AdmissionThe Department of Molecular Biology reviews applications each year for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. We encourage applications from students of diverse academic backgrounds.Application Deadline: December 1, 2024Admission RequirementsThe Admission Committee thoroughly evaluates each application; there is no single deciding factor for admission. Promising applicants will be invited for an interview.A complete application includes:A completed web-based application.Transcript - scanned version obtained from your college or university.Three letters of recommendation.Official TOEFL exam scores from ETS, IELTS scores, or DET scores, if required by Princeton's English Language Proficiency policy.For TOEFL scores, use Institution Code 2672.ApplyingWhen applying to Molecular Biology, please proceed directly to Graduate Admission.All students admitted to the program receive tuition, health insurance, and a generous stipend. The stipend for the 2024-2025 academic year is $52,536.Financial SupportFellowshipsStudents from China may apply to the China Scholarship Council/Princeton University Joint Funding Program. In the application form, please specify that you plan to apply for CSC/Princeton Scholarship in Molecular Biology in the section "obtaining external funding support".Graduate students will be encouraged to apply for fellowships at some point during their graduate career. Fellowship opportunities are available from the following:National Science FoundationDepartment of Energy (DOE)Department of Defense (DOD)Hertz FoundationDepartment of Defense Breast CancerNJ Commission on Cancer Research (breast, prostate)Susan G. Komen Breast CancerNIH/NRSAAmerican Heart AssociationAmerican Lung AssociationAutism SpeaksFord FoundationUnited Negro College Foundation Merck Science InitiativeRobert D. Watkins MinorityAmerican Physics Association in NeuroscienceNational Sciences and Engineering Council of CanadaNJ Commission on Spinal Cord ResearchIf you are interested in applying for a fellowship, you must discuss the application first with the Graduate Administrator for approval, and with the Assistant Grants Manager for eligibility and assistance with application materials. Visit funding for a comprehensive list of agencies. Admissions FAQ Do you offer a master's degree program? No. Can I apply for admission for the spring term? No. Applications for admission are only accepted for the fall term. I majored in a non-biology discipline such as chemistry, physics, or mathematics. Am I eligible for admission? Are there specific course requirements for admission? There are no rigid prerequisites for admission. To support changes in scientific direction, Princeton offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate level courses to provide additional background preparation. I am an international student. Should I apply? Yes. Interested applicants from outside the United States are encouraged to apply. Am I a good candidate for admission? The admission committee thoroughly evaluates all aspects of each application, including research experience, performance in previous course work, and letters of recommendation. There is no single deciding factor in determining admission and all interested students are encouraged to apply. When are the interview weekends? Interview weekends for promising candidates are generally held in January or February. How do I apply to the M.D./Ph.D. program? See the M.D./Ph.D program page.
