Applications are managed by the Harvard Griffin GSAS Office of Admissions, Any questions about the application itself should be directed to the Griffin GSAS Office of Admissions: admiss@fas.harvard.edu. The application opens fall 2025, and the deadline to submit a complete application is December 1, 2025. Admission is for the fall term only.
All written parts of the application including the statement of purpose, supplemental data, additional materials, short answers, resume/CV, and employment history must be authored solely by the applicant and not by a third party nor created by generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software. The use of a third party or generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software to develop an applicant’s work, as opposed to assisting their application to suggest minor edits or to identify grammatical errors, is forbidden.
- Application
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Recommended Coursework
- English Proficiency
- Application Fee
1. APPLICATION
Applications are submitted through the Harvard Griffin GSAS Applicant Portal and will become available fall 2025. You can access the application by clicking the apply button on the apply page. Please note all supporting materials and required components must be submitted electronically as part of the application. No materials will be accepted in any other way.
2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
You will be prompted to address the following in your Statement of Purpose:
- Describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a PhD in molecular and cellular biology, noting experiences that shaped your research ambitions as well as briefly indicating your scientific and career objectives. Your statement should not exceed 200 words.
- What do you consider your most significant scientific discovery? Cite an example in which you personally had a substantial impact. If you have not yet had a significant research experience, describe a scientific discovery that in particular motivated you to pursue research. Using simple language, describe what you or others did, why, and what it means. Your statement should not exceed 500 words.
- Describe where your main future interest lies within one of the following research areas, and cite three MCO faculty within that research area that you are interested in working with, and why. Your statement should not exceed 300 words.
- Molecular Mechanism & Structural Biology
- Systems, Quantitative, & Computational Biology
- Neurobiology & Behavior
- Development, Genetics & Evolution
5. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Submit a minimum of three letters of recommendation from professors or others qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. At least one letter should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student unless you have been out of school for more than five years. Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work. Indicate on the recommendation form whether you are waiving your right to see the letter of recommendation.
The admissions committee begins reviewing applications immediately after the application deadline, so it is crucial that letters are received on time in order for your application to be evaluated. Please note that recommenders must submit their letters through the recommender portal: letters submitted any other way will not be accepted.
6. TRANSCRIPTS
Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts from each institution attended as part of their application. We do not accept mailed or email transcripts during the application submission and review process. Any transcripts sent in this manner will be discarded.
Official transcripts are only required from those who have been admitted and accepted the offer of admission. Instructions for submitting official transcripts will be provided in spring/summer prior to enrollment.
Transcripts from international institutions must be in English or be accompanied by a certified English translation. All translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. International transcripts should include:
- Courses, seminars, and examinations taken
- Grades, scores, and grading scales
- Confirmation of degree conferral and date
Students who are unsure of the U.S. equivalency of their degree(s) should consult a reputable credential evaluation service.
The University reserves the right to request additional academic documents.
Please contact the Griffin GSAS Office of Admissions for questions about transcripts: admiss@fas.harvard.edu.
7. RECOMMENDED COURSEWORK
The MCO Program does not have pre-requisites for admission. However, entering students should have a record of introductory courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. Most admitted students have completed these courses as undergraduates:
- Biology (at least one general course in biology and two terms of biology at a more advanced level)
- Biochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Physics (a general course)
- Mathematics (a basic knowledge of differential and integral calculus). Competence in programming is strongly encouraged.
- Laboratory in Biology, Biochemistry, or Instrumental Analysis.
Please be reminded that completion of all of the above courses is not required for admission.
8. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
Adequate command of spoken and written English is essential to success in graduate study at Harvard. Applicants who are non-native English speakers can demonstrate English proficiency in one of three ways:
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- Receiving an undergraduate degree from an academic institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
- Earning a minimum score of 100 on the internet based test (iBT) of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)*
- Earning a minimum score of 7 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test.*
Please refer to all policies and instructions regarding English proficiency on the Griffin GSAS Admissions website and direct any questions to the admission office: admiss@fas.harvard.edu.
9. APPLICATION FEE
The application fee is $105, payable by credit card. Harvard Griffin GSAS is committed to ensuring that our fee does not create a financial obstacle. Applicants can determine eligibility for a fee waiver by completing a series of questions in the Application Fee section of the application. Once these questions have been answered, the application system will provide an immediate response regarding fee waiver eligibility. The application fee is not refundable
Please note that GRE scores are not accepted.
Application questions should be directed to the Griffin GSAS Office of Admissions: admiss@fas.harvard.edu
Phone Hours:
Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
617-496-6100