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How to Apply

Note: For questions related to our graduate programs and the application process, please contact our Graduate Administrator, Cathy Barr.

We will soon recruit graduate students for entry in Fall 2027. To apply to our programs, please click HERE, select FALL 2027, and create your account. Next, search for our program as “Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences (Fall 2027)” and select it to add us to your applications. Please keep in mind that the system will not be updated to accept applications for Fall 2027 until mid-September 2026. Applications will be due on Tuesday the 1st of December, 2026, by 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Please have a look at the Application FAQ, which will be updated throughout the recruitment season.

The Department of Biological Sciences (Pitt BioSci) trains graduate students under two distinct Ph.D.-granting Programs: Ecology and Evolution (E&E) and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB). Ph.D. students receive full financial support, including a competitive stipend, tuition waiver, and health benefits, and typically work under the mentorship of one or two tenured or tenure-stream faculty in the department. Please see Financial Support and Fellowships for additional information about funding provided upon admission to the program.

The application process outlined below is nearly identical for both Programs, but see the Application FAQ for Program specific details. Importantly, if you are interested in the Ecology and Evolution Program, you would typically apply through a specific mentor, while if you are interested in the MCDB program, you would typically choose your mentor after doing laboratory rotations in your first year – however, you are of course welcome to contact faculty whose research you are excited about at any time during or after the application process!

Applications are due by 11:59 pm Eastern time, Tuesday the 1st of December, 2026

All Applicants will need to complete the online application by the application deadline, which includes the following required components. (Additional guidance for International Applicants and applicants interested in Advanced-level Entry is given below.)

  • Choose "Biological Sciences" as the “Department” and either "Ecology and Evolution (E&E)" or "Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology" as the “Program”
  • A brief personal statement (about two pages, and no more than three), which should contain the following sections
    • Motivation: A brief section communicating your motivation for graduate studies and articulating your career goals as a Ph.D. student and beyond.
    • Scientific Experiences: A section highlighting your scientific experiences (research, professional, coursework, and/or teaching) that have prepared you to pursue a Ph.D. in biology.
    • Research Goals: A brief statement of your intended research goals and the connection between those goals and faculty within our Department.
    • Contributing to the Community: A description of an experience that demonstrates your ability to work well with colleagues who bring different backgrounds and skill sets to a shared goal.
  • A Curriculum Vitae (CV) that lists your research and work experiences and accomplishments, uploaded in the “Documents” section of the application
  • A list of four tenured or tenure-stream faculty members ranked in order of preference with whom you would be interested in pursuing Ph.D. research. These faculty should have a primary appointment in the Department of Biological Sciences. Both E&E and MCDB applicants should include four faculty, even if you are applying through a potential mentor
  • Copies of your transcripts for all college-level institutions you’ve attended, uploaded in the “Documents” section of the application under the relevant category (Undergraduate, Graduate, Other). These may be unofficial transcripts, as long as they are legible.
  • Three letters of recommendation, which should be submitted online by the recommender after you initiate the application.  We employ a holistic admission evaluation that considers several different aspects of you as a candidate:
    • Aptitude for scientific research
    • Background knowledge in science, being well positioned to learn more
    • Community fostering (volunteering, outreach, teaching, advocacy)
    • Dedication, industriousness, perseverance
    • Enthusiasm and motivation to do research and pursue scientific questions. It is thus important to convey strengths in as many of these criteria as possible through your personal statement, CV, and letters of recommendation.
  • Graduate Record Examination scores ARE NOT REQUIRED for application or admission to the Department of Biological Sciences Graduate Program. Please do not submit scores as we will not use them in our evaluation. (Note that this may not be the case for other Ph.D. programs at the University of Pittsburgh)
  • An application fee of $75 applies to domestic applications (all US citizens and current US residents) or international applications.
  • In an effort to reduce financial barriers to attending graduate school, the Kenneth P. Dietrich Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers application fee waivers ( https://www.asgraduate.pitt.edu/admissions/application-fee-waivers ). Please note that fee waivers are approved on a case-by-case basis, and not all fee waiver requests will be granted.  
    • Most requests received will be reviewed and responded to within 3-5 days during normal business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. EST. During high-volume periods, fee waiver reviews may take up to 7 business days. We encourage you to apply for a fee waiver as early as possible to ensure it is reviewed before the application deadline.
    • To be considered for a fee waiver, please complete the following fee waiver survey for review: https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cD38CmmjcOT3Tvw. Faculty reviewing your application will be unaware of whether you have requested an application fee waiver. 
    • Thanksgiving and Winter Break Notice: To ensure timely processing and avoid response delays during the Thanksgiving and Winter Recess breaks, the Application Fee Waiver Request Form will be temporarily unavailable. During these closure periods, no new requests will be accepted or processed. These brief pauses help prevent delays and duplicate submissions during the break periods.
    • Late requests may not be accommodated once the form is closed, so please plan your submission accordingly.
  • We are dedicated to recruiting, welcoming, and developing students and researchers from a range of backgrounds, career stages, and research interests, and to providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all scholars.


International Applicants: If you are not a US citizen or current US resident, you must demonstrate English language proficiency. For an explanation of the available options, see https://www.asgraduate.pitt.edu/admissions/international-students. Proficiency may be demonstrated by one of the following:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences requires a minimum overall TOEFL score of 4.5, with 4.5 in the speaking, reading, and writing sub-sections and 5.0 in the listening sub-section
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Minimum score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each section
  • Duolingo English Test: Minimum score of 120 

Advanced Level Entry Applicants: If you have a Master's degree or a Master's-level equivalent, you can optionally choose to apply for Advanced Level Entry (ALE). To do this, you should have already identified a PhD mentor who has agreed to support you if you are admitted to the program. For this route, you would follow the normal application procedure above, though ALE applications are accepted throughout the year. As is the case for other means of entry into our PhD program, GRE scores are NOT required for ALE applications.

All application materials should be submitted online. If you are having issues with any part of your on-line application for the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, please reach out to the GradCas Applicant Help center. If you cannot find the answer to your question(s), you can also contact them by phone 857-304-2086 or email: gradcasinfo@liaisoncas.com. For the quickest response, it is best to contact them via the Live Chat option on the Applicant Help center page.