’s degree is required.   If the master’s degree was earned at another university, it must be transferred to this university.

Residence at the University is required to afford the student an opportunity to engage in intensive, concentrated study over an extended period of time in association with faculty members and other students in an atmosphere conducive to a high level of intellectual and scholarly activity.  All domestic students are required to establish Ohio residency by the end of autumn semester in their second academic year.

The following requirements must be fulfilled after the master’s degree has been earned or after the first 30 hours of graduate credit have been completed:

• a minimum of 24 graduate credit hours required for the PhD must be completed at this University
• a minimum of two consecutive pre-candidacy semesters or one semester and a summer session with a full-time enrollment must be completed while in residence at this University
• a minimum of 6 graduate credit hours over a period of at least two semesters or one semester and a summer session must be completed after admission to candidacy

6.3 COURSE REQUIREMENTS

It is required that all NGP students, with the exception of those in the MD/PhD track, take the introductory core course sequence. These courses are normally scheduled in the first year and must be completed by the end of the second year. 

Fall Semester

• NEUROSC 7001: Foundations of Neuroscience 1 (4 credit hours)
• NEUROSC 7100: Current Topics in Neuroscience (1 credit hour) – paper discussion course to accompany NEUROSC 7001
• NEUROGS 7887: Seminar Topics in Neuroscience (1 credit hour)

Spring Semester

• NEUROSC 7002: Foundations of Neuroscience II (4 credit hours)
• NEUROSC 7200.01: Neuroscience Laboratory (1 credit hour) – 1st half of semester

Summer Semester

• BME 894 or BIOPHRM 5510: Responsible Conduct in Neuroscience Research

Beginning with the 2024-2025 cohort, all Neuroscience Graduate Students must also complete six credit hours worth of related electives.   The student should consult her/his advisor for recommended additional coursework in accordance with the student’s chosen course of study.

A list of “Recommended Electives” includes, but is not limited to: 

• MOLGEN 5701: DNA Transactions and Gene Regulation
• NEUROSC 5644: Behavioral Endocrinology
• NEUROSC 5790H: Developmental Neurobiology
• NEUROSC 7500: Neuroimmunology
• NGSY 8250: Biology of the Tumor Microenvironment

Other electives may be taken, at the discretion of the student and his/her advisor.

Students are also required to complete one course in statistics. Recommended statistics courses include:

• STAT 5301: Intermediate Data Analysis I
• PSYCH 6810: Statistical Methods in Psychology I 

After satisfactorily completing the Candidacy Examination, it is normally expected that a student will not enroll in any course other than NEUROGS 7887 and the 8999 course of the advisor’s home department.

Students who transfer into the Program from other graduate programs, whether at OSU or another institution, must also meet the core course requirement.  They may petition to the NGP Committee to accept courses taken in their former Program.  The NGP Committee will determine if the courses taken are equivalent to the NGP core courses and will determine if the transfer student may be exempted from taking one or more core courses.

In certain instances, with permission of the NGP Committee and the student’s advisor, students may be exempted from taking a core course if adequate proficiency or equivalency can be demonstrated.  The NGP Committee may approve an alternative course of study.

6.4 LAB ROTATIONS AND THESIS RESEARCH

Students are engaged in research during every semester and summer session of their training.  Students doing laboratory rotations should register for the 6193 course of the rotation mentor’s home department, e.g. NEUROSC 6193 (Individual Studies in Neuroscience) for mentors who are in the Department of Neuroscience.  Once students have successfully passed their candidacy examination, they should register for the 8999 course of the advisor’s home department, e.g. NEUROSC 8999 (Research in Neuroscience) for advisors who are in the Department of Neuroscience.

The following policy is predicated on the principle that students should have exposure to multiple research experiences prior to selecting a dissertation laboratory:

• Three rotations are the norm and are strongly encouraged.
• Rotations will be in 7 week modules; 2 in autumn semester, 2 in spring semester and all first-year students must be performing research in labs during all 4 modules.  Generally students will decide on a lab in consultation with the relevant mentor after the third rotation.
• If a student has not identified/chosen a lab after three rotations he/she may continue for a final 7 wk session in one of the three rotation labs (in consultation/agreement with the relevant mentor) or do a 4th rotation.
• If a student has identified/chosen a lab after 2 or 3 rotations in consultation with the relevant mentor he/she should continue in that lab in the ensuing rotation modules.
• Students are expected to have chosen a lab by the beginning of summer session at the end of year one.

Exceptions: As with all guidelines some exceptions may be made (e.g. if a student transfers midyear from another program/institution with a newly arriving faculty, or if a new student is financially supported from the outset by the advisor and not by the program). Any such exceptions would require a petition with the graduate studies committee.

6.5 RESEARCH REQUIREMENT

Communication of research results is critically important in any scientific research endeavor. Published research papers are the primary form of written communication, and the most important measure of research productivity. The second most important method of research communication is oral presentation of data at research meetings. The dissertation document should represent an original scholarly body of work that contributes to the field. This document must be of a caliber similar to that expected of an article submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Indeed, the dissertation-associated work should be published in peer-reviewed journals. 

