Admission Requirements
Important Student Information
- Do not email application materials directly to the Program Director, you must apply through the application portal with the graduate college. Materials not submitted through the official Graduate College Application Portal will not be accepted or reviewed.
- If you want to enter the program on a Thesis track, you need to have a confirmed mentor before application deadline. If you identified a mentor please let them know that they have to email the program director (Dr. Zhang) to confirm that they are going be your Thesis mentor. Visit our Mentor Page to browse our available mentors
- International Students, please visit the International Student website for more information
- Don't forget to visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Forum for important information regarding the application, mentors, admission requirements and other inquiries
Review and submit all Program Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree with a major in a Science Technology Engineering or Math (STEM) area.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in STEM courses.
- Overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
- Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted directly to UTRGV).
- Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources. For example: A professor or work supervisor.
- Statement of Interest explaining objectives in pursuing the degree and area of interest within the advance Biochemistry and Molecular Biology degree. Please specify in the Statement of Interest if you would like to pursue a thesis or non-thesis option.
- GRE General Test: GRE test are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral in a STEM field).
Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. For additional information, visit the Additional Documents for Domestic Applicants who Attend Foreign Universities section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. For additional information, visit the English Proficiency Exam section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
- Financial Documentation showing sufficient funds to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study. For additional information, visit the Financial Documentation section of our website.
- Immigration documents, including a current copy of your valid passport. For additional information, visit the Immigration Documents section of our website.
Please visit the Graduate College Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Master’s program for more details regarding admission to the program.