How to Apply

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The ILS program at the University of Georgia is committed to diversity in all its forms. We strive to cultivate an inclusive environment, and to promote the success of scholars of all racial and socioeconomic groups, religious and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, national origins, and disability statuses. We believe all people deserve equity in education and that the best science is done with a diverse and inclusive scientific workforce.  We welcome applications from all individuals, and we are committed to supporting all of our students’ scientific and professional development. For a list of and links to specific UGA Programs and Organizations promoting DEI see https://genetics.uga.edu/node/1523.

Application Deadline

ILS manages applications for multiple PhD graduate programs. The application deadline is December 1st for matriculation the following Fall term. Applications for matriculation in spring or summer semesters are not accepted. Applications that are complete by the application deadline will be reviewed; there is no guarantee late applications will be considered. We strongly encourage applicants to frequently review the status of their application through the UGA Graduate School application portal. ILS especially welcomes applications from students with diverse backgrounds as we wish to complement the UGA Graduate School’s overall strategic plan to increase campus diversity at the graduate level.

Evaluation and Timeline

Applications are screened in December and early January. Assessment will focus on research experience, letters of reference, GPA, overall potential for graduate study, and perceived fit with affiliated graduate programs. Excellence in one or more areas can offset deficiencies in other areas; explanations for deficiencies should be described in your Personal Statement. Top domestic applicants for the Fall 2023 recruitment cycle will tentatively be invited to an event in late January/early February for interviews and interactions with current students and research faculty. Offers of admission will be extended to successful applicants shortly after interviews. Approximately 80% of interviewees are typically extended an admission offer.

Application Process (both steps must be completed by the application deadline)

  1. Complete an online ILS Background & Interest form. This form can be submitted at anytime, but preferably soon after you submit your online application to the UGA Graduate School. This form is critical to the evaluation of your application. Before completing the form, review the ILS website to identify Interdisciplinary Groups, Departments, and Faculty that are of interest to you. Please note that identification of a faculty mentor is not required prior to application submission.
  2. Submit an official online application to the UGA Graduate School, and route required transcripts (unofficial transcripts sufficient for initial application review) and letters of recommendation as instructed during the application process. The UGA Graduate School website provides detailed descriptions of admissions requirements, the application fee, and other pertinent information. International applicants should review supplemental requirements prior to applying. Additionally, we require three letters of recommendation in the application as well as CV/resume and statement of purpose for your application to be considered complete. These materials must be submitted in the Graduate School application.

 

NOTE: GRE is not required but accepted as supplemental application material.

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose that is submitted to the UGA Graduate School during the application process can be the same as the Personal Statement requested on the ILS form, as long as the length (10,000 character limit) and content are within the stated guidelines. We highly recommend that your statement include the following at the very least:

  • your reason(s) for pursuing graduate study
  • your interests (e.g. names of faculty, interdisciplinary groups, and/or graduate programs)
  • evidence of scholarly activity (e.g. research experiences, manuscripts published/in preparation)
  • any special circumstances of which you wish to make us aware
  • if applicable, explanations for any perceived deficiencies in your application

 

IMPORTANT CODES: Select Integrated Life Sciences, PhD, Fall term as the Major during the application process. Select 5813 as the institutional code for ETS reports (i.e. TOEFL scores).