Microbiology Graduate Programs

Successful applicants with degrees from institutions in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Western Europe will have completed a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences/biochemistry, including coursework in biochemistry and some experience in bacteriology, virology, and/or immunology. Additionally, experience in biological research, either as an undergraduate, as a graduate student seeking a master’s degree, or in an employment situation is beneficial to your application, though it is not required.

Successful applicants with degrees from institutions located elsewhere in the world will most likely have completed a master’s degree in the biological sciences/biochemistry, including coursework in biochemistry and some experience in bacteriology, virology, and/or immunology. Coursework and experience that are principally clinical in nature are not likely to constitute adequate preparation for the Graduate Program in Microbiology at Miami University.

Important Note

Academic requirements for entry into the Graduate Program in Microbiology may be more stringent than Miami University’s minimum requirements for admission.

In addition to your degree, please provide:

• Formal application to Miami University Graduate School through the admissions portal.
  • Please see Admission.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
• Official GRE scores are optional but are strongly encouraged for applicants who do not have a degree from a U.S. institution.
• Official TOEFL/IELTS scores, if applicable.
  • A TOEFL score below 100 or an IELTS score below 7.5 will reduce the chances of admission.
  • Please see English Language Proficiency for a list of countries for which English proficiency exam scores are not required of applicants.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation through the admissions portal.
  • At least two (2) should be from science-oriented individuals.
• A brief description of the applicant's research interests and career objectives.

Applicants to the graduate program in microbiology are required to:

1. Apply online, and have official GRE scores (quantitative, verbal, and analytical writing) submitted to the Graduate School.
   1. International students whose degrees are earned outside the United States must also submit a recent TOEFL score to the Graduate School.
   2. The university code for submission of GRE and TOEFL scores is 1463.
2. In addition, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed should be submitted to the Graduate School at the following address:
   The Graduate School
   102 Roudebush Hall
   Miami University
   Oxford, OH 45056
3. We also require three letters of recommendation from faculty who know the student well enough to comment on the academic and, if appropriate, the research credentials and potential of the student. You have the option of either having the letters of recommendation submitted online, or mailed directly to:
   Dr. Rachael Morgan-Kiss
   Graduate Admissions Committee Chair
   Department of Microbiology
   32 Pearson Hall
   Miami University
   Oxford, OH 45056
4. Applicants must also submit a brief description of their research interests and career objectives directly to the address provided above.

Admission is competitive and based on the evaluation of each candidate's credentials by the Graduate Admissions Committee and the Faculty of the Department of Microbiology. Screening of applications will begin on January 15 and continue until all available positions are filled. To receive full consideration for the available positions in the Microbiology graduate program, all application materials should be received by that date. However, applications will be accepted after that date and will be considered if there are any assistantships available.

A personal interview is encouraged for M.S. and Ph.D. applicants. Additional information about the Microbiology graduate degree programs is available upon request.

If you are accepted into the program, the Graduate School is notified and they give the final approval for acceptance into the Microbiology graduate program.

Note: Our department does not require an applicant to be matched with a specific faculty researcher prior to admission. Instead, each of our applicants will rotate through 3 labs in which they have an interest in joining. Assignment to a mutually-agreeable faculty researcher's lab will occur following the rotation and before the end of the first semester.

Conditional Admission

International applicants with a TOEFL score between 65 and 79 or an IELTS score of 5.5 or 6.0 may apply for conditional admission. To be considered for conditional admission to the Microbiology Graduate Program, you must meet three criteria:

1. You have identified a faculty sponsor in the Department of Microbiology who agrees that he or she will take you into their lab for your research upon full admission. You must contact a faculty member by email and get them to agree, and you must indicate this in your personal statement on your application.
2. You must enroll in and pass the ACE-G program at Miami University successfully. Please see the American Culture and English Language Program for details about the ACE-G program. There is no waiver of tuition for the ACE-G program.
3. You have agreed to any other requirements stipulated by the Admissions Committee in your specific case. For example, you might have to pass an interview upon passing the ACE-G program, or you might have to demonstrate knowledge in some area of microbiology.

If you pass the ACE-G program and meet other agreed requirements, you may enter the Microbiology Graduate Program.

There are various levels of financial support available for graduate students in the microbiology department. A limited number of research assistantships are funded by the research grant support of individual faculty members. Most students receive University support in the form of teaching assistantships. All students with financial support enjoy a waiver of tuition, both in-state and out-of-state, but are required to pay the technology fee, half the general fee, and half the metro fee.

The annual stipends for 2023-2024 include a Graduate Assistantship/Teaching Associateship of $22,905. Depending on individual circumstances, it may be possible to earn up to an additional $7,635 from a combination of Graduate Summer Research Fellowships, research grants, and/or departmental funds.

The Teaching Fellowships and Graduate Assistantships require no more than 20 hours per week in assisting and teaching microbiology course laboratory sections. The Summer Fellowship carries no teaching obligation. It is intended to give graduate students financial support while they are pursuing their thesis or dissertation research projects during the summer terms. All students appointed to teaching assistantships are eligible for the Summer Fellowships.

Assistantships and associateships are offered to all students admitted into our Master's or doctoral programs. As such, both admission to the program and financial support are awarded on a competitive basis. All applicants will be considered for financial support unless they express their desire not to receive financial assistance.

Note: Miami University requires all students to carry some form of major medical insurance. For those not covered under an existing family plan, there is a student health insurance plan available to all students. Unless you provide documentation of coverage, you will be enrolled in a group plan and your bursar account will be charged. The amount varies from year to year, but is usually in the neighborhood of $800 annually.