Prospective master’s degree students must apply online through the IU Graduate School Indianapolis. The deadline for applications for Spring, 2027, is October 1, 2026; for Fall, 2027, the deadline is February 1 (international applicants) and May 1 (domestic applicants). Applications are forwarded to the chair of the graduate student admissions committee.
Required Materials
In addition to completing the online application, applicants to the MS program must submit official undergraduate and graduate transcripts to:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Attention: Chair, Graduate Admissions Committee
IU School of Medicine
635 Barnhill Drive, MS 420
Indianapolis, IN 46202
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology requires the application, three letters of recommendation, and undergraduate and graduate transcripts. International students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, or other proof of English language proficiency. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required.
Admission Requirements
A baccalaureate degree with undergraduate courses in basic biology, including cell biology and genetics, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and calculus, is recommended for admission into this program. Applicants will select the Microbiology and Immunology specialization track when applying and must be admitted by the Microbiology and Immunology Department in order to matriculate.
Applicants must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (B). For international students, an IELTS score of 6.5/7 is required; TOEFL would be approximately 100, as established by the IU Office of International Affairs. The master’s program does not allow for conditional acceptance of applicants. MS students are not financially supported by the department and must pay for their own courses and fees as well as living expenses.
Admission Process
Applications are first reviewed by the department’s graduate student admissions committee, which decides whether to proceed with the admission process or to reject the applicant (typically for not meeting minimal standards for admission). The admissions committee chair informs the student of the preliminary decision.
Applicants approved to proceed identify one faculty member from the department who agrees to serve as their mentor for their thesis research project. Applicants are responsible for contacting and securing an interview with the faculty mentor. The faculty member must complete and return a mentor selection form to the chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee, indicating that the applicant has been interviewed in person or online and that the faculty member is willing to accept the applicant into their laboratory. Upon starting the MS program, the student will perform a 4-week rotation in the faculty member’s laboratory before a final agreement is reached by both student and mentor for the student to remain in the laboratory for their thesis research project.
The interview and mentor selection form must be completed and returned to the admissions committee chair within four weeks of the applicant being notified to proceed with this step. If the interview and mentor selection forms are not completed and returned to the admissions committee chair within four weeks of the applicant’s notification to find a mentor, the application may be rejected.
Upon an applicant finding a mentor, the Graduate Admissions Committee chair sets up an additional interview for the applicant with a member of the committee. The admissions committee reviews the application and comments from the interviewers and votes on acceptance or rejection. The admissions committee chair brings the results of the committee’s decision to the full faculty for a vote, either in a departmental faculty meeting or by email.
If the departmental vote is negative with respect to acceptance, the applicant is notified by the admissions committee chair via email. If the departmental vote is positive, the application materials are forwarded to the IU School of Medicine Graduate Division for the final admission decision.