Applications open September 1st. 
The deadline for applications is December 1st. 

The sooner you apply the better! Keep in mind that admissions decisions will be sent between February and April. 

All application materials, including recommendation letters and unofficial transcripts, must be submitted by the application deadline. We are unable to accept materials received after the deadline, nor can we provide extensions for submission. 

There is an application fee of $70 for all applicants. The Department of Biology does not currently offer graduate application fee waivers or reimbursements. 

You may be eligible for an application fee waiver through our University Graduate School (UGS). Please click here for more information. You may also contact them directly at grdschl@iu.edu.

Admission committees for each program begin making offers in late February through mid-March. The Indiana University deadline for all domestic and international graduate applicants to accept an offer of admission is April 15th. 

If you were denied admission, you must pay to apply again. Our department may, however, hold supporting documentation (e.g., transcripts, scores) for up to two years.

To reapply, you must submit a new application. Include a cover letter indicating that you are reapplying and that you would like to have your application materials resubmitted to the Department of Biology. Include new transcripts and scores when appropriate and a new statement of purpose. Feel free to include additional materials you feel would enhance your chances of being accepted.

Yes. Qualified PhD students, both domestic and international, are guaranteed at least five years of financial support. Financial support covers a stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance.  

Funding comes in a variety of forms and methods. These methods include internal and external fellowships, training grants, Associate Instructor positions, and Research Assistant positions.  

International students: The Office of International Services may request that you submit financial documents explaining how you will be supported in the United States. This does NOT need to be sent during the application process. If you are admitted to our graduate program, your acceptance letter will outline your funding and be sent to OIS. 

All international applicants must provide official English language proficiency scores unless their first language is English. If you believe that you are eligible for a waiver, please see information on our admissions website. 

Because all incoming IU Biology graduate students are required to teach for a minimum of one semester, you will need to complete the Test of English Proficiency for Associate Instructor Candidates (TEPAIC), even if you qualify for an English Language test waiver. The department will collaborate with applicants to schedule this exam. 

Absolutely! Before contacting faculty members, please be prepared with specific questions about their research and/or laboratory openings. You can find our current training faculty, with lab openings, on the following websites: 

• Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior Training Faculty 
• Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology Training Faculty
• Microbiology Training Faculty 

Students do not need to have a lab picked out when they apply. We encourage you to speak with professors about research opportunities during the application process. However, most students are not admitted directly into a research lab. These students will determine what lab is the best fit for them during their first semester.  

No, this application is solely applicable to the Bloomington campus. If you wish to apply to a graduate program at a different IU campus, you will need to submit a separate application for each campus and program. Applications do not transfer across campuses or programs. 

Yes. After application submissions close, you may be invited to attend Graduate Recruitment Weekend (GRW) where you will meet faculty and Program Directors, as well as experience campus and Bloomington. International Students will be invited to a virtual GRW. *Please note that this event is invite-only and does not guarantee admission to the IU Department of Biology Graduate Program.  

If you are unable to attend this event or desire to have a personal visit to IU Bloomington at any time, please email gradbio@iu.edu and we can coordinate a tour. Please also visit IU Bloomington’s Visit IU for a general tour of campus. 

Yes, we do offer virtual sessions for interested students! These one-hour Zoom meetings will cover the admissions timeline, tips for preparing a strong application, and an overview of our graduate programs. You can find the schedule of sessions and RSVP online.