Admissions

What We Look For

The admissions committees evaluate applications based on several criteria:

• Academic potential, taking into consideration any barriers that may have impacted the applicant’s prior achievements

• Depth of research experience and other work experience

• Motivation for graduate work, intellectual curiosity, persistence, and leadership experiences

• Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as outreach activities, multicultural experiences, and lived experiences

The committee bases admissions recommendations on the statement of purpose and personal history statement written by the candidate, research experiences, prior coursework and grades, and letters of recommendation. Applicants should have a solid foundation in general chemistry (with lab), introductory biology (with lab), physics, and mathematics (calculus and/or statistics), comparable to the lower-division requirements of UC Berkeley’s undergraduate Genetics and Plant Biology and Microbiology major. In addition, applicants will be best prepared if they have also completed either upper-division plant biology courses such as plant physiology, plant biochemistry, plant genetics, or plant cell and developmental biology or upper-division microbiology courses such as microbial physiology, microbial genetics/genomics, virology, immunology, or microbial diversity and ecology.

The minimum graduate admissions requirements are:

• A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution

• A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale

• Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

Application Requirements

All applications to the Plant Biology and Microbiology Ph.D. programs are submitted electronically through UC Berkeley’s Graduate Application portal. Students may only apply to one program per admission term. Applications open in mid-September and close in mid-November for admission to the following fall cohort.

Required Application Materials

• Online Graduate Application for Admissions and Fellowships

• Statement of Purpose (1–2 pages): The statement of purpose should convince readers—the faculty on the selection committee—that you have solid achievements behind you that show promise for your success in graduate study. Please be specific about why UC Berkeley would be a good intellectual fit for you.

• Personal Statement (1–2 pages): The personal statement should give concrete evidence of your promise as a member of the academic community, giving the committee an image of you as a person. This is also where you represent your potential to bring to your academic career a critical perspective rooted in a non-traditional educational background, or your understanding of the experiences of groups historically under-represented in higher education and your commitment to increase participation by a diverse population in higher education.

• Transcripts: Upload unofficial transcripts from each institution attended after high school. Redact sensitive information. If transcripts are not in English, upload both the original and an English translation as a single PDF.

• Resume/CV: Include education, work/research experience, honors, awards, publications, and activities.

• Three Letters of Recommendation: At least two must be from science faculty familiar with your scholarly and/or research abilities. Letters are submitted directly by recommenders through the application system. Please allow your recommenders enough time to write and submit the letters. Late letters will not be accepted as we review applications immediately after the deadline.

• English Language Proficiency: Required for applicants whose undergraduate education was not in English. TOEFL or IELTS scores must be sent to UC Berkeley (institution code 4833). Minimum TOEFL: 90 iBT, 230 CBT, or 570 PBT. Applicants with at least one year of full-time study in the U.S. (grades B or higher) may be exempt.

• Application Fee: $135 (U.S. citizens/permanent residents) or $155 (international applicants). Fee waivers are available for U.S. citizens/permanent residents who demonstrate financial need. You may find details and the application for the fee waiver here.

Additional Notes

• Faculty Preferences: Indicate the faculty whose research aligns with your interests. If your preferred faculty is not listed, enter their name under “Other Faculty Member.” Review our faculty page for guidance.

• GRE Scores: Not required and will not be considered.

• Optional Uploads: You may submit publications, posters, or other scholarly work. Do not submit unrelated writing samples.

• Optional Sections: Employment history, honors/awards, and website links are not required but may be included.

• Program Selection: Our department offers two Ph.D. programs tailored to different research interests. Choose Plant Biology if you’re interested in plant development, genomics, physiology, or molecular biology. Select Microbiology if your focus is microbial ecology and evolution, fungal diversity, or mycology.

Applicants must submit all required materials, including the application fee or an approved fee waiver, by the deadline in order to be considered for admissions review.

The deadline to apply for the 2026-2027 academic year is:

November 17, 2025, 11:59pm (Eastern Standard Time)

After You Apply

After submitting the application, applicants will continue to have access to the application to manage the following items:

• Remind a recommender to submit a letter of recommendation through the system

• Pay the application fee 

• View their status page

For questions on the program and application process, please email pmbgrad@berkeley.edu.

Application Timeline and Important Dates

Applications for Fall 2026 admission open on September 10, 2025, with a deadline of November 17, 2025 (11:59pm Eastern Time).