The Department of Biology offers the Ph.D. degree with specializations in botany; genetics and molecular biology; cell biology, development, and physiology; morphology, systematics, and evolution; and ecology and behavior. Students do not need to obtain a master’s degree before applying to the Ph.D. program.  If you are interested in a Ph.D., do not indicate master’s on your application (see below).  Although the department offers M.A. and M.S. degrees, it does not encourage students who are seeking a terminal master's degree to enroll, and applications for a terminal mater’s degree are not generally reviewed.  If you are interested in obtaining only a master’s degree, contact your prospective advisor to gauge interest. The admissions committee will only review applications for a master’s degree at the request of a Biology faculty member.

Each student's program of study is supervised by his or her special committee and is tailored to the student's needs and aspirations. The master's degree requires 30 hours of credit. Requirements for the Ph.D. do not include a specific number of credits. Rather, a course of study appropriate to each student is designed in consultation with that student.

Information concerning opportunities in specific fields of research may be obtained by writing to the appropriate faculty members. Students interested in the MCDB program MUST apply through BBSP. Please refer to the How to Apply page for MCDB. THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT NO LONGER REVIEWS MCDB APPLICATIONS.

Students interested in the EEOB program should apply directly to the Biology department using the guidelines below. Students who are at the interface of MCDB and EEOB (i.e., interdisciplinary students) should contact prospective advisors for guidance on which program to apply.
 

WHEN DO I APPLY?
We begin to review applications December 15 (see below - What Happens After I Apply?). At this time we evaluate applications to determine who we would like to invite to visit our campus and interview. Applications completed after December 15 may not be reviewed. We therefore urge you to submit your materials and contact prospective advisors well before this date.

WHERE DO I OBTAIN AN APPLICATION?
Online Basic Application (with a link to the Biology Supplemental Application) can be found at: https://AdmissionsApp.unc.edu/grad/DEFAULT.ASP.  Paper Basic Application can be obtained by email request: gradinfo@unc.edu; Paper Biology Supplemental Application can be obtained by email request to Ms. Kenyetta Farrington (kfarrington@bio.unc.edu) or by downloading the form in PDF format.  Be advised that it takes at least 2 weeks for processing and delivery of mail applications.

WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?
The following materials are required before an application is considered complete (please print this out and use as a handy checklist!):

The UNC Graduate School (address below) must receive:

1. Application (paper copy OR on-line submission)
2. Three letters of recommendation (if not submitted on-line, an original paper letter must be sent to the Graduate School and to any department to which you have applied.)
3. Non-refundable $73 application fee
4. One (1) official (carrying seal) copy of each of your transcripts
5. GRE scores (UNC institution code is 5816) - see below for info on subject test
6. TOEFL score ONLY IF you are a foreign applicant who does not have an undergraduate degree from a US University or have a degree from institutions listed at http://gradschool.unc.edu/applicant_intl.html#transcripts.

The UNC Department of Biology must receive:

One (1) official (carrying seal) copy of each of your transcripts

EEOB must also contact at least one prospective advisor.

For department information and submission of application materials:
Graduate Admissions
CB#3280, 212 Coker Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280
Telephone: 919-962-3391

DO I NEED TO TAKE THE GREs?
Yes. You must take the general test, and we recommend that you take the subject test in either Biology (code 24) or Biochemistry (code 22). The subject test is not absolutely required for consideration, but it strengthens an application. Please take the subject test that you feel most prepared for. We recommend taking the GREs in the Fall prior to the year for which you are applying. Many students take the general test in October and the subject test in December, but you can do this at your convenience. Remember that it takes 4-6 weeks for the official scores to be reported, so try to take them before you submit your completed materials.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?
Applications are received by the Graduate School and processed, then copies of the materials are sent to the departments. If you send in a paper application, this can take several weeks, especially during the peak submission periods around late November-December, which is why we encourage you to submit your application materials early, before December.

At the same time, the Department of Biology directly receives your supplemental application, 1 transcript, and recommendation letters. These can be sent before or after the materials for the Graduate School, but it is always a good idea to give your recommenders some time to complete a reference, and to politely remind them periodically that you need this done in a timely manner.

The Admissions Committee of the Department of Biology begins to review applications December 15. We need all your application materials to evaluate your application, so it is a good idea to have it in early! Sometimes we request from the applicant copies of transcripts and/or GRE scores before they are officially sent so we can complete the evaluation process.

EEOB applicants who have already contacted prospective advisors generally fare better in the application process. Applicants are admitted ONLY if a faculty member is willing to advise that student. We therefore encourage you to identify prospective advisors early in the application process.

CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF MY APPLICATION?
Yes, you can!  The status of your application is available at https://AdmissionsApp.unc.edu/grad/DEFAULT.ASP. 

REQUIREMENTS
1. GRE scores less than 5 years old; should be at least 50th percentile in each general category.
2. TOEFL, required of all international students (except those from countries where English is the official language, or those who have received a degree from a US university) and cannot be over 2 years old. The Graduate School minimum acceptable score is 213 (computer-based test) or 550 (paper-based test).
3. GPA minimum of 3.0

For department information:
Graduate Admissions
CB# 3280, Coker Hall
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280
E-mail: kfarrington@bio.unc.edu

For online application for admission:
Graduate School
CB# 4010, Bynum Hall
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4010