General Admission Timeline, Requirements, and Process

Thank you for your interest in applying to the Nutrition and Metabolism Graduate Program!

The general admission deadline for both the Nutrition and Metabolism Graduate Program MS and PhD application is January 1 of the year to entry (e.g. Fall 2023 admission is due by January 1, 2023). Please note the program only admits general admission students in Fall semester.

 All application materials, including letters of recommendation must be received by the January 1 deadline. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Please review our Informational Webinar for more information about the program and application process.

Closed Captioning available below, transcription available this link: https://mediaspace.wisc.edu/media/Fall+2022+Nutritional+Sciences+Admissions+Webinar/1_60wtfim8

Application Materials and Prerequisites

Nutrition and Metabolism Graduate Program Prerequisites

• BS/BA from an accredited college or university in nutritional sciences, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, or in one of the biological, medical, or agricultural sciences with a strong complement of basic science courses.
• Have a minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 scale¹

Minimum coursework required for admission. Course deficiencies are allowed in which the student would take the missing coursework in the first semester of study. In the online application process, you will be asked if you have completed the following prerequisites.

• 2 semesters of General Chemistry
• 2 semesters of Biological Sciences
• 1 semester of Organic Chemistry
• Biochemistry with an Organic Chemistry prerequisite
• 1 semester of Calculus or Statistics
• 1 semester of Physiology

¹Adjusted grading scales due to COVID-19 will not affect your chances of admission.

If you have questions about coursework, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Nutrition and Metabolism Graduate Program Application Materials

All applications material are submitted through the UW Graduate School Admissions Office.

• Personal Statement/Reasons for Graduate Study

The applicant’s personal statement should be written to describe the applicant’s scientific and career goals, experiences, and abilities. (more information at the bottom)

• An official or unofficial copy of your transcript from each college or university attended. The transcript should be uploaded to the application website.
• Three or more letters of reference from individuals (Faculty, staff, supervisor, mentor) who can comment on the applicant’s qualifications.

The letters of recommendation can be scholarly or academic. The letters must be sent electronically. Directions will be provided in the Graduate School application system.

• A resume/CV
• TOEFL/IELTS if necessary (more information below)

Visit the Graduate School Admission Requirements page to learn more about the admissions requirements including information on financial documentation for international students.

Applicants are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), but are welcome to submit their scores on the Application.

How to Apply

Start your application via the UW-Madison Graduate School Electronic Application.

Program Select: Nutritional Sciences PhD or Nutritional Sciences MS

• If you are interested in both the MS and the PhD programs, please only apply for the PhD program. You may select up to three graduate programs to apply to on one application for UW-Madison.
• Complete the application as instructed

Supplemental App:

Part 1: Please indicate the prerequisite coursework you have taken. For each prerequisite course, we ask you identify the semester in which was taken, the institution it was taken at, and the grade received.

Part 2: Please indicate what faculty trainers you are interested in working with for your graduate study. Please note, this selection will not affect your program admission.

Education: Under the Education tab of the application, you will be asked to submit test scores. Only international students who are required to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores must enter scores here; GRE scores are not required.

Upload unofficial or official transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended (undergraduate and if applicable, graduate), even if no degree was received

• If accepted to the program, final official transcripts will be required by the UW Graduate School
• Note: International academic records must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation

Statements & Resume/CV: Upload personal statement/reason for graduate study and current CV/Resume (PDF)

Recommendations: List names and emails of three references who will submit electronic letters of recommendation. Referrers will automatically receive an email request to electronically submit a letter directly into the applicant’s application.

Application Fee Payment

• The Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to make sure that the application fee is not a barrier for students from our key recruiting initiatives. Please contact the UW Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the application deadline to obtain a fee.

Submit Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (if needed)

• Both TOEFL or IELTS scores are accepted by our program
• Scores should be sent electronically via the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to the UW Graduate School (institution code: 1846, no department code)
• International students may exempt from submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores under certain circumstances. Please check the UW Graduate School Admission website for country-specific information.

For any questions or if you need additional information please go over the FAQ section of the Admissions page or e-mail the Graduate Program Coordinator, Caitlin Seifert Irland.

Guidelines for the Personal Statement

An applicant’s personal statement/reason for graduate study should include a brief statements about your professional goals and a summary of your previous research experiences. This statement provides an opportunity to highlight strengths, and address any inconsistencies or challenges within your application. Personal statements should be one to two pages in length, single-spaced.