Admissions
The Neuroscience Graduate Program is a portal into the comprehensive neuroscience research opportunities at UAB. As a first year student, you will take a prescribed line of coursework and participate in three lab rotations. You will choose your permanent mentor at the end of your rotations in April and join that lab in May. Students entering the Neuroscience Graduate Program will find a home and anchor for their entire 5+ years experience at UAB. Throughout a student's entire Ph.D. career, the faculty and staff of the Neuroscience Graduate Program provide support, encouragement, and guidelines for success. 
Participating Departments include: Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, Genetics, Medicine, Microbiology, Neurobiology, Neurology, Ophthamology, Optometry, Pathology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Physiology and Biophysics, Psychiatry, Psychology and Vision Science.
Coursework. The highlight of your first year coursework is GBS 730, known as The Dauphin Island Course, held at the Sea Lab on Dauphin Island, Alabama. Running from late July through the middle of August, this course provides students a hands-on introduction to the "neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of marine invertebrates and vertebrates" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Other courses, back on campus, will include topics such as developmental neuroscience, integrative neuroscience, and molecular and cellular neuroscience, as well as a seminar series and an ethics course. Click here for more information.
Lab Rotations. Neuroscience laboratory rotations provide entering students with valuable laboratory experience during their first year. Students must complete 3 lab rotations, each lasting approximately 10 weeks, before formally selecting a mentor. Students are only allowed to rotate in the lab of a Neuroscience faculty member. Each rotation will allow students to be exposed to various types of research being conducted in his/her potential areas of interest.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: All application materials must be received via Apply Yourself or
in the UAB Graduate School no later than January 15th to be considered for review.
DOMESTIC APPLICANTS: All application materials must be received via Apply Yourself or in the
UAB Graduate School no later than 15th to be considered for review.
GENERAL PRE-ADMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEUROSCIENCE THEME*:
● 3.0 or above undergraduate GPA
● Minimum GRE scores of 1100 (previous scoring) or 303 (new scoring)
● Strong background in biology, chemistry, and/or mathematics
● TOEFL (for international students) of greater than 600 on paper-based test
and greater than 25 on computer-based test
Our admissions committee reviews applications from December through March for admission the following fall. You may apply online any time during the year for consideration of admission the next open fall semester.
*The average GRE score of successful candidates is 1150; average undergraduate GPA is 3.5.
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
Domestic students (No application fee)
● Application and personal statement
● Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended
● Official GRE scores (Institutional code 1856, no department code)
● 3 letters of recommendation
International students ($60 application fee)
● Application and personal statement
● Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended
● Official GRE scores (Institutional code 1856, no department code)
● Official TOEFL scores
● 3 letters of recommendation
All students accepted into the program receive
● free tuition
● free single health insurance
● $26,000/year stipend
ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED