Application deadline is December 1st for Fall matriculation.

Applications are accepted for the Fall semester only. All application materials must be received by the Office of Admissions and Records no later than December 1st for full consideration for the following academic year.

There is a non-refundable application fee of $70. Separate applications need to be submitted when applying to additional Programs. If have international coursework, there will also be an international credential evaluation fee of $50. Fees are subject to change.

Please contact the Graduate College or the Office of International Affairs regarding tuition waivers. However, note that application fees are rarely waived. 

Please visit the Graduate College website for most recent information:

• Domestic Admission
• International Admission

Students accepted into the Program receive a stipend (currently $34,000 annually) as well as a full tuition and fee waiver. First-year students receive a fellowship; thereafter, students generally work as a research assistant. We accept only as many students as we can support, which has been about two to four students per year. There is considerable competition for these positions, and preference has been given to students who have grade point averages greater than 3.5/4.0.

Applicants should send an official, electronic score to our institution [code = 1851].

Because our Program is highly competitive, we recommend that, when you apply, you also consider submitting a second application to a Departmental Program at the same time. Remember that all faculty who participate in the Neuroscience Program are members of Departmental Programs. Thus, a dual application will increase your chances of working with a preferred faculty mentor as you pursue your Ph.D. degree. If you are accepted by a Departmental Program, your degree will be in that Program and you will not be allowed to transfer back into Neuroscience. However, once you matriculate at UIC, you may apply for the Concentration in Neuroscience, and you will still be interacting with faculty and students who also participate in the Neuroscience Program.

• Review your credentials.
• Arrange for three recommenders to submit letters.
• Begin online application through the Graduate College.
• Upload your unofficial College transcripts (official transcripts will be required by admitted students only).
• Make sure you have completed all the requirements in the online application.
• Submit the application.

Note: GRE is no longer required by GPN

While applications from individuals representing diverse backgrounds are encouraged, students should realize that the Neuroscience curriculum emphasizes interactions between researchers of varied interest and that a solid foundation in cell biology and biochemistry is essential. To this end, we strongly recommend that students who apply to the Program have a solid foundation in general biology and biochemistry or general chemistry and organic chemistry. Students who do not have this background will be expected to take Biochemistry in addition to the other required courses during their first year of graduate study.

The Graduate College recognizes that the graduate admissions process does not, and should not, operate “blindly.”  Programs and faculty frequently recruit students of whom they have direct knowledge.  Furthermore, the admission process for a doctoral program will frequently take into account the “fit” between a prospective graduate student’s interests and those of the faculty in the program.  However, the admissions process should, and should be seen to, take into account only academic and programmatic consideration when admitting and recruiting students.