Page Contents:
- Biophysics Program Admission Criteria
- Undergraduate Background and Requirements
- Application Materials
- GPA - GRE - TOEFL Guidelines
- Financial Assistance
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The X-Ray Crystal Structure of the Bacterial Type IV Pilus Retraction Motor, PilT (Image courtesy of K.A. Satyshur and K. Forest lab) |
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How to Apply
Overview
As you apply to a UW-Madison graduate degree program, you need to be aware of two different sets of requirements:
1. Graduate school minimum admissions requirements, and
2. Department or Program admission requirements
A. Biophysics Program Admission Criteria back to top
The Graduate Degree Program in Biophysics evaluates applications and recommends applicants for admission based on the following criteria:
Demonstrated scholastic ability
Undergraduate coursework and GPA
Research experience, publications, awards/honors
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement of reasons for graduate study
International: TOEFL score
B. Undergraduate Background and Requirements back to top
Undergraduate preparation for the Graduate Program in Biophysics can vary widely and will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee on an individual basis. Most of our applicants have taken courses in general, organic and physical chemistry; introductory physics; cell and/or molecular biology; calculus through differential equations; and computer science. The biophysics curriculum is flexible enough so that most students make up deficiencies in their undergraduate background within the first year of study.
The core undergraduate course requirements are:
2 semesters of Calculus
2 semesters of Physics with Calculus
2 semesters of Organic Chemistry
1 semester of Physical Chemistry
1 semester of Computer Science
1 semester of Statistics
These requirements are advisory and exceptions may be granted for incoming biophysics graduate students who have strong undergraduate training in chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, biology, or related fields. In such cases, each of these courses will be counted as a deficiency that the student must correct by obtaining a passing grade in an equivalent undergraduate or graduate course taken within the first two years of graduate study.
In addition, we recommend that entering graduate students have undergraduate preparation through courses in:
General Biochemistry
General Genetics and/or Molecular Biology
Biophysical Chemistry
Students who have not taken courses in these subjects will be expected to do so as part of their formal graduate course work.
C. Application Materials back to top
A complete application requires following both the Graduate School and the Biophysics Graduate Degree Program requirements. Submit only the materials requested to the two respective organizations.
To the Graduate School:
Complete the on-line application (paper applications are no longer sent out)
$56 non-refundable application fee - payable by credit card, debit/atm card, check or money order drawn on a United States bank. Do not send cash.
Send checks or money orders to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
228 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1380 USA
Do not send any additional materials to the Graduate School.
International student Financial Information will be requested by the Graduate School after the Biophysics Program makes a recommendation for admission.
Follow this link for information on typical international student expenses to attend the UW-Madison.
To the Biophysics Degree Program:
Official transcripts or academic records from each institution attended. Records from international institutions must be in the original language with an official English translation. Documents must be issued by the school with the official seal/stamp and an official signature.
Reasons for graduate study (address in narrative essay form your reasons and goals for graduate study)
List of awards, honors and publications, if any.
Three letters of recommendation. Qualified references include faculty and/or supervisors, who have familiarity with the applicant's intellectual, academic and research oriented capabilities, accomplishments and temperament.
New for 2006 admission applicants: see Letters of Recommendation Instructions, for the new on-line submission process as part of the electronic application.
GRE scores sent electronically to UW-Madison (use code 1846); you may include paper copies of the GRE scores if available but this is not required
TOEFL scores (if applicable) sent electronically to UW-Madison (use code 1846); you may include paper copies but it is not a requirement. Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose previous undergraduate/graduate instruction was not in English must provide official scores from the TOEFL exam or alternatively the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
Send to:
Biophysics Degree Program
Institute for Molecular Virology
1525 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706 USA
Deadline: December 8. Applications received after the deadline may not receive consideration.
D. GPA – GRE – TOEFL Guidelines back to top
GPA. A minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 (75%) is required for admission; students recently admitted to the Biophysics Program have had GPA’s of 3.25/4.0 (82%) or higher.
GRE. Graduate Record Exam scores are required as part of the application submitted to the Biophysics Program. Taking an Advanced GRE test in a relevant topical area is recommended but not required. Percentile scores on the GRE for students admitted to the program are typically equal or greater than 60 Verbal, 80 Quantitative, 80 Analytical and 85 Advanced.
TOEFL. International applicants from countries with an official language other than English must take and submit a score for the TOEFL Exam. A TOEFL score of 600 (250 on the computer based test scale; 92 on the internet based (iBT) scale or 82 on the MELAB) or greater is preferred for admission to the Biophysics Program.
E. Financial Assistance back to top
All offers of admission to the Graduate Degree Program in Biophysics come with a waiver of tuition and stipend support as a research assistant, fellow or trainee. Application for admission makes the applicant eligible for each of these forms of University provided support - no separate application for these forms of financial assistance is required. Scholarships, fellowships and aid provided through external organizations are subject to the requirements and deadlines of the respective organization. Applicants are encouraged to explore and apply for external forms of financial assistance since this may expand the number of research laboratories that can accept the student for the thesis research.
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