PhD Home | How to apply | Curriculum and Progression | Documents and Forms

Application Process

Application requirements and information about financial support are listed below. 

Our program is federated across Rutgers-Newark and NJIT. Students can work with faculty, do research, and take classes at either institution, regardless of where they are matriculated. However, funding mechanisms and administrative details can differ between universities. Therefore, we encourage you to apply to the university that houses the lab of your potential Faculty Mentor. If you are considering several options on either side, don’t worry about it too much. We will help to figure out the best option. Our Recruitment and Admissions Committee will help you through the process, and we recommend contacting any of committee members before you start the application process. The current members are:

Requirements

As an applicant to the program, you are expected to meet a number of criteria, as listed below. Our Recruitment and Admissions Committee selects applicants for video and on-site interviews based on those criteria, but can make exceptions based on your strengths in other areas. Usually, you should have:

• An undergraduate degree in biology or other pertinent area of science.
• A strong foundation in chemistry (general and organic) and physics.
• Completion of one year of mathematics, preferably calculus.
• A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
• If you are an international applicant and your primary language is not English, you most likely will need to submit language proficiency exam scores.

To be considered for financial support, your completed application should be submitted by December 15, 2025 for admission for Fall 2026. Admission for the Spring semester is only considered in exceptional cases. Applications should include the following:

• all undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• three letters of recommendation
• a statement of purpose
• a Resume or CV
• TOEFL or other language proficiency scores (if applicable, see here).

The GRE is not required for the Biology PhD admissions process. Letters of recommendation or the previous work record should show some indication that research potential exists.

Financial support

Along with applicant experience and research interests, admission to this PhD program is based on funding opportunities, which vary considerably from year to year. Student funding usually comes from a combination of Teaching Assistantships, University Fellowships, extramural stipends, and faculty research grants. You are encouraged to contact potential mentors to discuss funding opportunities.

Incoming full-time students are awarded Teaching Assistantships or nominated for University Fellowships on a competitive basis by the Department Chair, on the recommendations of the Admissions and Recruitment Committee and the Graduate Director. Teaching Assistantships are renewable on a yearly basis for up to six years based on satisfactory progress in the program. Decisions about Teaching Assistantships are made based on student qualifications, current support of students in labs of individual Graduate Faculty, and the balance of funding distributed across program tracks and research fields. Both incoming and continuing students are encouraged to apply to national, regional, and state level funding agencies to obtain grant support for their intended research.

Frequently asked questions

Are Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores required?

No.

Are language proficiency exams required?

From the NJIT PhD application website: “The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo, PTE or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required for all international applicants not holding a degree from a United States post-secondary institution.  The minimum score required is 79 for the Internet-based TOEFL exam, 213 for the computer-based TOEFL exam, or 550 for the paper-based TOEFL exam.  A minimum score of 6.5 with no sub-score lower than 6.0 is required for the IELTS exam. A minimum score of 120 is required for the Duolingo exam. A minimum score of 57 is required for the PTE exam.”

What funding is available for PhD students?

Admitted, funded students receive up to six years of funding through a variety of funding sources, most commonly through Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and fellowships. This funding includes a competitive stipend, health insurance, and full tuition support. 

Do you offer spring admissions?

The program does not offer spring admissions, except in rare cases.

What is the application deadline?

The program application deadline is December 15 to be considered for admission the following fall.

Are official transcripts required to apply?

No, however, official transcripts will be required at a later stage of the application process.

Are self-reported or unofficial IELTS scores acceptable?

Yes, however, official scores will be required at a later stage of the application process.

Is a WES evaluation of transcripts required? 

No.

Is it necessary to contact a faculty member prior to submitting the application?

No, however, if you have a strong research interest that overlaps with a faculty member you are encouraged to contact them ahead of the application deadline.

I do not see a place to upload supporting documents on the application website. How do I add documents to my application?

You will have the option to upload supporting documentation after you click "submit" on the application page.

What are my chances of admission?

It is not possible to estimate chances of admission before the admissions committee has received a complete application that has been assessed in the context of the entire applicant pool. Admissions decisions are contingent on funding availability, which varies across years.