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How to Apply

Prerequisites

The university seeks students who have a natural curiosity about science and who have demonstrated aptitude, enthusiasm and commitment to research. Students who enter the Ph.D. program must have received a bachelor or master of arts or sciences, or doctor of medicine or equivalent international qualification. Applicants must demonstrate a high level of achievement in the biological, chemical, mathematical, or physical sciences.

The Rockefeller University is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse graduate community, and encourages applications from individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.


Application Process

Applications must be submitted online at graduateapplication.rockefeller.edu. They must include:

  • A statement of purpose comprised of the following three components:
    • Describe your most meaningful research experience(s) to date.
    • Indicate what scientific area(s) you would like to study in graduate school and how your interests would fit within the Rockefeller Ph.D. program and the research of the Rockefeller faculty.
    • Describe how your background and experiences would contribute to the Rockefeller community, including any adversity you had to overcome in your academic pursuits.
  • An official transcript from each college or university you have attended
  • Letters of recommendation from three or four sponsors who can assess your potential for research
  • An application fee of $50.

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General and Advanced Subject Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores and TOEFL scores are not required for admission.

Applications must be received by December 1, 2023, for entrance during the first week of September 2024.

Applications are evaluated by faculty working in a wide range of fields, and they look for students who have demonstrated a commitment to scientific excellence and who they believe will thrive in a flexible, interdisciplinary program.

Selected candidates will be invited to interview for a position in the graduate program in January 2024. Open House events for accepted applicants will take place in February and will include formal and informal opportunities to meet faculty and students, to visit laboratories and residence halls, to explore the campus and neighborhood, and to experience cultural opportunities in New York City.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

It is the policy of The Rockefeller University to support equality of educational and employment opportunity. No individual shall be discriminated against with respect to admission, access, or employment in or to any University program or activity on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and sexual harassment), disability, age, citizenship status, military status, marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Rockefeller University is committed to the maintenance of affirmative action programs that will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the University’s non-discrimination policy:

Virginia Huffman
Vice President, Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator
Founder’s Hall, Room 103
New York, New York 10065
(212) 327-7261
huffman@rockefeller.edu

Inquiries also may be directed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights at: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/ or by telephone at: 1-800-868-1019, or 1-800-537-7697 (TDD).