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College of Life Sciences
Neuroscience

Graduate Applications

Applicants apply at https://gradapply.byu.edu/apply/. It is highly recommended that applicants talk with their desired faculty advisors

Graduate Admission Criteria
(visible to applicants, posted on website)

  • Applicants should have a strong background in neuroscience. This should include 1) at least one advanced course completed in Behavioral Neuroscience AND 2) at least one advanced course completed in Molecular/Cellular Neuroscience. Students who do not fulfill either or both of these requirements may be conditionally accepted into the program, on condition that they take the course(s) they are missing (NEURO 460 and/or 480, respectively) during their first semester and pass each course with a grade of B+ or higher. This exception is only open to students who obtain the prerequisite training required for NEURO 460 and NEURO 480, namely Neurobiology and Neuroanatomy (NEURO 205 and 360 or equivalent), before their first semester.
  • Applicants should also have a solid foundation in the basic sciences, with university-level credit in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Biology/Physiology.
  • Applicants’ undergraduate GPA should be 3.0 or greater. Applicants with a lower GPA must submit a petition.
  • GRE, MCAT or DAT are not required, but may be submitted if desired.
  • English as a second language applicants must successfully complete the TOEFL or IELTS examination with a minimum score. Scores must be less than 2 years old.
  • IELTS: Overall minimum band score of 7.0 (consisting of minimum band scores of 6.0 in each module).
  • TOEFL iBT (internet based test): Minimum subscores of 22 (Speaking) and 21 (Listening, Reading, & Writing respectively) comprising an overall score at least 85.

Stipulations for implementing the exception 
(just for faculty—not visible to applicants)

  • In evaluating graduate applicants who may qualify for the exception, the faculty may only apply the exception to students with real potential to succeed (with a B+ or higher) in NEURO 460 and/or 480 during their first semester, i.e. only to students who have taken (or will have taken) Neurobiology and Neuroanatomy (NEURO 205 and 360 or equivalent) before enrolling as a graduate student.
  • While conditionally accepted, students do not have any guaranteed funding or TA’ing opportunities.
  • The acceptance letter must be explicit on each of these points.
  • Students must pass NEURO 460/480 before enrolling in NEURO 601/602, so students who were conditionally accepted must take NEURO 601/602 their second year, not their first year.
  • The graduate committee and/or graduate program supervisor needs to track and enforce these conditions and stipulations.