PhD Admissions

Admissions to the Behavioral Neuroscience PhD program follows the following review process:

• Admission to the program is highly competitive. We follow an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity process to ensure applicants are evaluated on their individual merit. We typically admit four to six new students each year.
• Admission is only possible for the fall semester, for full-time studies, and for completing the doctoral program. The deadline for the submission of all application material to the Graduate School is December 15. Learn more about the admissions process and apply online via the UAB Graduate School.
• Application materials include a curriculum vita, statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, GPA, and transcripts.
• For international applicants, a minimum TOEFL score of 80 is required (UAB Institute Code: 1856). Learn about additional information and requirements for international applicants.
• Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores, including verbal, quantitative, and analytic writing scores is optional.
• Research experience is essential. We prefer a solid background in psychology including courses such as statistics, research methods, physiological psychology, cognitive psychology, and learning. Coursework in chemistry and biology is also encouraged.
• A faculty committee reviews all applicants to identify a small number who will be considered more fully. Those applicants are invited for an interview in January or February.