Direct Application for Admission

Students may apply directly to the Department for the Ph.D. degree program of study. Students carry out research in a specific area of Virology, Bacteriology, or Immunology and are prepared for careers in academic, governmental or industrial settings. Degree requirements include successful completion of course work and submission and defense of a thesis/dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a department faculty member.   

Application materials must include:    

• Personal statement, including a description of prior research experience
• Transcripts from B.S., B.A. or Master's degree in microbiology, biological or life sciences & international transcript evaluation for non-U.S. transcripts
• TOEFL or IELTS score report (applicants for whom English is her/his second language)
• Three references

To apply for admission:

1. Submit your completed application (https://gograd.ku.edu/apply) together with the $60 non-refundable application fee. You will be asked to provide contact e-mail addresses for three references. After you submit your application, your references will then receive an automated e-mail with instructions for submitting their letter of recommendation through our online system.
2. Please notify us when you have submitted these graduate application materials by sending an email to micrograd@kumc.edu with the following information:
   
   Attention: Graduate Study in Microbiology
   Your First Name:
   Your Last Name:
   Your Email Address:
   Research Area of Interest:
   The Last Institution From Which You Received a Degree:
   How You Learned About the Microbiology Graduate Program:
   
   
3. Request that one copy of your official transcripts from each college/university previously attended be sent to the following address:
   
   Microbiology Graduate Program Admissions
   MS: 3029
   3901 Rainbow Blvd.
   Kansas City, KS 66160
   
   Or if your institution offers electronic delivery of official transcripts, they can be sent to micrograd@kumc.edu.

4. Request that an official copy of your TOEFL or IELTS (for international applicants) score reports be sent to the above address. For direct reporting of TOEFL/IELTS scores, our institution code is 6895. Go to Academic English Requirements for a list of the minimum English proficiency requirements for admission to a graduate program at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

5. International Transcripts Need Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) Reports
   Applicants with transcripts from an international institution are required to order a Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) report from a recognized FCE company. You should request the official evaluation be sent directly to KU Medical Center, and the report must include the following:

   • A course-by-course evaluation
   • The US grade equivalency for each course and the cumulative US GPA equivalency
   • The US degree equivalency earned (bachelor's, master's, doctorate, etc.)

   While other companies provide foreign credential evaluations, to ensure that they meet the KU Medical Center requirements, we recommend using SpanTran, Educational Credential Evaluators, or World Education Services.

   PLEASE NOTE: If you have already secured an FCE report from a company other than the aforementioned, please submit this to KU Medical Center for review before requesting a new report. We can review your FCE report and let you know if it meets our requirements or if you will need to request another one from one of our recommended companies.

   Kindly direct any questions relative to the FCE reports to kconnelly@kumc.edu.