The following are the research expectations of NGP students:

• At least one published or in press primary research paper, with first-authorship, is required; this minimal requirement, however, is generally considered below the expectations of the program, unless the papers are of extraordinary content and impact 
• At least one non-OSU conference research presentation (oral or poster), with first-authorship, is required; this minimal requirement, however, is generally considered below the expectations of the program 

6.6 ONE-SEMESTER TEACHING REQUIREMENT

The NGP considers a teaching experience to be an important part of a PhD student’s professional development. To this end, all students, including those appointed as Graduate Research Associates, are required to teach one full semester during their training. This experience should include at least one student-facing activity (e.g. guest lecturing, office hours, review sessions, etc.) and at least one of these activities: grading, responding to emails/message board, preparing course materials. If the student is appointed to a GRA during the teaching experience, these teaching activities cannot exceed an average of 5 h/week. Alternatively, any Graduate Teaching Associate appointment fulfills this requirement. Students may obtain a list of teaching opportunities by contacting the Program Administrator.  

6.7 NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES ATTENDANCE

All students must attend all invited speaker seminars in the Neuroscience Seminar Series and Frontiers in Neuroscience series in all years of tenure in the NGP (see section 15.2); limited exceptions are allowed on a case-by-case basis, and must be pre-approved. Exceptions include research-related travel and vacations, illness, or research-related scheduling conflicts that cannot be avoided.

6.8 OUTREACH/SERVICE

As part of their professional development NGP students are expected to participate in service to the program and to engage in research education in the community. Service may include participation on the student NS Seminar Committee, participation in luncheons with invited seminar speakers, annual recruitment events, and other activities. Such service is ongoing in every year. Community research education includes mandatory participation in the annual Brain Awareness Week event in March at COSI. Each student must participate in at least one morning or afternoon session, twice during their tenure in the program (two different years). Other outreach activities could include participation in the student-led outreach group, NEURO. 

6.9 INSTRUCTION IN RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

All students must engage in a nine-session course in Responsible Conduct in Neuroscience Research (BME 894 or BIOPHRM 5510). The courses are primarily discussion based and cover i) Ethics and the Practice of Science, ii) Mentor and Trainee Relationships and Collaborations, iii and iv) Data Acquisition, Analysis, Presentation, Sharing and Management, v) Research Publication, Conflict of Interest, and Confidentiality, vi) Grant Application and Institutional Responsibility, vii) Patents, Intellectual Property and Inventions, viii) Animal Experimentation, and ix) Research with Human Subjects.

6.10 CANDIDACY AND FINAL DOCTORAL EXAMINATIONS

All students are required to satisfactorily complete the Candidacy Examination in order to proceed with their thesis research.  To graduate from the Program, all students must successfully complete the Final Doctoral Examination.  These examinations are described in sections 10 and 11, respectively.

6.11 DEACTIVATION

Enrollment eligibility for a pre-candidacy doctoral student who has not registered in the Graduate School within the preceding two full calendar years will be automatically deactivated.  Eligibility for doctoral students who have passed the candidacy examination is automatically deactivated at the end of a five-year candidacy period if they have not graduated by then.  To reenroll, the student must petition the NGP Committee for reactivation and  there is no assurance of readmission.

Application Requirements

Application tips, inform yourself.

Please read all pertinent information on the program and application requirements before you start the application process. Most questions are answered in these online materials.

Start Early

Letters of recommendation are a critical part of the application. Faculty recommenders are usually busy and have requests from many students. It is imperative to ask for recommendation letters early and to clearly communicate the application deadline.

Convey all you want the committee to know about you in a compelling, concise application. We review several hundred applications, so avoid sending excess materials that are not required.

Be Specific

You must choose a primary and secondary area of emphasis of neuroscience from the dropdown menu in the online application. While your choice does not obligate you to follow any specific path once enrolled, failure to do so delays the review process.

Application Components

All applications are submitted electronically through the UC Berkeley Graduate Application portal. Below are required components of the application you must submit in order to be considered for admission into the Neuroscience PhD program. We accept applications beginning mid September through early December for the following year's fall start cohort. 

• Completed online  UC Berkeley Graduate Application , including the Neuroscience Program page
• Transcripts from each college and graduate institution attended (scanned copies)
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• GRE scores (optional)
• Evidence of English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores), if applicable 
• Paid Application Fee of $135 if you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, and $155 otherwise

Please review UC Berkeley's Graduate Admissions information and  Graduate Admissions Requirements (link is external)  for futher information and requirements for all graduate program applicants. 

Additional Information for Neuroscience Applicants

Undergraduate preparation.

Strong undergraduate preparation for neuroscience includes at least one year of college level coursework in one of the following disciplines: biology, physics, chemistry, calculus, or engineering. Additional coursework in cognitive science, psychology, biophysics, or neurobiology is advisable. Applicants should describe their research experience in the Statement of Purpose.

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for admissions. In addition, the Neuroscience PhD Program requires applicants to have at least one year of laboratory research experience.

Academic Records

Upload unofficial transcripts (ie, scanned copies) to your application. International applicants should also upload scanned copies of their degree certificate(s). If admitted to the program, you will be required to send official documents to UC Berkeley after accepting your admission offer.

Unofficial transcripts must include:

• institution name
• course names and grades by term
• degree awarded and conferred date, if applicable
• transcript legend
• any academic comments that would appear on an official transcript

If your GPA is on a 4.0 scale , please complete fields in the "Grade Point Averages (GPA)" section of the application: cumulative (required), advanced (required), major (required), intended field of study (if differnt from major), and cumulative graduate GPA (if applicable). Your cumulative GPA should be displayed on the transcript you upload as part of your application. Please upload a calculation worksheet if additional GPAs are not noted on your transcript and you need to make the calulations yourself. There are some on-line GPA calculators you can find with a Google search.

