Applying to Program    

Students can only apply to one track (M.S. non-thesis, M.S. thesis-option, or Ph.D.) per admissions semester. Please note that non-thesis option M.S. students cannot switch to the thesis option after admission. Applicants for the M.S. thesis-option or Ph.D. must have an advisor agreement with a single TAMUG faculty member to complete their application.

For information regarding the graduate program in Marine Biology in general and applying to Texas A&M University at Galveston contact Andrew Reitberger (areitberger@tamug.edu) in the Graduate Studies Office or visit Frequently Asked Questions.

Identify a Graduate Mentor*    

*for M.S. Thesis-Option and Doctoral applicants only.

Before applying to M.S. Thesis-Option or the Ph.D. program in the Marine Biology, you must identify a TAMUG faculty mentor who will guide you along your career path.  M.S. non-thesis option students will be assigned a faculty advisor upon acceptance and will not be allowed to change to the thesis option.

Start contacting potential mentors 9-12 months before your anticipated entry semester. For students seeking the M.S. thesis-option or Ph.D. degree, this allows the potential faculty mentor to determine if your research interests match their own and if proper funding and space are available. The research interests and contact information for faculty members in the graduate program in Marine Biology can be found below.

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Application    

Please fill out the GraduateCAS Application form online. Please remember that you are limited to one program application per admissions semester. Applications are not accepted for summer entry.

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Procedure Details    

Identify Your Faculty Mentor (M.S. Thesis Option and Ph.D. Applicants)
Identify Your Faculty Mentor (M.S. Thesis Option and Ph.D. Applicants)
  • M.S. Thesis Option and Ph.D. applicants must enter their TAMUG faculty mentor’s name in the box indicated in the Program Materials Section of the GraduateCAS application to be considered for admission.
  • Please do not enter a TAMUG faculty member’s name without their express agreement to consider you for admission. You will also need to request a letter of support from your prospective mentor in the Recommendations tab (see below).
Personal Statement
Personal Statement

A personal statement presents a narrative explaining your reasons for applying to the Graduate Program in Marine Biology and your professional goals.* To complete the application process, you must upload your personal statement to the Program Materials section of the GraduateCAS application.

*Please note that the M.S. non-thesis option program does not include research and is not intended for students whose career goals include research.

Resume / CV
Resume / CV

A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) demonstrates your involvement in academia and/or the workplace. It complements the statement of purpose. Please upload your resume/CV to your GraduateCAS application. 

Transcripts
Transcripts

Please upload unofficial transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts will only be required upon acceptance into the program.

Recommendations
Recommendations

All applicants must enter the names and email addresses of three recommenders in the Program Materials section of the application.* Recommendations help the admissions committee learn more about you and your experiences from the perspective of others. Recommenders are typically former professors from whom you have taken courses or conducted a research project or internship and/or former employers. Academic recommendations are preferred.

* All recommenders must complete their recommendations in the application portal by the application deadline for your application to be considered. It is the applicant’s responsibility to send reminders to recommenders.

Applicants to the M.S. thesis-option and Ph.D. programs must also request a support letter from their prospective faculty mentor by entering the mentor’s name and email address in the Recommendations tab. Requests will be automatically sent to the faculty mentor when this information is saved in GraduateCAS. Please do not request a letter from a faculty mentor with whom you do not already have an express agreement to be considered for admission. Applications without a support letter from a TAMUG faculty member will be denied.

Pay Application Fee
Pay Application Fee

To complete the application process in GraduateCAS, you must pay the application fee of $89 for U.S. students or $114 for international students. The application site accepts credit card payments only. Please note refunds are not issued for any reason.

GRE Scores - NO LONGER REQUIRED
GRE Scores - NO LONGER REQUIRED

GRE tests are no longer required, if you have scores you would like to submit use 6835 for the University code.

International Applicants
International Applicants

International applicants should visit the Graduate Studies website for additional requirements.

Decision Notifications and Timeline
Decision Notifications and Timeline

Admissions decisions can take 6-8 weeks to complete. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed via email. All decision letters will be sent to the address you provided on your GraduateCAS application.

Application Dates    

July 1 – Application Available
January 15 – Application Deadline for M.S. thesis-option and Ph.D. programs
April 15 – Application Deadline for M.S. non-thesis option program

Spring Entrance

June 1 – Application Available
October 1 – Application Deadline for all programs

Summer Entrance

Not Available

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Additional Resources    

Not seeing what you’re looking for? Take a look at the links for Galveston Applicants and Students below.

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