Prerequisites

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Neuroscience program, our students have diverse backgrounds in physical and/or biological sciences. The program has as prerequisites undergraduate courses in biology, physics, inorganic and organic chemistry, and calculus. Please use these prerequisites as a guideline (not all admitted students have completed all the prerequisites). 

The Neuroscience Graduate Program trains students studying for a Ph.D. degree. The program does not offer a master's degree.

Deadlines

The application deadline is November 15 11:59 PM (PT). The application opens on September 1.

All application materials including the online application, all academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation must be received by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Application Package

  • Click here to apply. This link is active from September 1-November 15.
  • GRE: UCSF Neuroscience does not accept GRE General test scores for admission into the program. 
  • TOEFL: International applicants are required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). We will accept an IELTS score in lieu of the TOEFL.
    Note: International students who have had training in English may have this requirement waived.
  • Transcripts: The applicant must download transcripts directly to the online application. (Only students who are admitted will be required to submit official transcripts sent directly to UCSF from the institution).
  • Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required. Additional letters will be accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to invite recommenders to submit letters and follow up with the recommenders to ensure that letters will arrive by the deadline.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION: APPLICANT SUPPORT RESOURCES
The UCSF Neuroscience Graduate Program is committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in our admissions process. We recognize that privilege and personal circumstances affect access to information and support when applying to graduate school. We aim to help reduce the impact of these inequities on the admissions process by highlighting the existence of organizations, not affiliated with UCSF, that support applicants who otherwise do not have adequate access to mentors or support networks, such as Project SHORT. Organizations such as Project SHORT often have limited capacity and enrollment deadlines. Thus, applicants should plan ahead to give themselves the best chance at receiving the support they need. Please note that the use of such third-party mentoring services does not guarantee any particular admissions outcome.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER
U.S. citizens and permanent residents may request a fee waiver in the “Application Fee” section of the application. Details on eligibility can be found here. Applicants should initiate this process as soon as possible to ensure a fee waiver can be processed prior to the application deadline. Note: International applicants are not eligible to apply for fee waivers.

FAQ
Answers to many common questions about the UCSF Neuroscience Graduate Program and the application can be found on our FAQ page.

Contact:
Pat Veitch, Program Administrator
University of California, San Francisco
[email protected]