Marine Science MS

On Campus
TermDeadlinePriority DeadlineApply Now
Spring 2027No application deadline.Jun 01
About the priority deadline
The Biological Sciences Graduate Program utilizes a rolling admissions process by which applications are evaluated as they are received. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following deadlines:

Spring applicants (mid-January start date): June 1

Note that University of Alabama Graduate School fellowships are only available to students applying for fall admission.
Fall 2027No application deadline.Dec 10
About the priority deadline
The Biological Sciences Graduate Program utilizes a rolling admissions process by which applications are evaluated as they are received. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following deadlines:

Fall applicants (mid-August start date): December 10

Note that University of Alabama Graduate School fellowships are only available to students applying for fall admission.
Application Requirements
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 letters of recommendation, provided by faculty members who have direct knowledge of and can comment on the applicant’s academic and research potential. Letters from friends, employers for non-laboratory jobs, clergy, etc. are usually not helpful.
Statement of Purpose (Required)
Statement of Purpose is a 1-2 page document, which is an important part of the application, and should be carefully written to describe:
Your background in biological sciences, and how these experiences, interests, activities and/or achievements have helped shape your interest in graduate work
One short-term and one long-term goal.
Why biological sciences is the discipline you think can help you achieve those.
Why our department and its faculty are suited to train you toward those goals (indicating that you are familiar with our department and graduate program).
Faculty member(s) you think could serve as a good mentor for you and why (you should have already contacted that/those faculty members to express interest in their research program and, ideally, have been encouraged by them to apply).
What contribution you think you will make to our department, university, and/or Biological Sciences.
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.
FAQs
What are the requirements for the Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP)?
The Accelerated Master’s Program allows current UA undergraduate students to start a graduate degree while obtaining an undergraduate degree, saving time and cutting costs.

UA juniors and seniors interested in the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) should contact their department (typically their undergraduate or graduate program director) to inquire about AMP. Applications to AMP are submitted through the Graduate School online application. Additional information regarding AMP is located in the Graduate Catalog.
STEM Program Eligible for OPT (International only)
Contact
Program Director
Jonathan Benstead
jbenstead@ua.edu
+1 205-348-9034
Application Contact
Debbie Eads
deads@ua.edu
+1 205-348-0984
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