If your GPA is not based on a 4-point scale , please  do not convert to this scale . Instead, complete the “Other Scale GPA” field on the application using the scale used at your institution and be sure to upload documentation of their grading system (usually this is part of your transcript, but upload a separate document if needed).

Letters of Recommendation

You are required to submit three letters of recommendation. Letters should be from individuals who have supervised work in a laboratory, research, or academic setting and can comment on intellectual ability, creativity, scientific leadership skills, and scholarly potential.  

You will be asked to submit the names and email addresses of your three recommenders as part of the online application. Doing so will inititate a request to your recommender for a letter and they will submit their letters online directly to your application using a unique link sent to them. You do not have to wait until letters of recommendation are submitted in order to submit your online application - be sure to submit your application on time regardless of your letter status.   It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that recommenders submit their letters by the application deadline. 

More information about Letters of Recommendation can be found on Graduate Division's  Admission FAQs page (link is external) .

Test Scores

You will be asked to enter your test scores into the online application and to submit official test scores directly to UC Berkeley for verification. Send your test score directly from ETS to the institution code for UC Berkeley: 4833 for Graduate Organizations. 

Graduate Record Exam (GRE): GRE scores are optional. 

Evidence of English language Proficiency: All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Additional information including allowable exemptions can be found on the  Graduate Admissions website.

Application Essays

You will prepare and submit two essays as part of your application: the Statement of Purpose (SOP) and the Personal History Statement (PHS). Please see general information about the  Statement of Purpose (link is external)  and the  Personal Statement (link is external)  provided by the Graduate Division. Below is more specific information petaining to the Neuroscience PhD Program.

Statement of Purpose:  In the SOP, you should describe your motivation, preparation, and aptitude for PhD study in neuroscience. Please include a description of your prior research experience and accomplishments, with enough detail (for at least one project) to illustrate how you think scientifically. You should also discuss your future research interests and career goals and why you think Berkeley is a good fit for your PhD training. The SOP should be 2-3 double-spaced pages.

Personal History Statement:  In the Personal History Statement (PHS), you should describe how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. The PHS should not duplicate the SOP but should provide broader context on your personal story and goals. This may include how you overcame barriers to access higher education, how you have come to understand the barriers faced by others, your service to advance equitable access to education for under-represented groups, research you may have done that focuses on underserved populations or related issues of inequality, your leadership roles in such groups, and/or your plans in graduate school and your future career to address societal issues. Any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academics can also be addressed here. The PHS should be 1-3 double-spaced pages.

Neuroscience Program Page

The Neuroscience program page will be added to your application after you select "Neuroscience PhD" from the dropdown on the Instructions page of the graduate application. The fields on this program page are required and contain the following sections.

Study Emphasis/Research Concentration Section : Select the primary and secondary areas of neuroscience that best describe the research you intend to pursue within our program should you be admitted. Please see area of neuroscience descriptions . 

Faculty Advisor Section: From the list of faculty provided in the application, select the names of at least 6 and up to 8 faculty members with whom you are interested in conducting research within the Neuroscience PhD Program. Please select faculty in rank order from most interested (#1) to least interested (#8). See list of program faculty with links to their websites.

Research Experience Section:  Add information for up to 3 experiences in research: institution/employer, mentor/supervisor, postiion title, employment dates, hours per week. Leave blank if no prior research experience.

Total Number of Months of Full-Time Research: Please calculate the total number of MONTHS of full-time reseach experience you have had. Do not include lab classes in the tally . For each experience, convert part-time hours into months by dividing the total number of monthsts (M) by 40 and multiplying by the number of hours worked per week (hrs/wk).

Formula: (M/40)*hrs/wk = months of full-time research

Sum this across all your research expereinces to calculate the total months of full-time research and enter this sum into the appropriate field in the application.

Survey: Let us know how you heard about our program and if you have participated in any summer internship programs (internship name, institution, and start-end dates).

Potential Review by MCB, Psychology, or Vision Science Graduate Programs

In this section you may indicate if you are interested in having your application transferred to one or more of these programs if the Neuroscience PhD Program is not able to offer you admission. Please note that application transfer is not guaranteed and will only occur for select applicants.

Research Experience

Research Experiences : Add information for up to 3 experiences in research by clciking the "Add New" link: institution/employer, mentor/supervisor, postiion title, employment dates, hours per week. Leave blank if no prior research experience.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

The employment history section of the online application is optional. However, please upload your Resume/CV in the Supporting Materials section of the application. In addition to your work history, you may like to list any awards, fellowships, summer research opportunities, traineeships, prizes, participation in student organizations etc.

Application Fee

The application fee must be paid in order for your application to be reviewed. The application fee is $135 if you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, and $155 otherwise. 

U.S. citizen and permanent residents may qualify for application fee waivers. Please visit the the  fee waiver website (link is external) (link is external)  for more information. Fee waivers are administered by UC Berkeley Graduate Admissions and not by the Neuroscience PhD Program. Please direct all fee waiver questions to  [email protected] .

You will submit the application fee through your status page after you have submitted your application. If you applied for a fee waiver, fee waiver decisions will be posted on your status page after submission of the application.  Do not submit your application late.

The application payment system requires that you enter the exact billing address information on the credit card statement (no abbreviations, extra spaces, etc.) including the name, address, and security code. Please see below if your payment status is "pending" and/or your credit card is being declined:

Check with your bank to make sure that the address information you are entering is exact.

