HOW TO APPLY
All successful applicants to the graduate program are provided financial aid through Graduate Assistantships and fellowships. In addition, the $75 application fee may be waived based on sponsorship by individual faculty and the availability of funds.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact faculty directly (see Research) for more information about individual laboratories and to request an application fee waiver.
Qualifications
Applicants should have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale). International students must also meet TOEFL score minima (90 minimum for internet based tests, 233 minimum for computer-based tests, and 577 minimum for paper-based tests) or IELT score minimum 6.5. The GRE is neither required nor considered when making admission decisions. Please see the Graduate School web page for Frequently Asked Questions.
Application Submissions
- Apply through the online application system of the Virginia Tech Graduate School.
- Upload an official transcript (with English translation).
- TOEFL or IELTS scores must be sent to institution code 5859.
Deadlines
To compete for financial aid, applications for fall admission must be completed by December 15. Applications are accepted after this date but the opportunities for financial aid are diminished. Most graduate teaching assistantships are awarded by April 1. October 31 is the deadline for spring semester applications (domestic students). We do not accept international applications for spring semester.
Commonwealth Campus Students
Applicants who want to improve their credentials for graduate school (or other professional schools) can register as commonwealth campus students, who may take graduate classes in Biological Sciences. If a commonwealth campus student later wishes to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences, he/she must apply for admission to regular degree status. Courses completed during the commonwealth campus phase can be applied towards an M.S. or Ph.D., if approval is given by the student’s advisory committee and the Graduate School. More information is here.