OVERVIEW
The Graduate Admissions Process
Graduate admission to the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida varies by program, but all graduate applicants are evaluated based on the requirements and criteria for their intended program.
Once all required application materials are submitted, applications undergo departmental review. Depending on the program, review may include consideration of academic preparation, prerequisite coursework, GPA, research interests, professional experience and alignment with program objectives.
Application deadlines, enrollment terms and review timelines vary by program. Applicants should review the admission requirements and application information for their specific graduate program before applying. Submitting materials early allows time for application review and, when applicable, course planning ahead of the intended start term.
GPA: Self-reporting required
Applicants are required to complete the Self-Reported GPA Calculation as part of the application. The Self-Reported GPA Calculation must be completed for your application to be reviewed.
If you have a nontraditional GPA (a scale other than 4.0), select the corresponding option on the application to move forward without completing the calculation. Selecting this option incorrectly can delay review or result in cancellation of your application.
For questions about your application status, contact mcsadvising@ifas.ufl.edu.
Application Deadlines
| Deadline | Spring 2027 | Summer 2027 | Fall 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority: M.S. & Graduate Certificates | October 1 | March 1 | June 1 |
| Standard: M.S. & Graduate Certificates | November 15 | April 1 | July 1 |
| On-Campus Ph.D. | NA | NA | December 15 |
| Distance Ph.D. | September 1 | NA | March 1 |
| Non-Degree | December 17 | April 15 | August 1 |
*Applying by the priority deadline enables prospective students to receive their application decision sooner and makes them eligible to enroll in classes earlier. It is not required, nor does it impact admissions decisions. Applications will continue to be accepted until the application deadline.
Master of Science Admissions
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Master of Science Degree
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 upper-division GPA
- If your GPA is below this requirement but is at least 2.7, we recommend applying for a microbiology graduate certificate program. If you are accepted and maintain a 3.5 GPA, you may become eligible for the master’s degree program.
- Curriculum vitae (CV) including all post-high school education and employment per Florida statute
- Required undergraduate courses for applicants:
- General Biology (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry (1 semester)
- Microbiology*
- Biochemistry*
- The GRE is not required
*If your prior coursework does not include Biochemistry and Microbiology, you will be required to enter the program through the Introductory Track. The Introductory Track includes up to two additional courses: Biology of Microorganisms (3 credits) and Fundamentals of Biochemistry (4 credits), for up to 7 additional credits. Students required to complete the Introductory Track may complete up to 37 credits total.
If you have questions, please email mcsadvising@ifas.ufl.edu or schedule an advising appointment.
Doctoral Admissions
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On-Campus Ph.D.
The University of Florida Graduate School requires an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to be eligible for admission. Fulfillment of the minimum requirement does not guarantee an applicant’s acceptance into the program. In evaluating each applicant, the department’s Graduate Committee members include in their consideration a thorough review of the transcript, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, area of research interest, etc. Students are encouraged to complete undergraduate coursework in biochemistry and microbiology before they apply.
Admission into the UF Microbiology and Cell Science graduate program requires that an applicant be accepted both by the UF Graduate School and by the Microbiology and Cell Science Department. To complete the application process, apply online via the Graduate School admissions web site and select the “Graduate” option to create an account and begin your application. Select the “Apply Now” icon below to go directly to the Ph.D. Application.
Applications must be completed by December 15th to be considered for admission the following fall semester. Currently accepting Fall 2027 applications.
Required Application Materials
- Application fee of $30.
- Unofficial Transcripts. Official transcripts will be required for all admitted students.
- CV or resume.
- Three letters of recommendation (LOR). We suggest that candidates request LOR from professional/academic mentors or colleagues that can comment on their academic/research experiences.
- Personal statement. The personal statement should consist of a brief essay describing your research experience, career goals, and area of research interest (limit 500 words)
- Supplemental information. Use this form to provide additional information that will be reviewed by the admissions committee
- International Applicants must also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
- TOEFL Minimum Acceptable Scores: 4.5 overall, 4.0 on each subsection (4.5 required on the speaking section to be eligible for Teaching Assistantship)
- TOEFL Score Codes for UF: Institution Code is 5812, Department Code is 07
- IELTS Minimum Acceptable Scores: 6.5 overall (7 required on the speaking section to be eligible for Teaching Assistantship)
- UF is registered to receive IELTS scores using the IELTS Results Service E-Delivery. Scores should be sent to the University of Florida, which only accepts scores from this E-delivery service. UF does not accept paper Test Report Forms or unofficial copies of IELTS Test Report Forms from students. Applicants should contact the IELTS test center where they took the IELTS to request their official test results be sent to our account name: The University of Florida. An institution code is not required.
- TOEFL Minimum Acceptable Scores: 4.5 overall, 4.0 on each subsection (4.5 required on the speaking section to be eligible for Teaching Assistantship)
Please contact Jacqueline Lee at jlee9@ufl.edu if you have any questions regarding the application process or deadline.
