General Application Questions

For Fall 2024, the application opened September 6th, 2023. For future years, the application will likely open the Wednesday following Labor Day.

For Fall 2024, the application will close on December 6th, 2023 at 11:59PM (PT). For future years, the application will likely close the last Wednesday of November or the first Wednesday of December, at 11:59PM (PT).

To apply, applicants use the UCSD Application for Graduate Admission, via a web-based application called Slate.

On the Program Selector page of the application, choose Doctor of Philosophy for Degree Type, Biology (PhD) (under Biological Sciences) for Program Interest, and 2024 Fall for Entry Term.

Yes, you may work on your application a bit at a time and then submit it once it is complete.

Yes, the application site is secure, and your application information and credit card info will remain confidential.

Yes, you can make changes to your application after submitting it, though application evaluation begins immediately after submission.

Yes, you can submit an application if some materials and/or scores are not uploaded/submitted, though it is highly recommended that all required materials and scores are uploaded/submitted by the deadline.

Yes, the following areas of the application can be added to and/or updated online after submission: contact information, transcripts, CV/Resumes, and writing samples or additional miscellaneous documents.

You can check the status of your application by returning to the application website and logging in to your account. If your application status says "Submitted" then your application has been received.

You can check your application status by logging onto grad apply.

For BioSci PhD Program (General) [Non-EBE] applicants, you do not need to contact faculty/professors before applying. Contacting faculty/professors will not affect your application evaluation but you are still welcome to do so. Email is the best method of contact in most cases.

For BioSci PhD Program (Ecology, Behavior, Environmental Science and Evolution (EBE)) applicants, you are very much encouraged to contact EBE faculty/professors of interest before applying. The vast majority of EBE recruits and admits contact EBE faculty/professors of interest before applying, though the act of contacting itself will not affect your application evaluation. Email is the best method of contact in most cases.

shore stands for Student Housing Opportunity Recruitment Enhancement.

In the Winter and Spring quarters prior to the next Fall quarter, admitted graduate and professional students are nominated by departments to this priority Housing program. Based on availability, shore offers are made to nominated students by the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. This is a very limited program and all spots are filled by the early Spring quarter. No additional spots are available after Spring quarter. shore students are housed without having to wait on the waitlist.

If you are interested in being considered for shore, mark Yes to either question on the Student Housing section of the application. Answering Yes to question #2 will allow you to explain why you're interested.

Applicants are also welcome to email biophdadmissions@ucsd.edu to inform the PhD Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator that they are interested in being nominated for shore.