PhD Biological Sciences at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Gain state-of-the-art expertise in original research and in your field of biological sciences while you prepare for work as a professional scientist. Join a cutting-edge research program committed to advancing knowledge and discoveries in all aspects of biology, from the cellular and genetic level to the organismal and environmental levels. All Ph.D.

Faculty: McCausland College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Biological Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Specialize in stem cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, cancer biology, biology of cellular stress, plant biology, ecology, evolution or marine biology. Address significant, unanswered questions, and share your research findings through peer-reviewed publications, presentations and grant proposals. Defend a research-based dissertation.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Academic Researcher/Teaching Faculty, Medical Researcher, Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Researcher, Project Manager, Federal Institute Administrator, Environmental Scientist.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): An applicant must have a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. The applicant’s academic record must indicate adequate preparation for graduate study in biology and must demonstrate ability to excel in the biological sciences. Generally, to be considered for admission, a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in the sciences on a 4.00 scale. However, these guidelines are flexible, and slight deficiencies can be compensated by strengths in another. The Graduate Studies committee recommends contacting faculty members who are carrying out research that attracts you. This will allow the applicant to get a sense of the research opportunities that are available. Finally, applicants whose native language is not English must obtain a minimum score of 600 (250 computer-based score) on the TOEFL exam or 7 on the IELTS exam.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific and listed per programme on the Degree Programs and Application Requirements pages.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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