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Distance Ph.D.
Distance Ph.D.
1) B.S. degree
- Minimum 3.5 GPA
- Preferably with an emphasis on microbiology and/or cell biology
2) M.S. degree, of at least 30 credits, in the life sciences
- Minimum 3.5 GPA
- Preferably with an emphasis on microbiology and/or cell biology
3) Strong preference given to applicants with significant quantitative skills in computational biology, programming, and/or statistics
- Evidence of such training or skills should be included with the application
4) Preference given to candidates with the following pre-requisite courses (or their equivalent in courses from other institutions) or demonstrated work experience:
- Python Programming
- R Programming
- Bioinformatics
- The Microbiome
- Artificial Intelligence
Application Materials
1) Application fee of $30
2) Unofficial transcripts from each school you have attended
3) CV or resume
4) Three letters of recommendation (LOR)
- We suggest that candidates request LOR from professional/academic mentors or colleagues that can comment on their academic/research experiences
5) Personal statement: Answer the following three prompts in a word document and upload to the application
- Describe your research experience, career goals and area of research interest (limit 500 words)
- How have you demonstrated success in a remote work or school environment? (limit 300 words)
- Which research labs in our department interest you most and why? (limit 300 words)
6) Information Request Page
- Fill out the Distance Ph.D. Information Request Form and attach it to your application
7) International Applicants must submit official evidence of English language proficiency
How to Apply
Go to : https://www.applyweb.com/uflgrad/index.ftl
Complete each section of the application (notes on how to choose the correct program can be found below)
- Application Information
- Location of Intended Program: Distance Education
- Program of Study
- Select College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Microbiology and Cell Science, Degree Name – Doctor of Philosophy
- choose application term
- Concentration: Microbial and Cellular Data Science
- Program Specialization: leave this blank
- Department Contact Name: leave this blank
Tuition and Fees
- Florida Resident tuition: $448.73 per credit plus fees
- Non-Resident tuition: $600.00 per credit plus fees
- Fees: $35.75 per credit. This includes the following fees:
- Capital Improvement Fund $6.76
- Student Financial Aid $22.43
- Technology Fee $6.56
Stipends
- Stipends are not available from the department. A PI may choose to provide stipend support for extraordinary candidates.
Financial Aid
- Many employers offer tuition benefits or reimbursements available.
- The department and PIs will be seeking sources of external support for these admitted students but there are no guarantees, particularly during the early phases of this program.
- This program is eligible for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
Application Deadlines
- Fall Applications: Due March 1
- Spring Applications: Due September 1
Graduate Certificate Admissions
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Clinical Laboratory Microbiologist Certificate
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 upper-division GPA (if your GPA is below this requirement but is at least 2.7, we recommend contacting us).
- Curriculum vitae (CV) including all post-high school education and employment per Florida statute
- Pre-requisites: Required undergraduate courses for applicants:
- General Biology (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry (2 semesters)
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Microbiology foundational laboratory
- Note: If you have not earned at least a grade of C in MCB 3020L, MCB 3023L or an equivalent course, please contact us.
*A background check will be required at student’s cost. This must be completed before internship, but is not due at the time of application. Students will be sent more information after enrolling in courses.
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Environmental Microbiology Certificate
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- 2.7 overall GPA and 2.7 upper-division GPA
- Prerequisites: Required undergraduate courses
Applicants to the M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science are required to have completed the following undergraduate prerequisite courses:- General Biology (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry (1 semester)
- Microbiology*
- Biochemistry*
- The GRE is not required
*If your prior coursework does not include Biochemistry and Microbiology, you will be required to enter the program through the Introductory Track. The Introductory Track includes up to two additional courses: Biology of Microorganisms (3 credits) and Fundamentals of Biochemistry (4 credits), for up to 7 additional credits. Students required to complete the Introductory Track may complete up to 37 credits total.
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Medical Microbiology Certificate
Graduate Certificate in Medical Microbiology:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 upper-division GPA
- Prerequisites: Required undergraduate courses
Applicants to the M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science are required to have completed the following undergraduate prerequisite courses:- Biochemistry
- General Biology
- General Chemistry
- The GRE is not required
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Microbiome in Health Certificate
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- 2.7 overall GPA and 2.7 upper-division GPA
- Prerequisites: Required undergraduate courses
Applicants to the M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science are required to have completed the following undergraduate prerequisite courses:- General Biology (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry (1 semester)
- Microbiology*
- Biochemistry*
- The GRE is not required
*If your prior coursework does not include Biochemistry and Microbiology, you will be required to enter the program through the Introductory Track. The Introductory Track includes up to two additional courses: Biology of Microorganisms (3 credits) and Fundamentals of Biochemistry (4 credits), for up to 7 additional credits. Students required to complete the Introductory Track may complete up to 37 credits total.
