University of Michigan
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Application information

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Thank you for your interest in applying to one of our graduate programs:

Applications for all three programs require the same application materials.

Application overview

Training in chemistry, mathematics and physics, as well as basic biology, is recommended for all three degree programs. However students with undergraduate majors in non-biological subjects, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, psychology and statistics are also invited to apply.

In general, our Admissions Committee is most interested in past academic performance, research experience, letters of recommendation, the academic statement of purpose, and GRE scores. The academic statement of purpose should provide insight into the applicant's specific research interests and experience, as well as demonstrate a depth of understanding and passion for the larger questions relating to ecology and evolutionary biology.

We highly recommend that applicants contact faculty whose research is of interest, prior to applying. Also, please note that in addition to the quality of your application, our admissions committee takes into account the abilities of our faculty to mentor additional students in their labs.

Deadline information

Deadline for the Ph.D. program is December 1.

Deadline for the Frontiers M.S. program is February 1.

Deadline for the Traditional M.S. program is February 1 for the fall term and October 15 for the winter term.

All application materials should arrive by these dates to be considered for the following fall term. Students are admitted to the doctoral program only in the fall term, which begins in September. Applications that arrive after the deadline, or remain incomplete beyond the deadline, will be at a competitive disadvantage during the admissions process.

How to apply

Applications to the Department of Ecology of Evolutionary Biology are received and compiled by the Rackham Graduate School. As a result, application materials must be submitted through the Rackham Graduate Schools online application system, or, in the case of official transcripts, sent directly to the Rackham Graduate School at the address below. NO application materials should be sent directly to the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. However, if your recommenders are unable to access the on line system to submit recommendation letters, hard copies of recommendation letters may be sent to the department at this address:

Graduate Coordinator
U-M EEB Department
2019 Natural Science Building
830 N. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048

 

NOTE: Please use institution code 1839 when ording test scores!

A complete application includes the following materials:

  • A completed online application form
  • an academic statement of purpose
  • a personal statement
  • three letters of recommendation
  • Official GRE scores (use institution code: 1839)
  • Official TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS scores (use institution code: 1839) (only for international applicants or non-native speakers of English)
  • In addition, the EEB Department recommends that you upload an unofficial copy of your transcripts through the online system to enable faster review of your application by the EEB Admission Committee
  • Rackham Graduate School Application Fee (please note that Frontiers M.S. program applicants are eligible for a fee waiver, contact eeb.gradcoord@umich.edu to obtain a code to be used when applying)

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    Finally, the Rackham Graduate School requires the submission of one set of official transcripts from your degree-granting undergraduate institution only. Instructions for submitting official transcripts to Rackham and the option of submitting electronic copies of official transcripts can be found here.

Hard copies of official transcripts should be mailed to:

University of Michigan
Rackham Graduate School
Attn: Transcripts/U-M ID# (if known) or date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy)
915 E. Washington St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070

For applicants who are non-U.S. citizens:

  • Please do not submit financial information at the time of application. Evidence of financial support will be requested by the Rackham Graduate School upon admission of the applicant to a Rackham graduate program.
  • Please visit the Rackham's Web site for detailed information about submitting transcripts and diplomas from non-U.S. institutions.

For more information about Rackham, the admissions process, and application information, contact the EEB Graduate Coordinator at the address listed below, or visit Rackham's web site.

Holistic review of applications
In the holistic review process, the EEB Admissions Committee gives careful consideration to all the credentials presented by the student as they assess application materials for indication that the applicant possesses qualities known to contribute to successful completion of the degree program. Such a review seeks to determine if the applicant has not only the academic qualifications for admission, but also the skills and experiences that facilitate degree completion and a successful research career. Read more on the Rackham Graduate School's site.

Holistic review ensures that no single factor leads to either accepting the student or excluding the student from admission. One of its key values is the opportunity to recognize that an applicant's strength in one area might offset a weakness in another.

Frequently asked questions

What pre-requisites are required for application to the EEB Ph.D. program?

No set pre-requisite coursework is required for acceptance to the EEB Ph.D. program. Student applications are reviewed on a holistic basis, with overall academic record, research experience and recommendations taken into consideration. However, it is recommended that students applying for admission to the Ph.D. program take the following courses during their undergraduate study:

2 terms of general or inorganic chemistry, & 1 lab 2 terms of organic chemistry & 1 lab, 2 terms of physics or 1 term of physics & 1 lab, 2 terms of analytic geometry or calculus

Should I contact an EEB faculty member with whom I'm interested in working prior to/during the admissions process?

Absolutely! A suitable match with an advisor is an important part of the application review process. We encourage potential applicants to contact faculty with whom they share research interests as early as possible. A list of EEB faculty currently accepting students can be found on the website, along with faculty contact information.

Is there a foreign language requirement?

There is no foreign language requirement associated with the EEB Ph.D. program.

Are international students required to take English Language training? Incoming international students must successfully complete the English Language Institute (ELI) Graduate Student Instructor workshop, a month-long course offered in July and August. At the end of the workshop, they must take and pass the Oral English Test in order to be allowed to accept a GSI teaching position. If students do not pass, they must take additional courses recommended by ELI and re-take the exam at the end of fall term. If an international student is not able to teach during their first term because of failure to pass the OET, they can be funded by the one-term of pre-candidate EEB fellowship or as a GSRA (Graduate Student Research Assistantship) by the advisor.

Correspondence and information
If you have questions about your application, or about EEB at U-M in general, please contact:

Graduate Coordinator
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2019 Natural Science Building
830 N. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048 Phone: (734) 615-7338
eeb.gradcoord@umich.edu

See more admissions FAQs!