Admissions Requirements

Our students come from a variety of academic backgrounds and receive training at Yale in a wide array of disciplines. There are therefore no common courses required of all BBS applicants. In general, successful applicants will have completed undergraduate coursework in biology, chemistry at least through organic chemistry, physics, and calculus. Some Tracks may have additional course requirements, as described in the Track-Specific Admissions Requirements section below.

We do not have a minimum GPA requirement.

We do not require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. If you submit GRE scores we will not include them in the review of your application.

The application will ask you to submit a Statement of Academic Purpose.

Here are the instructions for writing this part of the application:

Your statement of purpose will aid the admissions committee in evaluating your application.

• Succinctly respond in 500-1,000 words.
• Please discuss your motivation for conducting research, provide a detailed summary of your research experience and how it prepares for you for doctoral study, and include how you have taken initiative on a research project, academic endeavor, or employment responsibility.
• Finally, please describe your career aspirations.

The Yale Graduate School requires TOEFL or IELTS scores for all applicants whose native language is not English. The Graduate School waives this requirement only for applicants who will have received a baccalaureate degree, prior to matriculation at Yale, from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction. Waivers are not granted for those who have received a masters degree from such an institution. Please review this flow chart to determine whether you are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. If you do not need to submit the scores, there is no formal waiver process or form required.

TOEFL: We require a score of at least 600 on the paper version, 250 on the computer-based exam, and 100 on the internet-based exam. Please take the test no later than November and no earlier than 24 months prior to submitting your application. Use institution code 3987 when reporting your scores; you may enter any department code.

IELTS: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are acceptable in addition to or in lieu of TOEFL scores. For details about this testing alternative, please visit www.ielts.org. At the time of test-taking please indicate that you would like to send the scores to the Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. There is no minimum score requirement for the IELTS. If you score at or below a 7.5 on the speaking section you will be required to complete an English language program at Yale in August prior to matriculating in the fall.

Please visit the Graduate School admissions site for more information about submitting test scores.

In addition to meeting general BBS requirements, applicants are expected to have a firm foundation in the sciences. Typical BQBS students will have taken courses in biochemistry; general, organic and physical chemistry; physics; and calculus. For more information about the BQBS Track, please contact any of the BQBS leadership.

In addition to meeting general BBS requirements, applicants are expected

1. to have a strong foundation in the basic sciences, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics
2. to have training in computing/informatics, including significant computer programming experience

The GRE General Test is not required, and submitted scores will not be reviewed. For more information about the Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics Track, please contact any of the CBB leadership.

In addition to meeting general BBS requirements, applicants are expected to have a firm foundation in the biological and physical sciences. It is preferred that students have taken courses in biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, physics, and mathematics. Actual course requirements, however, are not fixed, and students with outstanding records in any area of the biological sciences may qualify for admission. There are no specific grade requirements for prior course work, but a strong performance in basic science courses is of great importance for admission. For more information about the Immunology Track, please contact any of the Immunology leadership.

The Microbiology Track has the same requirements as the general BBS entrance requirements. For more information about the Microbiology Track, please contact any of the Microbiology leadership.

The MCGD Track has the same requirements as the regular BBS entrance requirements. For more information about the MCGD Track, please contact any of the MCGD leadership.

The Neuroscience Track has the same admissions requirements as the general BBS entrance requirements. For more information about the Neuroscience Track, please contact any of the Neuroscience leadership.

In addition to meeting general BBS requirements, applicants to the Plant Molecular Biology Track must

1. have a strong foundation in basic sciences, such as biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, or mathematics
2. be committed to pursuing research in plant sciences for their PhD, and
3. be interested in cross-disciplinary approaches to plant biology. We encourage applications from international candidates as well as domestic candidates.

We strongly encourage all applicants to contact a primary faculty member of the Plant Molecular Biology Track prior to applying. When applying please list the primary faculty that you have contacted in the appropriate section of the application. For more information about the Plant Molecular Biology Track, please contact any of the PMB leadership.

In addition to meeting general BBS requirements, applicants should have a strong background in the biological, chemical, and/or physical sciences. For example, an undergraduate major/degree in biology, biochemistry, physiology, genetics, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, or computer science could be appropriate. Courses in biology, biochemistry, organic and physical chemistry, and mathematics through elementary calculus, are strongly recommended. For more information about the TMMPP Track, please contact any of the TMMPP leadership.