Admissions

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from one of the institutional accreditors (or international equivalent) found at https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/accreditation (recommended major in the sciences)
• 3.0 Overall GPA, and 3.0 Upper Division GPA (Rules on calculating GPA)
  • If your GPA is below this requirement but is at least 2.7, we recommend applying for a microbiology graduate certificate program. If you are accepted and maintain a 3.5 GPA, you may become eligible for the master’s degree program.
• A resume/CV
• Required undergraduate courses for applicants:
  • General Biology (2 semesters)
  • General Chemistry (2 semesters)
  • Organic Chemistry (1 semester)
• Recommended undergraduate courses for applicants:
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Students who have not completed a microbiology course or biochemistry course at the undergraduate level are eligible to join the introductory track program, which is 37 credits, and allows students to take GMS5905 Fundamentals of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and MCB6937 Biology of Microorganisms in the first semester.
• Students without an undergraduate degree in the sciences are welcome to apply as long as the required undergraduate coursework has been completed. Relevant professional experience may substitute for academic coursework on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.

The GRE is not required for admission into our master's degree program.

Admission Requirements

Graduate Certificate in Medical Microbiology:

• A bachelor’s degree from one of the institutional accreditors (or international equivalent) found at https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/accreditation (recommended major in the sciences)
• A minimum 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 upper-division GPA (Rules on calculating GPA)
• Required undergraduate courses for applicants:
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • General Chemistry

Graduate Certificate in Environmental Microbiology and Microbiome and Health Online Graduate Certificate:

• A bachelor’s degree from one of the institutional accreditors (or international equivalent) found at https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/accreditation (recommended major in the sciences)
• 2.7 overall GPA and 2.7 upper-division GPA (Rules on calculating GPA)
• Required undergraduate courses for applicants:
  • Biochemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Biology
  • General Chemistry
• Students without a required science background are welcome to apply and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for admission. Relevant professional experience may substitute for academic coursework.

The GRE is not required for admission into our graduate certificate programs.

Note: Due to the impacts of the COVID-19, we are temporarily unable to accept original hard copies of documents. For admission review purposes, international applicants should upload their unofficial transcripts and/or credential evaluations, along with their degree certificates to their application. This can be done while completing the application or, if already submitted, applicants can log into their application status (https://admissions.ufl.edu/appstatus.html) and upload documents. If admitted, official copies of the documents will be required prior to registering for the 2nd term of attendance. Please wait to send these until regular operations have resumed.

International Admissions

International students are welcome to apply to our online graduate programs.

Transcript/Mark Sheet and Diploma/Degree Certificate: International Applicants


If either your bachelor’s or graduate degree(s) were earned outside of the United States, please see the transcript and diploma requirement below:

Graduate applicants must submit an official, original document in the native language of each transcript/mark sheet and diploma/degree certificate from each university or college attended. If the native language for the documents is not English, certified, literal (exact) English translations are required. The English translation may come from your university or may be completed by a certified translator. 
Your transcript/mark sheet and diploma/degree certificate with English translations, if required, should be assembled by you and sent to the address below in one package. If you would like your transcript/mark sheet and diploma/degree certificate returned to you, you must provide a return shipping label and return packaging in the package that you send.

Packages must be sent to:

*We must have your original diploma verifying that the degrees reported were earned. We keep the diploma locked and safe until after your application materials are processed and an application decision can be made. Once a decision is made, we will send your diploma back to you via the label and packaging that you provide. While the University of Florida handles all documents with care, we are not responsible for documents that are lost or damaged in the mail.


The English Language Skill Requirements for Admission: International Applicants Only.

If your native language is not English, or if you graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a non-English speaking country, you will need to take and submit your TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or other Graduate Council approved English language skills test scores. Non-English speaking countries are those which are not included in the graduate school’s list of English speaking countries.

Having the TOEFL or English Language Test sent to the University of Florida

All applicants must have ETS (Educational Testing Service) send their official TOEFL test scores directly to the UF Office of Admissions at code 5812.

Only official, sealed scores, direct from ETS (Education Testing Service), are acceptable. Self-reported scores, unsealed copies of score reports or photocopies of score reports cannot be accepted as official final documents.

Minimum TOEFL Scores Required


To be considered for our graduate programs, the applicant must score the following on the TOEFL:

Non-Degree Admissions

For All (Domestic and International) Applicants

• A bachelor’s degree from one of the institutional accreditors (or international equivalent) found at https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/accreditation (recommended major in the sciences). If your bachelor's degree is not in a science subject, please email mcsadvising@ifas.ufl.edu.
• An upper-division GPA of 2.0 (C grade) or better. To calculate what your upper-division GPA is, please use the following form: Upper Division GPA Worksheet.

Additional Non-degree Minimum Requirements: For International Students Only

• The English language skill requirements for admission

If your native language is not English, or if you graduated with a bachelor's degree from a non-English speaking country, you will need to take and submit your TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or other Graduate Council approved English language skills test scores.

Non-English speaking countries are those which are not included in the graduate school's list of English speaking countries.

To take courses as a non-degree seeking student, the applicant must score the following on the TOEFL:

Restrictions

• A maximum of 7 credits can be taken as a non-degree seeking student who wishes to apply for the microbiology master's degree program.
• A maximum of 6 credits can be taken as a non-degree seeking student who wishes to apply for the environmental microbiology or microbiome and health graduate certificate programs.
• A maximum of 5 credits can be taken as a non-degree seeking student who wishes to apply for the medical microbiology graduate certificate program.
• A student who is already admitted to the University of Florida needs to contact us before an application is submitted.