APPLY HERE

Students entering the MCB program are admitted through the Graduate School of the State University of New York.

Applicants must have Baccalaureate degree, in an appropriate field, from an accredited college or university. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all students whose native language is not English. Permanent Residents of the US or applicants who hold a degree (such as high school diploma, bachelors, master's or PhD) from an institution where the primary instruction was in English are not required to provide TOEFL scores.  Note: if scores are not required but still provided, they will become part of the application and will be considered.

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is NOT required.

The application portal will open on August 1^st.

Students who are members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

Consideration for admission requires the following by the deadline dates below:

1. Copies of Undergraduate/Graduate school transcripts uploaded to the application.
2. Original transcripts are to be submitted only if you are accepted into the program.
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. TOEFL or IELTS scores, if required (see International Students tab for important information). ETS Code 2548.  Please note that Duolingo scores are not acceptable.

For full consideration all application material must be submitted by the deadline date.

Whenever possible, prospective candidates are invited to visit Stony Brook to meet with MCB program faculty and students.

Applicants are not required to find a PI/Advisor for their graduate research prior to applying to the program. Students who are admitted go through 4 different consecutive lab rotations in their first year.  The expectation is that the student will end up in one of these labs to complete his/her thesis research.  The rotations allow the student and the PI to see if they are a good fit.

The MCB graduate program strongly recommends that undergraduate preparation include courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, physics, general and organic chemistry, microbiology, and cell biology.  It’s important that prospective students seek opportunities to carry out undergraduate research. Selection is based on the evaluation of a student's undergraduate record for indications of the ability to excel in independent and creative research. Applicants must have completed a baccalaureate or advanced degree by the time of matriculation.

Resume/CV

Include your educational background, course work in progress, work experience, honors, internships, awards and prizes, and papers that you have co-authored, if any.

Transcripts

Official transcripts are valid when they are issued by the school you attended. They have an official seal/stamp and an official signature by an appropriate academic administrative officer. They are sealed by the university. Official electronic transcripts, sent by authorized delivery agents, are also accepted. Photocopied documents are NOT official. Final transcripts state that a degree has been conferred and provide the date of conferral.

If you are in the process of completing a degree, please send an official transcript that shows your progress to this point. You will need to send a final, official transcript once your degree is conferred. Transcripts that do not show a degree awarded will not delay application processing, but failure to submit final documentation about conferral will result in a registration block.

Applicants with domestic credentials must submit an official transcript from each undergraduate college or university attended, regardless of whether a degree was conferred.  Applicants must also submit an official transcript from each college or university relating to graduate level work, regardless of whether a degree was conferred. 

Applicants with international credentials must submit an official English translation of all coursework showing a complete course-by-course record, GPA, degree, and institution, in addition to the original documents. SBU graduate admissions personnel will evaluate coursework, GPA, degree requirements and institutional equivalence. In some instances where the coursework, degree equivalency, GPA, and/or institution cannot be verified, a course-by-course evaluation from one of Stony Brook University's approved NACES members listed below, may be requested from the applicant. 

1. World Education Services (WES)
2. International Education Evaluations, Inc. (IEE)
3. Education Credential Evaluators (ECE)
4. SpanTran Application

Unofficial copies for both domestic and international credentials are acceptable for an admission decision to be made. If admitted, the applicant must submit final official transcripts/evaluations sent directly from the college/university or evaluation agency as noted above. 

College-level courses completed outside the United States and recorded on official transcripts will be evaluated for transfer credit, provided that the institution where the courses were taken is accredited by the Ministry of Education in that country. International transfer students who have completed college level courses outside the United States may be requested to submit proof of accreditation by the Ministry of Education or provide a WES evaluation.

Official transcripts can be mailed to:

Stony Brook University Graduate School Office of Admissions and Student Services Old Computer Science Bldg, Room 2401 Stony Brook, NY 11794-4433

Electronic transcripts can be sent to gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu

Academic records from international universities that are not in English must be accompanied by an official English translation. Academic records must be translated by an authoritative party:- We will accept translations from any of the accredited agencies that can be viewed at www.atanet.org or naces.org. We will also accept translations from SBU faculty members or the institution from which the degree was conferred.

