Doctoral Degree in Biology

Who is this program for?

The doctoral degree in biology is perfect for students driven to conduct in-depth research on living organisms and ecological systems, aiming to expand scientific knowledge in areas such as genetics, ecology, or cellular biology. This program prepares graduates for careers as research scientists, university professors, or specialists in environmental conservation and biotechnology industries.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. is the main graduate degree program in Biology. It provides the training necessary for a student to become an independent professional scholar in the life sciences with the skills to carry out their own original research and to educate others. Student growth is an emphasis of the program. Offers to enter the Ph.D. program are based on the applicant's potential as a scientist and educator. New students are expected to begin doing research immediately in their first year, under the guidance of an advisor. Coursework blends regular classes with seminars and is typically performed during the first 4 semesters. A written and oral qualifying exam occurs during the 5th or 6th semester of the program. Following a successful qualifying exam, research becomes the primary focus of a student's time. Once a significant body of original research has been achieved, a Ph.D. candidate writes a dissertation and defends it before a public audience and a committee of faculty members. More details on the program can be found at https://bio.as.uky.edu/graduate-program. Details about potential research advisors can be found at https://biograd.as.uky.edu/.

Related Careers

Students in  the Biology Graduate Program are trained to become practicing professionals in a wide array of possible career paths, including academic positions, industry, government, or are prepared to take on additional schooling. 

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What You'll Learn


Degree requirements, course descriptions and academic policies for all programs are detailed in the University Catalog.

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As a graduate student, there are additional opportunities for student funding. Once you are admitted into a degree-bearing graduate program at UK, you can apply for a wide variety of financial assistance, including assistantships and fellowships. These opportunities can be tied to your program’s availability, so you should inquire with your program director about opportunities available within your program!

Program Specific Funding Opportunities

PhD students are supported on fellowship, teaching assistantship, or research assistantship. We do not accept a student into the program without also offering some type of support. Generally, support lasts up to 5 years, and often students can get additional support after that time depending on their situation. Such support is conditional on a student making progress toward their degree. All financial packages comes with a stipend, tuition scholarship, and student health insurance.

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Complete the form to get the latest updates on this program, including special events and application deadlines.

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Things to do on this form:
Take away "Term" for Transfers - "Unknown Term"? As well as "Not in High School"
And the same for "Online"

Possibly remove the "Readmit" option.
Feel like it would be pretty easy to see if the person already exists in our system and has a program enrollment record associated with them, which would shift them from "Freshman" or "Transfer" to "Readmit"
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The University of Kentucky defines international applicants as those with citizenship other than the United States of America. Exception: Permanent Residents of the United States should complete a domestic application.

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