Welcome and thank you for your interest in the graduate degree programs offered through the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology.

Degrees Offered

  • MS in Microbiology & Immunology
  • MS in Biological Sciences
  • PhD in Microbiology & Immunology 
  • PhD in Biological Sciences
  • PhD/MS in Neuroscience - NOTE: We are not accepting applications at this time.          

PhD applicants, must have all materials submitted by December 15 for consideration for the following fall and September 15 for consideration for the following spring. 

MS applicants may apply at any time to be considered for the next semester.

The department requires that Masters applicants secure a faculty advisor prior to applying, which is soley the applicant's responsibility.  Please visit our Faculty and Affiliate Directories. Graduate research assistantships are awarded for Plan A (thesis) Masters students based on applicant's qualifications and recommendation from faculty. Plan B (Professional Paper/Project) Masters students are typically self-funded.

Candidates may apply for direct admission into a lab. This is typically done (prior to applying) by securing a faculty member who is willing to serve as your mentor and provide financial support. 

For those who do not secure a faculty advisor prior to applying for the PhD program, a few rotation students are accepted each fall.  These students will rotate in three different laboratories based on research interest. Rotations need to be arranged with faculty prior to each rotation. By the end of the first year, lab placement is decided by the student and the Faculty Advisor. Rotations are not currently offered for spring applicants.

A bachelor's degree in an area of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Math or Psychology is recommended. Students with Bachelor’s degrees outside these areas are encouraged to apply; such students will generally be required to complete appropriate courses while enrolled to make up subject matter deficiencies prior to full acceptance into the Ph.D. and Masters programs. Factors that the program uses in its admissions process may include TOEFL scores (for non-native English speakers), reference letters, GPA and previous coursework and research experience.

Application Requirements

  • Online Application and payment of a non-refundable $70 application fee
  • A personal statement 
  • Official transcripts from all tertiary-level colleges or universities you attended
  • Three (3) letters of reference and contact information for references. The references are prompted through  to submit a signed reference letter and complete a recommendation form. Letters should be written by people who are able to judge your ability to succeed in graduate school.
  • International Students:  please see International Application Process for additional requirements.

Other Helpful Links

FAQ

It is normal to have a few components trickle in after the deadline. As long as the majority of your materials are in on time, your application will still be considered, though a final decision cannot be made until all required materials are in.

While the committee does take into consideration transcripts and other components, they do not tend to focus on only one when making their decision. If you had a rough start in school or a poor semester or two, there is still hope. That being said, the rest of your application should make up for the materials that are not as representative of what you have to offer.  Feel free to include a note explaining this discrepancy justifying why you should be considered.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements for TOEFL scores, it would likely be in your best interest to retake the test until you do meet the minimum requirements.

All PhD students receive funding, although exact amount and terms are unique to each student.  Generally, students undertake rotations in their first year and are funded by the MCB department. After admission into a lab, students are funded by their advisors. All PhD students are required to complete two teaching assistantships, while MS students may be asked to complete one. If students serve as teaching assistants, they will qualify for a tuition waiver as well as a monthly stipend. When the student is not teaching, they will receive financial assistance from their advisor.

Rather than going through first-year rotations, PhD students may be recruited directly by faculty. Such students are funded by their advisor from the beginning, although they may still be required to serve as teaching assistants.

The department is only able to accept and fund a handful of students each year, so it is helpful when students come in with specialized funding (military, Fulbright, IGERT, MSU Molecular Biosciences, etc.).  If you have external funding, please indicate it in your application.

Yes, you can apply again. You will be assessed a $35 fee by The Graduate School for all new applications submitted within one year of the initial application.  At the one year mark, the process begins anew (meaning you would have to pay a new $70 application fee).   

Before re-applying, consider the reason you were rejected. If you were rejected because of poor academic merit, you will need to revamp your application. If your test scores did not meet the minimum requirement, you will need to retake these tests .