Try a different credit card.

The charges you are seeing for the payments that did not go through are authorization holds from the bank. They will disappear in a few days once the charges are declined. If they do not disappear, you will need to contact your bank to have them removed.

Additional payment question or payment issues should be directed to  [email protected] .

For general questions about graduate admissions or technical problems with the online application, contact Graduate Admissions:

[email protected]

For questions about program specific requirements and Neuroscience admissions, contact the Neuroscience PhD Program:

[email protected]

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• Ph.D In Neuroscience

Ph.D in Neuroscience

Degree requirements.

2022-2023 Neurosciences Graduate Program Handbook (PDF)

The following requirements must be met to obtain a PhD in Neurosciences:

• Participate in Boot Camp
• Complete 3 Research Rotations
• 6 Core Courses covering molecular, cellular, systems, and clinical neuroscience, behavior, anatomy, statistics, and ethics

Minor Proposition Course & Exam

• 12 units of Electives to expand knowledge in specific areas of neuroscience
• Research Rounds for 2 years (6 quarters) to learn about NGP students' research and improve presenting skills
• Complete TA requirement (1 quarter)
• Advance to Candidacy
• Defend your Dissertation

Normal progress toward the degree means that each student is expected to move through a series of milestones necessary to obtain the PhD at a reasonable pace and at the proper level of performance.

Under normal circumstances, students in the Neurosciences Program should be able to earn the PhD in less than 6 years.

Requirements

Advancement to candidacy.

To Advance to Candidacy students must assemble their full Doctoral Thesis Committee and meet with them for the Qualifying Exam. The Qualifying Exam is required by the Graduate Council of the Academic Senate to evaluate the quality of the dissertation work completed to date as well as the proposed additional experiments. The emphasis of the exam is on the conceptual rationale of the dissertation proposal. In addition, it is the charge of the Doctoral Committee to estimate the time required to complete the project. Passing the qualifying exam advances the student to candidacy, effectively changing their status from Doctoral student to Doctoral candidate.

The Neurosciences Graduate Program encourages all students to Advance to Candidacy by the end of their third year. MSTP students are required to advance by the end of spring quarter their third year. Non-MSTP Neuroscience students are required to advance by the end of spring quarter of their fourth year.

More information on advancing can be found in the NGP Handbook. 

Boot Camp (NEU 210)

All incoming first-year neuroscience graduate students participate in Boot Camp, which is designed to:

• Familiarize them with the basic ideas and techniques of neuroscience
• Acquaint them with senior graduate students (who serve as TAs)
• Introduce them to faculty members and their research
• Help them get to know their classmates

This course, based on summer courses at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woodshole, MA, is a series of intensive lab exercises that runs for two weeks from morning until midnight. At lunchtime students give short talks about research they have done. The course is held in September just before fall quarter begins. Topics covered include single-cell electrophysiology, computational modeling, molecular techniques, slice electrophysiology, both fly and rodent behavior and electrophysiology and imaging. In addition, faculty members highlight the major research interests being pursued in their laboratories and entering students give informal talks about the research they have done before entering the graduate program.

All incoming students participate in Boot Camp. Students are required to enroll in NEU 210 (Neurobiology Boot Camp Course) during the fall quarter enrollment period to receive credit for this two week course.

Core Courses

By the end of the second year, students are expected to demonstrate competence in the basics of neuroscience by taking the following mandatory course work:

Students must take the NEU 200 series during their first year.

• NEU 200A Basic Neuroscience: Cellular, Molecular & Developmental (4 units) Instructors: Brenda Bloodgood and Byungkook Lim This course is offered every fall and covers cellular & molecular neuroscience. Each week, there is one lecture and one discussion section in which research papers are discussed. Topics include cellular physiology, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters and receptors, plasticity, and neural development.
• NEU 200B Basic Neuroscience: Systems Neurobiology (4 units) Instructors: John Reynolds, Sreekanth Chalasani and Eiman Azim This course is offered every winter and covers systems neuroscience. Lectures are given by researchers in various fields, coupled with discussion sections on research papers. Topics include visual, auditory, olfactory, somatosensory, and motor systems.
• NEU 200C Basic Neuroscience: Cognitive & Behavioral  (4 units) This course is offered every spring and deals with the methods of cognitive neuroscience, and then various topics including object recognition, attention, long-term and working memory, reinforcement learning and executive function.
• NEU 257 Neuroanatomy Instructor: Eric Halgren This course is offered every winter and provides a hands-on look at the anatomy of the central nervous system including the key structures and their connectivity and the types of information they carry. MSTP students are waived from NEU 257 if they took SOMC 227 and 237 in Medical School. In addition, the MSTP student will receive an additional 4 units of elective credit for this course.
• BGGN 216 Biostatistics This statistics course is offered in the spring quarter and covers fundamentals of biostatistics and their practical application, including central tendency and variability, hypothesis testing, parametric and nonparametric inferential techniques, correlation and regression. Practice sets are drawn from the lab and primary literature. Students develop a conceptual understanding of basic principles of probability and statistics, to build a working understanding of how these principles are applied in biology and an appreciation for why good statistics are essential to sound conclusions. Students acquire practical skills using biostatistics software in realistic research scenarios. Recommended for students with little prior experience who desire the minimum required set of competencies.
• BIOM 285 Statistical Inference and Experimental Design This statistics course is offered every winter and spring and is recommended if you’re looking to augment a basic level of competence with more advanced techniques. Please contact one of the NGP Graduate Coordinators for a copy of the syllabus.
• COGS 243 Statistical Inference and Data Analysis This statistics course is offered winter quarter and provides a rigorous treatment of hypothesis testing, statistical inference, model fitting, and data analysis techniques used in neural sciences. Students acquire an understanding of mathematical foundations and hands-on coding experience in Matlab. Facility with calculus, linear algebra and elementary probability theory is assumed.
• PSYC 201A/B Quantitative Methods This statistics course is offered as part of a series every fall and winter, and is recommended if you’re starting from scratch and want to obtain an advanced level of competence.
• NEU 241 Research Ethics Ethics courses are offered fall, winter and spring quarter each year. This course will cover “ethical” issues in academia, including dishonesty, plagiarism, attribution, sexual misconduct, etc. Also discussed are “survival” issues, including job hunting, grant preparation, journal reviews, writing letters of recommendation, mentoring, etc. Students are required to take an Ethics Course by the end of their second year. Course information and enrollment details are available online through UCSD's Research Ethics Program .

