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Opportunities and Procedures
for prospective graduate students in the Department of Nematology, UC-Riverside |
official sealed transcripts sent directly from the attended universities, official GRE and TOEFL scores) by January 5th of the year they wish to start - eg Jan. 5th 2003 for Fall 2003 admission. Other, more widely accessible sources of support include research projects of the supervisor, Teaching Assistant stipends, small grants from graduate projects, etc. In order to leverage such local funds, it can be very helpful to come in with at least a one year stipend from the home country or from an international organization (FAO, NATO, EU etc). Although this may at first seem a relatively unpredictable process for financing your program, it actually allows for more flexibility and tailoring to individual needs than would otherwise be the case. It is also a much more realistic preparation for a continuing career in science. More precise details on procedures and requirements follow below. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Prospective PhD students who are not US citizens should apply online at http://www.graddiv.ucr.edu/howapply.html (the Graduate Admissions office no longer provides hard copy application forms for international applicants). The applicant will also need to send an envelope with official sealed transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1 of the year you wish to start (Jan. 5 for fellowship applicants). Usually it is best for a student to begin at UCR in the fall, as it takes about 8 months to get all the formalities and planning done. It is not necessary, but definitely advisable, that the student has identified and contacted a prospective supervisor before applying for admission. This will not only facilitate initial decisions about the applicant's prospective curriculum, but it will also contribute substantially towards identifying and obtaining sources of support. MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS The Graduate Records Exam or GRE is required for admission, with a minimal score for 1100 (Verbal + Quantitative). The TOEFL is also required, with minimum scores 550 for the paper version or 213 for the computerized version. Both tests can be taken abroad, the GRE costs around $130 and the TOEFL around $90. Academic requirements depend on the program the student wishes to enroll in (see the various departments in http://www.cnas.ucr.edu). |
FINANCES AND FELLOWSHIPS Total support required for an international applicant is currently about $10,244 Non Resident Tuition (NRT) +$5,191 Fees + $16,000 Stipend = $31,435 total. After advancement to candidacy NRT drops to $2561. Once an application file is complete and the Graduate Admissions Committee (GAC) has deemed the file admissible, then it is sent to the prospective supervisor of the student. This faculty member must sign an agreement to take the student and also commit some support, usually at the end of the fellowship period (2nd or 3rd year). To admit a student who is unable to pay his/her own NRT and fees, the chosen program has to provide a commitment of how the person will be funded, either through a fellowship or through departmental support. If an applicant specifically wishes to be considered for fellowship support, then GRE scores of at least 1250 (Verbal + Quantitative) are usually expected. VISA If the student is admitted then the Graduate Admissions Office will issue an I-20 form, which will allow him/her to obtain a student Visa (B-1?). FURTHER PROCEDURES After the student has arrived, the supervising faculty and student will usually meet at the beginning of the quarter with the GAC, to review the curriculum. At the end of the year, they will also conduct an annual evaluation. For further information on procedures, contact the Student Affairs Officer, Mrs Gladis Herrera-Berkowitz (Gladis@ucrac1.ucr.edu). Another useful contact is Dr. Antoon Ploeg (antoon.ploeg@ucr.edu), chair of the relevant committee within the Department of Nematology at UCR. |
| GENERAL INFORMATION The Department of Nematology is always welcoming new graduate students. If you are interested in Nematology, and are considering to do your graduate studies in this subject, check out our faculty web pages, to see their areas of interest. If you are interested in one or more of these research areas, read on, and contact us via the addresses listed below. PhD degrees at UCR take about 5 years on average, of which the first two are mostly devoted to coursework. If you already have a directly relevant MSc degree, then you may be able to lighten some of the course requirements. Alternatively, you may prefer to take the opportunity to strengthen aspects of your training that were not covered in depth during your previous studies. Although our department does not offer its own PhD program, nematology faculty frequently serve as supervisors for students enrolled for a graduate program through one of the other relevant departments (usually Plant Pathology, Botany and Plant Sciences, Biology or Entomology) of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (see website http://www.cnas.ucr.edu). Funding for tuition is usually brought together from different sources at different points in the program, through the combined efforts of student, supervisor and the college's Graduate Student Services. For example, students with exceptional academic records may obtain fellowships from the college. Fellowship applicants must submit a complete packet (application form and fee, statement of purpose, 3 letters of recommendation, |
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Page Designed and Maintained by The Nema-Webmaster Department of Nematology
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Updated 3/13/03
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