Application Fee (Required)
$65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
$80 for international students.
English Proficiency Test (Required)
This program uses the Graduate School's English Language Proficiency Score Requirements and Minimum Scores for Regular Admission.
Minimum Scores for Regular Admission
TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (no sub score less than 4) (or 79 for students who took the test prior to January 2026)
IELTS: 6.5 (no sub score less than 6)
Duolingo English Test: 120 (no sub score less than 110)
PTE: 59
More information is available at https://graduate.ua.edu/applicants/international-students/.
Letter of Recommendation (3 Required)
Three recommendation letters from previous instructors, advisors, or supervisors.
Resume (Required)
Required, includes other noteworthy accomplishments such as academic honors, awards, professional and community service.
Statement of Purpose (Required)
Statement of Purpose (SOP). The SOP is meant to inform faculty of your research, teaching, and service plans while a graduate student in the DGS. It is NOT meant to tell us about all aspects of your life but is meant to tell us about the specific qualities you possess that would make you an ideal student, committed scientist, and valuable member of the DGS and UA community. Examples from your recent past that indicate your perseverance, motivation, teamwork, and teaching aptitude would be appropriate to share. As you have previously communicated with a faculty member willing to serve as your Advisor, you should describe the research project or projects you plan to conduct with that individual. You can comment on the broader scientific impact of the project, aspects of the research that you find particularly interesting, previous experiences that make you well-suited for such a project, and how the proposed research will prepare you for a future career in academia, industry, government, or the private sector. You should be able to succinctly state why the DGS at UA is the ideal place for you to pursue your scientific interests. It should be a maximum of two pages in length, single-spaced, with Times New Roman (or similar) 12-point font and 1-inch page margins. Please title the document “Statement of Purpose.”
Transcript (Required)
Please upload an unofficial transcript for any institution of higher education at which you have completed 15 or more credit hours. Please include a grading scheme if your university does not use a letter-based (e.g. A, A-, B) grading scheme.