For more information see the NGP Course Catalog and the  UC San Diego Course Catalog.

Defense of Dissertation

The Dissertation Defense consists of a public presentation of the dissertation work, followed by public discussion. As well as an oral defense, in closed session, with the student’s Doctoral Committee. Neurosciences Doctoral students are required to defend by the end of their sixth year.

More information on the Dissertation Defense can be found in the Student Handbook.

Students are required to take 12 units of electives at the graduate level (200+) to expand their knowledge in specific areas. The courses may be taken in almost any department including neurosciences, biology, cognitive science, psychology, medicine, mathematics, or engineering. At least 4 credits need to be advanced topics courses based on reading of primary literature. This can be satisfied either by completing NEU 221 courses or by completing graduate level readings based courses offered by any related discipline. For a list of current and recent offerings, take a look at the  NGP Course Catalog . Course offerings are always changing. See the UC San Diego Course Catalog for descriptions of these and other courses.

Electives for Students in the Computational Neuroscience Specialization

Core course requirements for students in the Computational Neuroscience Specialization can be used to fulfill the elective requirement (must be 200 level courses). However, CN students must also fulfill the 4 credits of advanced topics courses based on reading primary literature.

Electives for MSTP Students

MSTP students may petition to receive credit for neuroscience related coursework taken as a medical student, including clerkship, for a maximum of 8 units. A petition to waive an elective requirement should be submitted in writing to the Program Director with a copy of the syllabus of the previous course, and a copy of the transcript showing the grade earned. All MSTP students must take at least 2 units of a reading based elective, and are encouraged to take other neuroscience related electives to broaden their education and subject knowledge.

Example Elective Courses

• NEU 268 Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (Dr. Pamela Mellon)
• Landmark Papers in Neurosciences (Kristan, Issacson)
• Neurobiology of Circadian Clocks (Welsh)
• Principles of Communicating Science (Voytek)
• Glia (Allen, Lemke, Nimmerjahn)
• RNA/Epigenetics in Neural Development and Disease (Wilkinson)
• Genetic Tools in Neuroscience (Hnasko)
• Neural Circuits (Leutgeb), Quantitative Behavior Genetics (Palmer)
• Neurotransmitter-based synaptic plasticity (Dulcis)
• Philosophy in Neuroscience (Bechtel)
• Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (Mayford).
• Using animal models to study neuropsychiatric disorders (Dulawa)
• Chromatin and transcription in the brain: from omics to single cell (Telese)
• Any of the  computational neuroscience  courses

Course offerings are always changing. See the  UC San Diego Course Catalog  for descriptions of these and other courses.

Journal Club

The Student Journal Club is organized entirely by students. Each week the student host of the  Neuroscience Seminar Series presents a paper from the laboratory of the seminar speaker. The goal of the journal club is to create an open venue for friendly but lively scientific discussion. First year students are required to attend. Refreshments are provided.

First year students who maintain attendance of 70% or better for Journal Club will receive 2 units of NEU 221 credit to count towards elective requirements. Upon approval, and during the fall quarter of their second year, students will enroll in a NEUG 221 section, 2 units, S/U grade option .

The Minor Proposition course preparation begins winter quarter of the second year. The minor proposition proposal must be completed and the oral exam passed by the end of spring quarter. Students will enroll in Minor Proposition (NEUG 280), 4 units.

Minor Proposition is an intensive writing course required for second-year neuroscience graduate students. This course provides an overview on the preparation, submission, and response to feedback of a NRSA F30/31 grant application. Students prepare an entire application on the topic of their choice – likely on their research interest and in support from their primary mentor. Target deadlines for application components are provided with overview lectures on navigating the NIH system, descriptions on the importance of the Training Plan, and opportunities to write, discuss, and obtain feedback throughout the process. At the end of the course, students ‘submit’ their application for r eview, which is subsequently discussed at a mock study section and feedback provided. Upon receipt of feedback, the students prepare a response in addition to an oral defense to the reviewers of their application.

Students completing their application and defending their application and response to reviewers will receive a passing grade, those incomplete will not pass. Student with the best ranked score will receive a $500 award to go toward conference travel or educational needs. Students must receive a passing grade in the course, based on a successful written proposal and oral exam, to continue in the graduate program. Students are eligible to receive a continuing Master’ s degree upon passing the Minor Proposition Course.

