{"id":2280,"date":"2014-08-12T11:15:26","date_gmt":"2014-08-12T16:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/biology\/?page_id=2280"},"modified":"2026-01-14T16:10:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T22:10:43","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/biology\/students\/graduate\/graduate-programs-admissions-information\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion uwm-p-accordion--icon-left-circle\" data-accordion-prefix-classes=\"uwm\" data-accordion-cool-selectors=\"1\"><button class=\"uwm-p-accordion--toggle-button size-p-md\">Expand All<\/button>\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>What academic background do I need to apply?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>Most entering graduate students have completed an undergraduate major in biological sciences that includes college level courses in chemistry, physics and mathematics. The Department also welcomes applications from students with less traditional backgrounds. For the Thesis Track degrees, we encourage prior research experience.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>When is the application deadline?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>For the Thesis Track MS and PhD programs, students are admitted for fall semester only and the deadline is December 1 for Domestic and International applicants. For the Non-thesis Track MS program, the listed application deadlines for fall and spring admission are May 1 and October 1, respectively, but we have rolling admissions and will accept applications after these dates.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>What is the minimum GPA?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>The minimum GPA requirement by the 51ÁÔÆæ Graduate School is 2.75 for the two most recent years of study. <strong><em>However, the Department of Biological Sciences prefers your GPA to be 3.0 or higher<\/em><\/strong>. High grades in science coursework will help your application.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>What can I do to improve my chances for admission?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>For the Thesis Track MS and PhD students, gaining field or lab research experience and including an evaluation of it in your letters of recommendation will enhance your application. For all applicants, if your GPA is low, we recommend taking a couple of graduate level courses after your Bachelor\u2019s degree to demonstrate your ability to succeed at the graduate level.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>What admissions test is required?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>For the Thesis Track MS and PhD programs, we do not require test scores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the Non-thesis Track MS program we do not require test scores, but accept the: General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) or Praxis Test.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>What are the GRE and TOEFL codes for this program?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>The institution code for both tests is 1473. For all other scores, copies of the official test results should be uploaded to your application under the Documents module and listed as &#8216;Other Scores.&#8217;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>Are there any forms that should accompany the recommendation letters?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>There are no forms. You will submit your Letter of Recommendation requests through the application system (<a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/biology\/students\/graduate\/graduate-programs-admissions-information\/how-to-apply\/\">see application instructions<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>What are the requirements for English proficiency for International Students?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>Submit your TOEFL\/iBT, IELTS, CAE, or Duolingo scores unless you have completed a baccalaureate or higher degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction. The degree must have been earned within 2 years of your expected enrollment and you must have attended that institution for a minimum of 2 years. 51ÁÔÆæ requires a minimum TOEFL score of 79 overall with a minimum score of 24 on the Speaking portion; a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 7.0 on the Speaking portion; a minimum CAE score of C1 overall with a\u00a0 minimum of 185 on the Speaking portion; or a minimum Duolingo score of 120 overall with a minimum of 125 on the Conversation and Production sections. All test scores can be no more than 2 years old. The <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/cie\/international-admissions\/\">51ÁÔÆæ Center for International Education<\/a> has more information about international language testing and any possible fees for foreign degree evaluation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>Do you offer an MS degree?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>Yes. We offer both a Thesis Track research-based MS and a Non-thesis Track coursework-intensive MS degree.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>Do I need to have an MS degree before applying to the doctoral program?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>No. Many of our students go directly from a Bachelor&#8217;s degree to the PhD.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>What financial aid is available?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>For Thesis Track MS and PhD degrees, US and International graduate students will receive funding through Teaching (TA), Project (PA) or Research (RA) Assistantships as well as competitive campus-wide fellowships. Teaching Assistantships are provided for 3 years for MS students and 5 years for PhD students. Besides the salary, the Teaching Assistantship also provides eligibility for university-supported health insurance and includes tuition remission, except for student-segregated fees, and a bus pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Non-thesis Track students, there are several departmental awards and scholarships that can be applied for annually.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>Is Biological Sciences a part of the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP)?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>Yes, our MS Non-Thesis, MS Thesis and PhD programs are part of the Midwest Student Exchange Program. If you are a legal resident of Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota or Ohio, you will receive a reduced tuition rate (no more than 150% of the in-state resident tuition rate). Note: Illinois has moved to inactive status in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), but Illinois residents entering UW-Milwaukee during the 2022-23 academic year will be charged tuition equivalent to the MSEP rate. This group of students will remain eligible for the duration of their time at UW-Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>Can I get health insurance?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>All TA, RA and PA are eligible for university-supported health insurance benefits.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>How can I check to see if my application is complete?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>You can <a href=\"https:\/\/admissions.uwm.edu\/register\/?id=442d088c-4d8a-4572-be4e-00a5267ed73b\">log into your application on the Admissions website<\/a>. You can also email the Biological Sciences Program Coordinator at <a href=\"mailto:bioscigrad-list@uwm.edu\">bioscigrad-list@uwm.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>How many applications do you receive each year?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>We receive approximately 100 completed applications per year (in recent years, this number has been steadily increasing); approximately 15-20 applicants receive offers of admission, depending on the availability of funding and faculty lab positions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>If I apply to the Department of Biological Sciences, am I allowed to apply to other 51ÁÔÆæ graduate programs?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>Yes. You may apply to as many graduate programs as you wish. The University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee does charge a separate application fee for each program.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><strong>Am I\u00a0eligible for an application fee waiver?<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>To be eligible for an application fee waiver, you would need to attend the 51ÁÔÆæ Graduate School&#8217;s In-Person Open House event and follow all steps outlined in the application fee waiver document. <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/graduateschool\/openhouse\/\">Open House dates and registration details can be found at the Graduate School website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":223,"featured_media":0,"parent":9074,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"class_list":["post-2280","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - 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