Applicants to the PhD program normally will have completed a M.S. degree with thesis before beginning the doctoral program.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to make contact with prospective major professors early in the application process.
To the Office of Graduate Admissions submit an online application (with non-refundable application fee), official transcripts, and scores from the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable.
All materials must be submitted electronically directly to the Graduate School.
The online application procedure will direct the applicant to submit
an updated resume or CV,
a short statement of professional goals including reasons for applying to Plant Sciences,
answers to a professional bio-sketch self-assessment, and
contact information for three evaluators who will provide letters of reference
References should be capable of assessing the applicant's suitability for graduate work in plant sciences.
Final admission is contingent upon the applicant contacting and obtaining a commitment from a graduate research faculty member to serve as his/her graduate mentor (major professor).

For admission to a graduate program, an international student must have an equivalent 4-year bachelor's degree with at least a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale on all previous coursework or a 3.30 on a 4.00 scale on all previous graduate work. Grading systems other than the 4.00 scale are evaluated, upon receipt of transcripts, in accordance with standard practice. Programs may require a higher average GPA for admission. Applicants with work experience or who are entering graduate study after a number of years away from an educational institution, usually five years, will be given consideration with greater flexibility relative to GPA.

Minimum score requirements for admission to the Graduate School are:
a total score of 80 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT),
a total score of 550 or equivalent on the paper-based TOEFL (PBT), or
a 6.5 overall band score on the IELTS.