Pre-Thesis & Thesis Committees

Pre-thesis committee.

Before the end of their second-year, students are required to assemble a Pre-Thesis Committee. This committee provides scientific input on the dissertation project and evaluates students at the end of each year after the first (i.e. once they have joined a laboratory) and until they advance to candidacy. This evaluation is primarily related to the students’ research rather than to their course work. The committee consists of the Thesis Advisor and two other members of the Graduate Program faculty group (one of the members may be from outside the program by approval of the Program Director). Typically, the Pre-Thesis Committee would become the nucleus of the Doctoral Committee. The full four member Doctoral Committee must be formed by winter quarter of the third year.

All students are required to meet with their Pre-Thesis or full Doctoral Committee, once formed, every spring. This meeting serves as the annual Spring Evaluation. This evaluation is primarily related to the students’ research rather than their course work. The meeting should contain an oral presentation by the student, outlining progress made and plans for the future. Students must submit a 1-2 page written thesis proposal to their committee prior to the first pre-thesis spring evaluation meeting.

Thesis Committee

Prior to advancing to candidacy, students must assemble their full Doctoral Committee, during their third or fourth year. Students meet yearly with this committee to evaluate their progress to date, recommend the modifications to the dissertation’s scope or methodology, timetable for completion, and recommendation for support in the following year. The Doctoral Committee conducts the qualifying examination, conducts the students annual Spring Evaluation, supervises the preparation and passes upon the dissertation, and administers the final examination. 

The Doctoral Committee should comprise a minimum of four members. Names of the proposed committee members must be submitted to the Graduate Program Administrator at least one month prior to the anticipated advancement exam date. After review, the Administrator will send the nomination form to the GEPA for review and approval. Students should not schedule their advancement until they have received final approval for the appointment of their doctoral committee by GEPA.

Effective Fall 2021, the Doctoral Committee should comprise of a minimum of four members. Names of the proposed committee members must be submitted to the Graduate Program Administrator at least one month prior to the anticipated advancement exam date. After review, the Administrator will send the nomination form to GEPA for review and approval. Students should not schedule their advancement until they have received final approval for the appointment of their doctoral committee by GEPA. 

More information on Pre-Thesis and Thesis Committees can be found in the NGP Handbook.

Research Rotations

Research rotations provide the opportunity for first-year students to obtain hands-on research experience in several different laboratories. Through the rotations, students identify a faculty member under whose sponsorship and in whose laboratory their dissertation research will be completed.

Students must complete three rotations for a minimum period of nine weeks each. Rotation advisors should be selected from the Neurosciences Graduate Program Faculty;  although, non-affiliated faculty may be selected upon pre-approval from the Program Director. Students must arrange their own rotations, but during Boot Camp students are exposed to many faculty looking for students. Students should enroll in NEUG 296 to receive credit. Contact the Program Coordinator for creation of NEUG 296 with rotating Faculty. 

Prior to the beginning of the rotation, the student and faculty member should discuss their expectations and goals. Regular meetings between the student and the faculty advisor are required. At the conclusion of each rotation, the faculty member will submit a written evaluation of the student’s performance to the Graduate Program office.

All three rotations must be completed by the end of the spring quarter of the student’s first year. By this time, each student should have identified the Program Faculty member under whose sponsorship and in whose laboratory their dissertation research will be completed. A fourth rotation requires approval from the Program Director and should be undertaken only in special circumstances.

Research Rotations for MSTP Students

MSTP students are expected to have completed at least two research rotations before joining the graduate program, and must complete a total of three rotations before joining a thesis lab. At least two of the rotations must be in labs associated with the Neurosciences Graduate Program. MSTP students must complete all rotations by fall Quarter after entering the graduate program, and must select a thesis lab by the end of the fall Quarter.

Time Limits

Each Ph.D. program at UCSD has three time limits: 1) Pre-Candidacy, 2) Support, and 3) Total Registered. These are assigned at the end of a Ph.D. student's first year. 

Pre-Candidacy Time Limit

Neurosciences Graduate Students are encouraged to advance to candidacy by the end of their third year. MSTP students are required to advance by the end of spring quarter of their third year. Non-MSTP Neuroscience students are required to advance by the end of spring quarter of their fourth year. The University will not allow students to register for the fall quarter following the advancement deadline or receive any financial support unless they have successfully advanced to candidacy.

Support Limit

This is the maximum time during which a doctoral student is eligible for support. Students must complete all requirements by the end of their sixth year. MSTP students must complete all requirements and defend within 6 years. Their total registered time limit is also 6 years. At the end of the sixth year, the student is no longer allowed to register at the University. Non-MSTP students may continue as a student for an additional seventh year, but will not be eligible for financial support during that year. This includes all stipend, fees/tuition payments, fellowships, scholarships, and employment administered by the University and its affiliated institutions (i.e. the Salk Institute, the Sanford-Burnham Institute, and the Scripps Research Institute), but does not affect financial aid loans. Since students cannot receive any support, they will be required to pay their own tuition/fees to be eligible for student health insurance and student housing.

Total Registered Time Limit

Research rounds.

Research Rounds is a weekly seminar course that meets in Fall, Winter and Spring quarters, in which graduate students beyond their second year in the program present their current research. All students in their first and second years are required to take Neurosciences Research Rounds (NEU 276) for six quarters. Students engage in scientific discussion as well as constructive criticism on the presentations meant to enhance the skills of both the audience and presenters.

