How to Apply
Application Deadline
IPS manages applications for students interested in the following degree-granting units: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bioinformatics; Crop and Soil Sciences; Entomology; Genetics; Horticulture; Microbiology; Plant Biology; Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics; Plant Pathology; Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources.
The application deadline is December 1, 2026 for matriculation in Fall 2027. If you are considering applying after that date, please contact Maddie Johnson for more information.
Evaluation and Timeline
Applications submitted by December 1, 2026, will receive guaranteed consideration for Fall 2027 admission. Applications are reviewed holistically by the applicant’s selected departments or institutes and the IPS Admissions Committee. Reviewers consider the complete application, including research experience, academic preparation, letters of recommendation, overall potential for graduate study, research interests, and fit with participating graduate programs.
Selected applicants will be invited to a brief Zoom interview with IPS faculty in early-January. Applicants who advance will then be invited to the UGA campus for recruitment weekend late February with travel, lodging, and meals provided. During the visit, applicants will meet faculty and current students, explore participating programs and research facilities, and learn more about graduate study through IPS. Admission offers will be extended following the interview and recruitment process.
For complete application instructions, admissions pathways, and important dates, download the guide below.
Application Process
- Submit an official online application to the UGA Graduate School, and route required transcripts (unofficial transcripts sufficient for initial application review), letters of recommendation, and optional GRE scores as instructed during the application process. The UGA Graduate School website provides detailed descriptions of admissions requirements, the application fee, and other pertinent information. International applicants should review supplemental requirements prior to applying. NOTE: GRE is not required but accepted as supplemental application material.
The Integrated Plant Sciences program has included a supplemental application page to the UGA Graduate School application. We recommend you review the IPS website as you will be asked to:
- Identify three PhD Programs and three Interdisciplinary Groups of most interest to you.
- Review faculty research interests to select five faculty with whom you prefer to work with. Please click on the faculty’s picture to see their profile with research interests.
IMPORTANT CODES: Select Integrated Plant Sciences, PhD, fall term as the Major during the application process. Select 5813 as the institutional code for ETS reports (i.e., GRE scores).
Statement of Purpose
Use the Statement of Purpose to convey a sense of who you are, including your interests, goals, and ambitions. We highly recommend that your statement includes the following at the very least:
- your reason(s) for pursuing graduate study
- your interests (e.g., names of faculty, interdisciplinary groups, and/or graduate programs)
- evidence of scholarly activity (e.g., research experiences, manuscripts published/in preparation)
- any special circumstances of which you wish to make us aware
- if applicable, explanations for any perceived deficiencies in your application