Non-Degree and International Student Admissions
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Non-Degree
For All (Domestic and International) Applicants
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- 2.0 upper-division GPA
- No application fee for non-degree-seeking students
Additional Minimum Requirements: For International Students Only
- The English language skill requirements for admission
If you graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a non-English speaking country, you will need to take the English proficiency examination, TOEFL.
TOEFL Exam Type Required Score Paper-based 550 Computer-based 213 Internet 80 Restrictions
- A maximum of 7 credits can be transferred to the microbiology master’s degree program.
- A maximum of 6 credits can be transferred to the environmental microbiology or microbiome and health graduate certificate programs.
- A maximum of 5 credits can transferred to the medical microbiology graduate certificate program.
- Current University of Florida students must contact mcsadvising@ifas.ufl.edu before applying.
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International Applicant Transcript Requirement
International Applicant Transcript Requirement
Transcript Submission and Review
The Office of Admissions will review the transcripts and degrees (if applicable) from every institution listed in the educational history provided on your application. Our review process of all non-U.S. academic credentials (transcripts, mark sheets, degrees/diplomas) ensures that the applicant has been conferred/awarded the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or will be awarded such a degree by the desired date of enrollment. Academic departments will make the ultimate decision on an application.
For our review, these documents may be unofficial and uploaded in the application or via your Check Status page. These transcripts and degree certificate/diplomas should be scanned copies of the official paper versions issued to you by your previous or current institution. Digitally uploaded academic credentials must include the same information appearing on an official transcript, including biographical information, institution name, signatures, seals and stamps. We will not accept screen shots of your grades from your institution’s student academic portal.
Non-English Transcripts
Transcripts and degree certificates/diplomas not issued in English must be accompanied by a certified, literal line-for-line English translation of the original document. Acceptable certified translations are issued by your institution or a professional translating service.
Credential Evaluations
Submitting a credential evaluation for college coursework outside of the U.S. is optional. Students who choose to submit an evaluation should submit a course-by-course evaluation with credits, grades and grade averages from a NACES member. Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates still must be submitted with a credential evaluation during the application process.
Review of Transcripts
An email notification will be sent approximately 24-48 hours after submission of your UF application with instructions on how to create your MyAdmissions application/Check Status page. Transcripts uploaded or received by mail will display on the Check Status checklist as Transcript – Under Review. As soon as your transcripts are received, the college and department you have applied to will be able to review your transcripts. Due to the high volume of applications, transcripts may not be updated on your checklist until the department has completed an initial review of your application. Once the transcripts are reviewed by Admissions, the checklist will be updated, and the Awaiting Transcript checklist items will be updated accordingly.
Official Transcripts
While not required for the initial admissions review, official transcripts, translations (if applicable) and degree certificates/diplomas are required for enrolling students and must be submitted no later than the end of your first semester of enrollment. Official documents are mailed directly from the institution, including all official stamps and signatures, or presented in-person inside the institution’s sealed and stamped envelope.
Credentials are mailed directly to the UF Office of Admissions at:
Office of Admissions
201 Criser Hall
PO Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
United States of AmericaReturn of credentials
All documents submitted with your application become property of the University of Florida. The Office of Admissions is unable to honor requests to return transcripts or provide transcript copies to you or a third party. Do not mail diplomas or academic credentials that are only issued once. An attested or certified copy (by the institution’s registrar), or originals presented in-person are accepted in such circumstances.
The English Language Skill Requirement
English Proficiency
All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency and meet the minimum score requirements. The university does not accept scores compiled from multiple tests to meet English proficiency requirements.
UF’s TOEFL school code is 5812.
Minimum acceptable scores:
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TOEFL (iBT & Home Edition): 4.5
TOEFL Sub-Sections:
- Reading: 4.0
- Listening: 4.0
- Speaking: 4.0
- Writing: 4.0
- IELTS Academic: 6.5*
- UF ELI Exit Certificate
For 15% off the cost of the TOEFL exam, use the code UFTOEFL15 in the voucher/promotional code section when ordering and paying for a TOEFL exam.
* UF is registered to receive IELTS scores using the IELTS Results Service E-Delivery. Scores should be sent to the University of Florida, which only accepts scores from this E-delivery service. UF does not accept paper Test Report Forms or unofficial copies of IELTS Test Report Forms from students. Applicants should contact the IELTS test center where they took the IELTS to request their official test results be sent to our account name: The University of Florida. An institution code is not required.
The address associated with our IELTS Results Service account is:
The University of Florida
201 Criser Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611
United StatesExemptions are granted if applicants:
- Have successfully completed one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a recognized/regionally accredited university or college in the United States or a country where English is the official language.
- Hold an earned equivalent of associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree from a recognized/regionally accredited college or university in the United States or country where English is the official language.
Visit our International Admissions page for a list of countries exempt from English proficiency requirements: https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/international
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