PhD Microbiology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Programme overview

The requirements for a PhD from the Department of Microbiology include successful completion of course work, teaching, one to two first-author manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, passing a preliminary examination, and writing and depositing a research thesis.

Faculty: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Champaign, IL, United States

What you will study

Required courses listed include MICR 599 Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree).

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants interested in the Microbiology PhD program will need to apply directly to the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) PhD program . The MCB PhD program is an umbrella program that requires admitted students to spend their first semester rotating among three different labs to explore their interests before joining one of our four departments. MCB Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in biological or physical sciences, a grade point average of a 3.0 or higher (A = 4.0), prior research experience and three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic and research background. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required. Applicants interested in pursuing a PhD in Microbiology should have a total of at least 15 credit hours of physical or biology sciences, including general biology, or microbiology,

Domestic applicants: USD 20,114 a year (2026-27). Illinois resident rate. Tuition only for new and continuing graduate students, Fall 2026-Spring 2027 at full-time (12 credit hours per term). Non-Illinois U.S. resident tuition for this programme: $37,410. Excludes campus and mandatory fees, health insura Source

International applicants: USD 37,410 a year (2026-27). International rate. Tuition only for new and continuing graduate students, Fall 2026-Spring 2027 at full-time (12 credit hours per term). Excludes campus and mandatory fees, health insurance, housing and other expenses as the source states them separately Source

Not all graduate programmes offer admission in all terms; term availability is set by each programme of study.

Graduate applicants apply online through the Graduate College application; deadlines and term availability are set by each programme. Medicine, law and veterinary medicine applicants apply directly to their colleges.

Apply through the official page: https://mcb.illinois.edu/academics/phd-programs/apply-our-mcb-phd-program

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