General Application Questions

For Fall 2025, the application will open September 4th, 2024. For future years, the application will likely open the first Wednesday in September.

For Fall 2025, the application will close on November 20th, 2024 at 11:59PM (PT). For future years, the application will likely close in late November or early December.

To apply, applicants use the UCSD Application for Graduate Admission, via a web-based application called Slate.

On the Program Selector page of the application, choose Doctor of Philosophy for Degree Type, Biological Sciences (PhD) (under Biological Sciences) for Program Interest, and 2025 Fall for Entry Term.

Yes, you may work on your application a bit at a time and then submit it once it is complete.

Yes, the application site is secure, and your application information and credit card info will remain confidential.

Yes, you can submit an application if some materials and/or scores are not uploaded/submitted, though all required materials and scores must be uploaded/submitted by the deadline.

The following areas of the application can be added to and/or updated in the applicant portal after submission: contact information, transcripts, CV/Resumes, and writing samples or additional miscellaneous documents.

You can check the status of your application by returning to the application website and logging in to your account. If your application status says "Submitted" then your application has been received.

You can check your application status by logging in to the application website.

For BioSci PhD Program (General) [Non-EBE] applicants, you do not need to contact faculty before applying. Contacting faculty will not affect your application evaluation but you are still welcome to do so. Email is the best method of contact in most cases.

For BioSci PhD Program (Ecology, Behavior, Environmental Science and Evolution (EBE)) applicants, you must contact EBE faculty of interest before applying. The act of contacting itself will not affect your application evaluation. Email is the best method of contact in most cases.

shore stands for Student Housing Opportunity Recruitment Enhancement.

In the Winter and Spring quarters prior to the next Fall quarter, admitted new incoming graduate and professional students are nominated by departments to this priority Housing program. Based on availability, SHORE offers are made to nominated students by the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA). SHORE is a very limited program and all spots are filled by the early Spring quarter for the following Fall quarter. No additional spots are available after Spring quarter. Students may not self-nominate or apply for SHORE. SHORE students are housed without having to wait on the waitlist.

If you are interested in being considered for shore, choose Yes for both questions on the Student Housing section of the application. Answering Yes to question #2 will allow you to explain why you're interested.