Teaching Apprenticeship

All students are required to be a teaching assistant (TA) for at least one quarter during their graduate career to develop their talents and gain experience as teachers. Opportunities to lecture and to assist in laboratory exercises and demonstrations are available through many departments, including Neurosciences, Biology, Cognitive Science and Psychology. The teaching requirement must be fulfilled before advancement to candidacy.

Furthermore, as TAships are a curriculum requirement for the program, they are not a source of supplementary income. In cases where the students’ TAships provide financial support, the total annual support will remain at the standard level, currently $36,000/year. Students are encouraged to complete their TA requirement during their second or third year, and should contact the instructor of the course they wish to TA. In addition, students must inform the Graduate Program Administrator at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the quarter when the TAship starts. Students TAing for NEUG courses or others that do not have a specific TA section listed should enroll in NEUG 500 Apprenticeship Teaching for 2 Units with the Program Director.

Older NGP Handbooks

Older NGP Handbooks:

2020-2021 Neurosciences Graduate Program Handbook (PDF)  

2021-2022 Neurosciences Graduate Program Handbook (PDF)

Neuroscience Ph.D. Program

Our Neuroscience Ph.D. Program is one of the best in the nation, and prepares students to become independent researchers, educators and trainers making significant contributions across all aspects of the field.

Program Overview

Our program combines rigorous coursework and sound training in the fundamentals of neuroscience, including the integrated study of nervous system function and disease, with opportunities for state-of-the-art research. 

Please reach out to Bruce Carter if you have any questions about the Neuroscience Ph.D. Program or the application process.

Bruce Carter

Director of Graduate Studies in Neuroscience

Associate Director for Education and Training, Vanderbilt Brain Institute Professor of Biochemistry

• 615-936-3041
• 625 Light Hall

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We foster the development from trainee to independent research scientist and educator.

Individualized Attention

With 81 graduate students and 64 training faculty, our excellent student-teacher ratio results in extensive opportunities for interaction and exchange of ideas in a relaxed and collegial atmosphere. Our distinguished training faculty stem from diverse fields such as Psychology, Biochemistry, Molecular Physiology, and Pharmacology and capture the multidisciplinary nature of modern neurobiological inquiry.

Career Outlook

Graduates of our department are superbly prepared for a variety of career options in both academia and industry. Each student's program is designed to provide a broad-based education in neuroscience, yet accommodate individual needs and interests to allow students to become creative, independent scientists.

Students holding degrees in the biological or physical sciences, psychology, or biomedical engineering are especially encouraged to apply to the Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, but applicants from other fields will be considered.

Areas of Concentration

The Neuroscience Ph.D program offers two areas of concentration. Students have the option to emphasize either Cellular & Molecular or Cognitive & Systems neuroscience, preparing each trainee for a future in which neuroscientists must be able to navigate from molecules to cells to neural systems and behavior.

Cognitive & Systems

This path provides doctoral training with emphasis on cognitive neuroscience, sensory-motor systems, neuroimaging, neural development, synaptic plasticity, neurobiological basis of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and targeted gene disruption in transgenic animals to ascertain the function of neural genes and establish disease models.

Cellular & Molecular

This path provides doctoral training with emphasis on neurogenetics and genetic dissection of neural development, molecular aspects of synapse formation and plasticity, structure and regulation of ion channels and transporters, targeting and signal transduction, psychotropic drug action, the molecular basis of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and targeted gene disruption in transgenic animals to ascertain the function of neural genes and establish disease models.

Cellular & Molecular Application Tip

Students with broad biomedical interests are encouraged to apply through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences instead of directly through the Neuroscience Ph.D. Program. This pathways provides a strong foundation in biomedical science prior to matriculation into neuroscience.

Students begin their first year with a general course in graduate level cellular and molecular biology and then begin specialized courses in Neuroscience in the spring semester of their first year.

Grants and Awards

University Tuition Scholarships are service-free awards that pay all or part of tuition costs. The following graduate awards are normally supplemented by a full University Tuition Scholarship, which usually includes student health insurance coverage:

• University Fellowships
• Graduate Teaching Assistantships
• Graduate Research Assistantships
• Traineeships
• Teacher Training Awards

The current stipend level for 2023-2024 is $36,500. In addition, applicants may be nominated at the time of application for Harold S. Vanderbilt graduate scholarships and other awards, which provide an additional stipend of up to $10,000 per year to students of exceptional accomplishment and high promise.

Training in Fundamental Neuroscience T32 Grant

The Neuroscience Graduate Program receives invaluable support from the "Training in Fundamental Neuroscience" NIH T32. Over 70 mentors across 22 departments within 4 schools and colleges are available to train students, with 65+ Neuroscience trainees earning PhDs in the past 5 years. Over 60 trainees have been supported by the T32 since its inception, with over a third subsequently securing their own fellowship funding. Program graduates have gone on to leadership positions in academia, industry, and additional research-related fields, providing a rich alumni network across multiple career tracks. The program includes works-in-progress seminars by all Neuroscience trainees, invited external seminar speakers including several suggested or hosted by trainees, and an annual retreat.

Graduate students interested in joining the training program should contact Dr. Bruce Carter, Associate Director for Education & Training and Director of Graduate Studies for the VBI.

Faculty interested in becoming T32 preceptors should contact Dr. Rebecca A. Ihrie or Dr. Lisa Monteggia, VBI Director.