 If your official transcript (or mark sheet) does not specifically state that a degree (or its equivalent) has been conferred, you will also need to submit an official (attested) diploma or an official certification of degree(s) awarded.

Educational systems that cannot be compared to the United States must be evaluated by a US credentials evaluation service before admission can be finalized. The transcript evaluation service accepted by Stony Brook University is World Education Services (WES), which can be accessed at http://www.wes.org/ .

Statement of Purpose

Please include specific information about your research experience, what inspired you to pursue graduate studies, why you are interested in our program, and what are your research goals. The statement of purpose is submitted in lieu of a personal statement.

Recommendation and Evaluation Letters

A minimum of 3 letters are required. When you list your references, they are automatically sent instructions on how to submit a letter of recommendation, and an evaluation. Be sure that the email addresses are correct.

The review is done online through the application portal.  Please do not email application materials to the program.

Students who are members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. Applicants with varied cultural experiences and educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to include these factors in the review of their application.

APPLY HERE

The MCB program welcomes applications from foreign students. The program currently includes students from more than 10 different countries. Foreign students will need to obtain a student (F-1) visa before they can enroll. The Stony Brook University Office of International Studies will work with applicants to coordinate that process. More information is available on their website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/visa/

Required scores:

IELTS: Overall score of 6.5, with no subsection recommended to be below 6

TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 90 for doctoral applicants and 80 for master’s applicants.  

Students who do not meet these requirements may be admitted on condition that they remedy deficiencies after admission.

Scores are valid for 2 years.  Note: Duolingo scores are not accepted.

*Please note that there is no need to submit an English language proficiency test if:

• you hold a degree such as a high school diploma, bachelors, masters, or PhD from an institution where the primary instruction was in English 
• you are a US citizen (or US National) or Permanent Resident
• you served as a Teaching Assistant at an institution where the primary instruction was in English  

English language proficiency test results will be considered as part of the review process for admission for any applicant who submits test results as part of their application. If the scores are below the stated requirements, an offer of admission cannot be extended.

Applicants with international credentials must submit an official English translation of all coursework showing a complete course-by-course record, GPA, degree, and institution, in addition to the original documents. SBU graduate admissions personnel will evaluate coursework, GPA, degree requirements and institutional equivalence. In some instances where the coursework, degree equivalency, GPA, and/or institution cannot be verified, a course-by-course evaluation from one of Stony Brook University's approved NACES members listed below, may be requested from the applicant. 

1. World Education Services (WES)
2. International Education Evaluations, Inc. (IEE)
3. Education Credential Evaluators (ECE)
4. SpanTran Application

Unofficial copies are acceptable for an admission decision to be made. If admitted, the applicant must submit final official transcripts/evaluations sent directly from the college/university or evaluation agency. 

APPLY HERE

What is the application deadline?
December 1. Our Admissions Committee will not reviewe incomplete applications. We recommend that international applicants apply by November 15.

When does the application open?
August 1.

Do you offer admittance more than once a year?
No. We accept students only once a year, beginning in the fall semester.

Can I apply to more than one program or department at Stony Brook University? 
Yes. However, you must submit a separate application and pay an additional fee for each program to which you apply.

Do you offer a Master’s Degree Program?
No. The MCB program is designed for those seeking a PhD degree.

Is it recommended that I contact individual MCB program professors to request their support for my application?
No. Our first-year students are required to complete four laboratory rotations before choosing a permanent lab.

Is the GRE Exam required?
 No, the GRE Exam is not required.

Is funding available?
Yes. Typically, MCB graduate students are supported by research or teaching assistantships. These positions provide a monthly stipend for living expenses, tuition waiver, and health benefits. Students are responsible for paying student activity fees.

Can I be a part-time student?
No. We do not accept students on a part-time basis.

For additional information about the Stony Brook Graduate School Admissions requirements, please refer to the Graduate School Admissions FAQs here.

For any other questions, email the Program Administrator, Sharon Schmidt, at sharon.schmidt@stonybrook.edu.