The Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) at the University of Vermont is an interdisciplinary training program bridging Basic Science and Clinical departments distributed among four colleges within the University of Vermont and encompassing a wide range of neuroscience. The NGP is designed to create a dynamic graduate education experience that leverages the diversity of neuroscience research at the University of Vermont. The strong curriculum and research environment along with a high level of individual support results in a low attrition rate, good student productivity, relatively short time to degree, and success in placing graduates in competitive post‐doctoral programs and careers. Contact us to learn more about our program or the DPT/Neuroscience Ph.D. option.

Fall 2023 Application Cycle:

Application Deadline: December 1, 2023 at Midnight

The application review process begins immediately after December 1.  Applications that arrive without prior approval after December 1 will not be considered.  Approval of late submission is at the discretion of the program director. To request approval for late submission of your application, please contact the Neuroscience Graduate Program Administrator at neurogp@uvm.edu.  Please explain why you cannot meet the deadline and when we can expect your completed application.

A Look at Burlington, VT

Tour the Campus with UVM Undergrads

Application Requirements:

Transcripts.  Applicants should have the equivalent of a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a biological science, neuroscience, chemistry, physics, engineering, psychology, mathematics, communication sciences or computer science. We strongly recommend but do not require a GPA of 3.0 or better. 

Research experience. The Neuroscience Graduate Program is a research-based program and telling us about your research experience is especially helpful in our evaluation of your application. Please discuss your prior research experience, including significant course-linked research, in your statement of purpose.

Letters of recommendation. The most effective letters will be from research mentors, course instructors, job supervisors or colleagues that know you well and can speak to your strengths as a prospective graduate student. Obtaining a letter from at least one research mentor is strongly encouraged. Three letters of recommendation are required. We suggest that you contact your letter writers at least on month in advance of the December 1 application deadline and follow up with them to ensure that your letters arrive on time.  

GRE scores. GRE scores are no longer required.

TOEFL/IELTS scores. International students must have a minimum TOEFL score of 100 (7 IELTS).
             
Statement of Purpose. The statement of purpose is a particularly important part of your application. It is your opportunity to tell us about:

  • yourself and how you became interested in science in general and neuroscience in particular.
  • your past research experience; tell us about your project, your role in that project, and what you personally took from the experience.    If you have current or pending publications (including planned), please be sure to provide information on that in your statement of purpose, along with your position (or anticipated position) in the authorship list and detail about your contributions.
  • what interests you most in neuroscience and how that relates to specific research areas and potential mentors that you might be interested in as a student in our program. 
  • your plans for the future.  For example, tell us about whether you are considering a career in the biomedical industry or another type of non-academic path, or if you are considering a teaching and/or research focused academic path.
  • any concerns that you think we might have about your application, for example issues with your transcript, gaps in your education, or anything else that you would like to mention.
  • your interests outside of the lab.  Tell us about you! 
  • why you are choosing to apply to the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UVM in particular

All applications are submitted to the Graduate College at the University of Vermont. Visit the application instructions page on the Graduate College website.
Please contact the Program Director, Dr. Anthony Morielli, for more information on the NGP Program and the application requirements.

Support:

NGP provides support for students for the first two years, after which, the responsibility for support transitions to the advisor and/or department, usually through funding on a research grant or fellowship. The stipend in NGP is $32,000 annually. The program also covers tuition, health insurance, and comprehensive fees. For more information regarding financial support, please contact us directly. Selection of a dissertation advisor is guided by prior rotation in available labs.

Please note: If applying to both the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and PhD in Neuroscience (NGP) programs, select the DPT/NGP option on the UVM Graduate Supplemental application.