Prospective Graduate Students

All required materials are uploaded through the online application system.

The following documents are required to apply to the University of Colorado Boulder Biochemistry Ph.D program:

• A C.V. or resume
• A personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation. Letters are confidential and letter writers will need to upload their letter to the online application system separately
• Unofficial transcripts from every domestic post-secondary institution attended
  • This includes community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.  While credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of a second institution, unofficial transcripts must be submitted from each institution, regardless of the length of attendance, and whether or not courses were completed.  Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended may delay the application review process
• English proficiency test results if your native language is not english
  • See English Proficiency Requirementson the Graduate School website for the most up-to-date and accurate guidelines
• Detailed Graduate School admissions requirements can be found at https://www.colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/
• For international applicants, please review additional requirements at https://www.colorado.edu/graduateschool/admissions/where-begin/international-students

Additional notes:

• The minimum undergraduate G.P.A. for graduate studies in Biochemistry is 3.0
• GRE scores are not required
• The deadline for application is November 15th

An application fee is required by the Graduate School. However, the Graduate School and Biochemistry offer a variety of fee waivers.

Unfortunately, international students are not eligible for fee waivers. Eligible prospective students must qualify for a fee waiver through one of the options listed below.

Program participants:

If you are affiliated with one of the programs listed below, please send proof of your affiliation to gradadm@colorado.edu after you have started an application but before you submit your application. The Graduate School will process a fee waiver for you.

• AmeriCorps (currently serving)
• Black in AI (BAI)
• Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative
• Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)
• Gates Millennium Scholars
• Leadership Alliance
• Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)
• Louis-Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
• Math Alliance Scholars
• McNair Scholars Program
• Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
• Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Scholars Program
• Peace Corps (currently serving)
• Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
• SMART
• Society of Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
• Teach for America
• The Women+ of Color Project (W+OCP)

U.S. military:

If you are in the U.S. military you will receive a fee waiver automatically as a thank you for your service (active duty, veteran, previously served, and active reserve are all eligible for this automatic fee waiver).

Expected Family Contribution:

The Department of Biochemistry offers application fee waivers for U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or DACA recipients with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than or equal to $5,500. To be considered for this waiver, please send proof of the FAFSA EFC score to bchmgrad@colorado.edu before you submit your application. 

For questions about the fee waiver or process, please email the Graduate Program Manager at bchmgrad@colorado.edu.

The phases of the application process are described in the timeline above. Successful applicants will be contacted by email and provided with detailed information about each phase of the admissions process. We strongly advise applicants to make sure their application is complete and associated materials received by the deadline for efficient processing and timely communication. Please note, we cannot offer provide conditional admission – all applicants must complete and submit an application for review.

For tips on preparing a competitive application, see What do you look for in a statement of purpose and how long should it be?

The Department of Biochemistry is committed to promoting a culture of support for all students, staff, and faculty. We seek to foster a vibrant community of people with varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, serving as the foundation for teaching and learning. Our vision is supported by CU Boulder’s broad initiatives aimed at fostering a caring university of students, staff, and educators.

The graduate programs at the University of Colorado Boulder are further dedicated to recruiting and supporting talented students, employing holistic application review processes, and supporting students when they arrive on campus. Important programs to help make progress on these goals are:

• Graduate Application Fee Waivers: In order to make the application process as accessible to as many prospective students as possible, please review the types of application fee waivers available from the Graduate School and the Biochemistry Department, listed under Application Fee and Waivers on this page.
• Colorado Advantage Program Opportunity for Underrepresented Students: The Colorado Advantage Graduate Preview Weekend provides an opportunity for underrepresented students to visit campus and preview doctoral programs in science, math, and engineering departments at CU Boulder.   More information about Colorado Advantage

  More on Opportunity, Community, and Success

In general, all Biochemistry Ph.D. students recieve a stipend and have their tuition paid for the duration of their studies. In the first year, students receive support as teaching assistants (TA's). In the remaining years, students typically recieve support from their research group as research assistants (funding dependent on research group). Tuition is typically paid by the Department, research group, or through teaching assistantships.