Rebecca A. Ihrie

Associate Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology and Neurological Surgery

• 615-936-2951
• B2317 Medical Center North

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Graduate students in the Neuroscience Graduate program receiving Vanderbilt University financial support or services must devote full-time effort to graduate study. Students cannot accept jobs for pay within or outside the University unless prior approval is given by their advisor, their Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean for the Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training. Exceptions to this rule include part-time internships and activities that contribute to career development and that do not exceed the time commitment outlined by the National Institutes of Health, service as course associates at Vanderbilt, and occasional and temporary part-time pursuits (e.g. house sitting). Engagement in outside employment without obtaining approval may result in loss of financial aid, including stipend.

How to Apply

The application period for admission in Autumn 2020.

The applications for Autumn 2021-22 will open in September 2020 and will be available on the  Biosciences Admissions website .

In light of the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, Stanford reaffirms its commitment to perform individualized, holistic review of each applicant to its graduate and professional programs. We recognize that students may have faced significant challenges during the period of disruption caused by the pandemic, and we will take such individual circumstances into account during application review. Importantly, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Credit/No Credit and other grading options during this unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruption, whether they are made by institutions or by individual students. Our goal remains to form graduate student cohorts that are excellent and encompass a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that enrich the graduate educational experience.

Application Instructions

To access the application form and obtain general information about requirements and procedures please visit the stanford biosciences admissions page .  , eligibility for the neurosciences program.

Selection for admission to the Stanford Neurosciences Program is based on a student's academic achievements, letters of recommendation attesting to research and academic skills, and statement of purpose. Research experience is very important, but the exact disciplinary area is not critical. The program does not have specific requirements for the GPA or undergraduate courses taken.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience, students with biological and computational backgrounds are equally appropriate for the program.

• Students from traditional biology backgrounds are expected to show strong achievement in molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and neuroscience.
• Students from more quantitative backgrounds should demonstrate considerable competence in mathematics (calculus, differential equations, linear algebra), physics, probability theory, and statistics. 
• Students from psychology backgrounds should be well versed in cognitive science, experimental psychology, neuroscience and statistics.

The program is committed to training a diverse group of neuroscientists who come from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Qualified applicants who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents are eligible for admission.

Financial Support

Students admitted to the Neurosciences Program are funded by training grants or predoctoral fellowships that provide for stipend, tuition, and health insurance. The University also offers a limited number of fellowships to outstanding admitted students. All students (entering and continuing) are strongly encouraged to apply for extramural predoctoral fellowships, and our students have been very competitive for prestigious fellowships in past years.

Please see the Graduate Admissions page "Required Exams" web page for information regarding COVID-19 and special TOEFL Test accommodations. 

Final Official Transcripts

Graduate Admissions only requires admitted applicants who accept the offer of admission to submit official transcripts that shows their degree conferral. More details on this can be found on the following Graduate Admissions webpage . Please do not send or have sent any official transcripts to our office.

Biosciences PhD Admissions Temporary Mailing Address

Biosciences PhD Admissions

Stanford University

3165 Porter Drive

Palo Alto, CA 94304-5261

Frequently Asked Questions

For general information about application procedures, documents, test scores, and more, visit the  biosciences admissions page ., for answers to questions specific to the neuroscience program,  see our faq's here ., international applicants.

Applicants who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents are eligible to apply. Stanford offers a limited number of fellowships to outstanding admitted students, and international applicants may be nominated for these fellowships.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Prospective students may also be interested in the  Knight-Hennessy Scholars , which develops a community of future global leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation. This year, the program will award up to 75 high-achieving students with full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford, including PhD's in Biosciences. To be considered, you must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars by September 12, 2018, and separately apply to the Biosciences Department by November 14, 2018.

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Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• Biology (8 hours)—introductory biology plus laboratory
• Chemistry (16 hours)—general chemistry and organic chemistry, plus laboratories or biochemistry (3–4 hours)
• Physics (6 hours)—introductory physics
• Grade Point Average A minimum average of 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
• Tests Required  None. GRE General is optional.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
• TOEFL iBT  80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21,  OR ,
• IELTS Academic  6.5, with 6.0 in each of the four subscores,  OR ,
• PTE-Academic  54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required, preferably from instructors and advisors who are familiar with the applicant’s recent work.
• Personal Statement A one- to three-page statement of the applicant’s professional goals, including the justification for pursuing a career in neurosciences, is required.
• Deadlines Application deadlines for this program are listed on the Graduate College website.
• Nondegree Applicants Rarely accepted. Nondegree applicants must submit all credentials and meet the same admission requirements as degree applicants. The department only accepts nondegree applicants who have exceptional credentials and who desire to take a few specific courses for professional purposes. Nondegree students may not take practicum or individual study courses. Nondegree students will not be admitted to the degree program at a later time.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

• Neural Signal Transduction and Molecular Biology
• Systems and Integrative Neuroscience
• Human/Therapeutic Neuroscience and Methods of Neural Imaging
• Minimum Semester Hours Required Students must complete 96 hours of credit within 9 years from the baccalaureate. For those students entering the program with a valid Master of Science degree from an accredited institution, up to 32 hours of credit may be transferred if considered equivalent to core courses within the program.
• Coursework  Required coursework for this program is also listed on the GPN website.
• Examinations  A preliminary examination, both written and oral, is required.
• Dissertation  Required.
• Other Requirements  Each student must present at least one midthesis seminar prior to graduation. A final public seminar and oral defense of the dissertation are required.

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