PhD in Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology

Applicants are accepted through the University of Georgia’s Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program. The ILS program allows first-year graduate students to explore the research areas of more than 200+ faculty and 14 participating units before they choose a major professor and departmental home.  For a thorough outline of the program please see our Graduate Student Handbook.

Each program of study is developed by the student and their major professor based on future goals and research interests. It is then submitted to the graduate coordinator for approval by the advisory committee.

The Graduate School requires a total of 16 semester hours of 8000- or 9000- level courses (excluding of 9000 research and 9300 dissertation writing hours). Also, a minimum of three credit hours of dissertation research (VPHY 9300), a total of at least 30 credit hours of coursework including VPHY 9000, or VPHY 9300, and at least two consecutive semesters of full-time work in resident study on-campus is required.

Competitive applicants will have:

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in any biological science from an accredited institution
• International applicants need an equivalent to American bachelor’s degree requiring a minimum of four years of training
• Demonstrated research experience

For a list of current tuition and fees, see UGA’s Bursar & Treasury Services.

Students accepted into the program are supported through fellowships or assistantships. Students funded on fellowships or assistantships are also granted a tuition waiver. More information about financial support is included on the ILS website.

The Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology PhD program primarily admits students through the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program. The ILS program allows first-year graduate students to explore the research areas of more than 270 faculty and 16 participating PhD graduate programs. A hallmark of this competitive graduate program is its emphasis on existing and emerging interdisciplinary research areas. During the Fall semester, entering students perform three laboratory rotations and follow a streamlined and innovative curriculum designed to facilitate the transition to graduate education and research. At the end of the Fall semester, students choose a graduate program and thesis advisor to oversee their thesis research.

Please visit the ILS website (www.ils.uga.edu) for more details on the program, participating faculty, and admissions processes. ILS only admits students for Fall semester; applications for matriculation in spring or summer semesters are not accepted. ILS program applications must be submitted to the UGA Graduate School using the ILS major code (PHD_ILSC). All application materials must be complete by December 1st at 11:59 PM EST for the following Fall term. For example, applications to begin the program in Fall 2025 must be completed in entirety by December 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST.

Step 1: An online application must be completed through the UGA Graduate School. This will include the submission of official college transcripts and GRE scores; a résumé or curriculum vita; three letters of recommendation; and a biographical sketch describing your experiences, interest in physiology / pharmacology, and your reasons for applying to the program.

Foreign applicants are required to submit additional documentation as part of their online application. See the Graduate School’s website for a list of supplemental information for your country.

Step 2: Apply to the Integrated Life Sciences Program. This requires completion of the ILS Background Interest form and a personal statement.

We currently accept students for the fall semester only. Application packages must be completed prior to November 30th to be considered for matriculation the following June. Accepted applicants will be notified by February 1.

• Graduate Committee Assessment Form
• Preliminary Exam Assessment Form