PROGRAM & ADMISSIONS DETAILS

Format, Funding and Requirements

• Program Format & Structure
  • Format: On campus, Gainesville, Florida
  • Degree: Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Science
  • Credits: 90 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree
  • Typical completion: 4–5 years
  • Entry term: Fall
  • Research model: Students enter with a predetermined major professor and research laboratory. There are no laboratory rotations.
  • Master's degree: Not required
  • GRE: Not required

  Your first-year course plan is developed with your major professor and the graduate program advisor based on your academic preparation and research direction. Many students complete their required coursework within their first two semesters. Students typically prepare for the qualifying examination in the spring of their second year and, after successfully completing the exam, advance to doctoral candidacy and begin registering for doctoral research through dissertation completion.

  Currently accepting Fall 2027 applications
  Deadline to apply: December 15, 2026

• Tuition & Funding

  On-campus Ph.D. students receive a $35,000 annual departmental stipend and tuition waiver as part of their doctoral support.

  Students are responsible for applicable student fees and other costs not covered by the tuition waiver. Student fees are typically around $700 per semester.

  UF scholarships may also be available to eligible graduate students. MCS does not offer departmental scholarships.

  The department's doctoral support is designed to give students the financial foundation to focus on their research and progress toward the degree.

• Admissions Requirements

  Admission requires acceptance by both the UF Graduate School and the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science.

  Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission.

  Applicants should have completed:

  • Two semesters of general biology
  • Two semesters of general chemistry
  • One semester of organic chemistry
  • One semester of microbiology 
  • One semester of biochemistry
• Application Requirements

  Before beginning the UF Graduate School application, prospective students are encouraged to connect with MCS advising and complete the department's graduate program inquiry form. This gives you an opportunity to ask questions about the program, faculty research, research interests and the application process before submitting your application.

  1. Start With MCS

  Complete the MCS graduate program form to tell us about your academic background, research interests and what you're looking for in a doctoral program.

  You can also contact MCS program advisor Jacqueline Lee with questions about the Ph.D. program, application process or deadlines at jlee9@ufl.edu.

  2. Complete the UF Graduate School Application

  After connecting with MCS, complete the UF Graduate School application and select the Microbiology and Cell Science Ph.D. program.

  Your application includes:

  • $30 application fee
  • Transcripts — Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for initial review. Official transcripts are required after admission and before enrollment requirements are completed.
  • CV or resume — Include your academic background, research experience, employment and other relevant experience.
  • Three letters of recommendation — Letters should speak to your academic preparation, research experience and potential for doctoral study.
  • Personal statement — Describe your research experience, career goals and areas of research interest. Maximum 500 words.
  • MCS supplemental information form — Provide additional information about your academic preparation, research interests and areas of interest for review by the admissions committee.

  Research experience is an important part of the application. The admissions committee considers the complete application, including academic preparation, research experience, recommendations, personal statement and research interests.

• International Applicants

  International applicants must meet UF's requirements for English-language proficiency unless they qualify for an exemption.

  English-language proficiency

  UF currently accepts:

  TOEFL

  • Minimum overall score: 4.5
  • Minimum score in each subsection: 4.0
  • UF school code: 5812

  For applicants seeking eligibility for a Teaching Assistantship, a 4.5 speaking score is required.

  IELTS Academic

  Minimum overall score: 6.5

  UF receives IELTS scores through the IELTS Results Service E-Delivery system. UF does not accept paper Test Report Forms or unofficial IELTS copies. Scores should be sent to the University of Florida using the institution name The University of Florida. An institution code is not required.

  UF may grant English-proficiency exemptions based on prior degree study or academic study completed in qualifying English-language settings. Review the current UF requirements to determine whether you qualify for an exemption.

  International transcripts

  Applicants who completed coursework outside the United States must provide academic credentials for each institution listed in the application. Transcripts and degree documents not issued in English must include a certified, literal English translation.

  UF allows unofficial academic documents for the initial graduate application review. Official transcripts, translations and degree documentation are required for students who enroll.

  International application timing

  International applicants should begin the application process early enough to allow time for English-language testing, transcript preparation and credential processing before the December 15 deadline.

  For complete and current international admissions requirements, including exemptions, transcript requirements and visa information, review the UF Graduate School International Applicants page.

Research From Day One

A Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Science is built around research. At UF, you'll know your major professor and research laboratory when you enter the program, giving you a defined research environment from the beginning.

Your research will become increasingly independent as you progress through the program. You'll learn to frame scientific questions, design experiments, analyze results, interpret evidence and communicate your findings while working with faculty and researchers in a major research university.

Your major professor provides focused mentorship within your research laboratory, while the broader MCS research community gives you opportunities to exchange ideas and collaborate with scientists working across microbiology and cell science.

The result is a doctoral experience centered on doing science, not simply studying it.

See What Ph.D. Research Looks Like at MCS

Finding a Parasite's Weakest Link

Javier Rosero, a Ph.D. candidate in Microbiology and Cell Science, studies Leishmania donovani, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of leishmaniasis.

Working with his faculty mentor, Dr. Peter Kima, Javier helped identify a molecular mechanism the parasite depends on to reproduce inside human cells. Their research showed that the parasite recruits part of the host cell's own machinery to divide the protective membrane surrounding it. When that machinery was removed, the parasite could no longer divide or multiply inside the cell.

The work became a first-author paper in PLOS Pathogens and identified a potential vulnerability that could eventually inform new approaches to treatment.

Javier's research also demonstrates the depth of technical training available in MCS. He has become an expert in advanced confocal microscopy and uses live-cell imaging to observe parasites invading and reproducing inside host cells. He also trains other researchers in the department on the instrumentation and techniques he has developed.

His story is one example of what doctoral research can look like at MCS: a scientific question, a faculty mentor, advanced research tools and the time and training to pursue an answer.

Read Javier's Research Story ➜ 

RESOURCES & SUPPORT

FAQ

• Who is the on-campus Ph.D. program designed for?

  The on-campus Ph.D. is designed for students who want to pursue intensive, research-focused doctoral training while working in person with UF faculty and research laboratories in Gainesville, Florida.

  Students work closely with a major professor and graduate committee while developing expertise through coursework, research, seminars, teaching and other doctoral requirements.

• Do on-campus Ph.D. students receive a stipend?

  Yes. On-campus Ph.D. students receive an annual stipend of $35,000 per year and a tuition waiver. 

  *Students are required to pay for fees, typically around $700 per semester.

• Can I apply to the on-campus Ph.D. with a bachelor's degree?

  Yes. A master's degree is not required to enter the Ph.D. program. Applicants should have the academic preparation needed for advanced study in microbiology and related biological sciences.

  The department strongly encourages applicants to have completed undergraduate coursework in microbiology and biochemistry before applying.

• What research areas are available for on-campus Ph.D. students?

  Research opportunities span a broad range of microbiology and cell science, including microbial biochemistry and metabolism, molecular biology, genetics, immunology, virology, host-pathogen interactions, environmental microbiology, bioinformatics, genomics, astrobiology, parasitology and microbial communities

• Find answers to more frequently asked questions.

  HERE