MS Biophysics at University of California, Riverside

Programme overview

Interdepartmental graduate program in Biophysics at UC Riverside with more than 30 participating faculty from seven departments across three colleges. Research areas include biological electron transfer, biological imaging, computational modeling, macromolecular structure determination, neurobiophysics and protein engineering, and spectroscopic methods.

Faculty: College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences | Department: Biophysics Graduate Program (interdepartmental) | Duration: 6 quarters (normative time to degree) | Intake: Application deadline June 1 | Study mode: full-time | Location: Riverside, CA, United States

What you will study

Plan II (comprehensive exam): 36 units of 100 or 200 series courses, at least 18 in the graduate 200 series, including the core curriculum (BCH 184, BCH 210, PHYS 246, BPHY 252 seminar) and approved electives in biochemistry, bioengineering, chemistry and physics. Students pass a three-hour comprehensive examination.

Career pathways

Institutions of higher learning and federal, state and private research organizations.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Three letters of recommendation (two from faculty). The general GRE is not required. Graduate Division (university-wide): bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or recognized international equivalent; minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (some programs set a higher standard); transcripts, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation; English proficiency (TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic 7 with no component below 6) unless the prior degree was taught in English; GRE/GMAT only where the program requires it (many no longer do). Source: graduate.ucr.edu/admission-requirements.

UC Riverside operates a quarter system. Summer begins mid-June, Fall late September, Winter early January and Spring late March/early April. Most graduate programmes admit and begin in the Fall quarter only.

New domestic applicants: Fall January 5 (fellowship consideration) / June 1 (admission only), Winter November 1, Spring February 1, Summer May 1. New international applicants: Fall January 5 (fellowship consideration) / June 1 (admission only), Winter September 1, Spring December 1, Summer March 1. A few programmes have deadlines after June 1 and some have earlier programme deadlines. The Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 applications are open for select programmes only; the Summer/Fall 2027 application opened September 1, 2026, with rolling review for most programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.ucr.edu/apply/

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