Information About Applying to the Graduate Program
Apply to the Biological Engineering graduate program through the Utah State University School of Graduate Studies
Fall Graduate Student Acceptance Timeline
| Description | Domestic Applicants Due Date | International Applicants Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Student must submit complete application to USU School of Graduate Studies (SGS) | March 15 | Feb 15 |
| SGS must have student application folders complete (all documents posted to the student folder in shared drive)* | March 31 | Feb 28 |
| BE Faculty finalizes accept/deny decisions | May 31 | March 31 |
| Deadline for students to accept/decline offers | June 30 | April 30 |
| SGS generates I-20 | n/a | May 15 |
Spring Graduate Student Acceptance Timeline
| Description | Domestic Applicants Due Date | International Applicants Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Student must submit complete application to USU School of Graduate Studies (SGS) | July 15 | June 15 |
| SGS must have student application folders complete (all documents posted to the student folder in shared drive)* | July 31 | June 30 |
| BE Faculty finalizes accept/deny decisions | Sept 30 | July 31 |
| Deadline for students to accept/decline offers | Oct 31 | August 31 |
| SGS generates I-20 | n/a | Sept 15 |
Minimum Requirements for Consideration
In order to be admitted to a graduate degree program at Utah State University, you must meet these minimum requirements*:
- Have the requisite degree for your intended program by the time you are matriculated.
- 3.0 or higher GPA.
- Three letters of recommendation.
International Students
International applicants who have not obtained a university degree in an English-speaking country must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) and have the score sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies by the testing service. USU does not offer conditional acceptance. If an international applicant has a degree from a university in an English-speaking country, the TOEFL is not required.
TOEFL
- A score of 79 or higher is required on the Internet-based test and a 550 on the paper-based test.
- Departments may require a higher score.
- Scores that are more than 2 years old are not accepted.
IELTS
- A score of 6.0 (and a minimum score of 5 on each subscale) is required.
- Departments may require a higher score.
PTE Academic
- A minimum score of 53 is required.
An applicant who is admitted with a TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic score below the required minimum, and who has not obtained a degree in an English-speaking country, must take the English Language Placement Test given by the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) at USU.
Degree Requirements
A 4-year bachelor's degree is typically required for admission to Utah State's graduate programs.
However, if you've obtained a 3-year bachelor's degree, you may still be able to apply. With additional credentials outlined in the Bologna Agreement, Utah State may consider your degree sufficient to meet our requirements. If the School of Graduate Studies determines that courses taken for the 3-year degree are insufficient, you may be admitted but required to take additional coursework. Please contact the School of Graduate Studies directly to make sure you meet all requirements.
Funding Requirements
International students are required to verify that they have adequate funding available for graduate studies before they can apply for a student visa. It is recommended that a student bring enough money to pay the expenses for at least the first academic year. After arrival, a checking account can be opened so various expenses can be paid conveniently and safely.
International students must also submit an I-20 application form and a financial guarantee. Because of immigration regulations, international students cannot be admitted to provisional matriculation.
International students who are sponsored by a third party are required to have their sponsor complete an Affidavit of Support form.
Make-up Courses for Non-engineers
Students who do not have a B.S. degree in an accredited engineering discipline but who want a BE graduate engineering degree, either M.S. or PhD, must take two make-up courses in addition to the coursework for the specific graduate engineering degree:
BENG 2400 Biological and Environmental Thermodynamics
BENG 3200 Intro to Units of Operations in Biological Engineering
A student who does not have a B.S. degree in an accredited engineering discipline can elect to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination, General Exam, at their own expense, and successfully pass the exam in lieu of taking the make-up courses.
For more information about make-up courses check the Graduate Program Requirements.