Applicants to the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Brown University or the Brown-NIH Graduate Partnership Program are expected to have an undergraduate degree in a component discipline of neuroscience such as biology, psychology, neurobiology, chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, engineering, or computer science. The Neuroscience Graduate Program and Graduate Partnership Program do not have any specific course requirements for successful admission. Students who are admitted without sufficient background in certain topics will be encouraged to take the appropriate introductory level courses at Brown and fill the gap in their scientific knowledge before enrolling in more advanced courses in that subject area. We encourage applications from members of underrepresented minority groups and those with disabilities.
Personal Statement - All applicants are required to submit a personal statement. The statement should help us understand who you are, what motivates you, and what you hope to gain from a PhD. You should also include a description of your research experience, current research interests, and explain why you are applying to the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Brown. You should limit your statement to no more than two pages, single spaced. The document should be uploaded in pdf format.
Graduate Record Examination Scores for the General Aptitude Test - The GRE reporting code for Brown University is 3094 and the department code for Neuroscience is 0213. Test results are valid for 5 years.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Score - International students must submit scores of the TOEFL unless they have completed their undergraduate studies in the United States, another country with English as its principle language, or attended a baccalaureate-granting institution that has its primary instruction in the English language. The TOEFL reporting code for Brown University is 3094 and the department code for Neuroscience is 30. Test results are valid for 2 years.
Undergraduate transcripts (and others where applicable).
Brown accepts unofficial, self-reported transcripts and GRE and TOEFL scores for the initial submitted application. Official GRE and TOEFL scores are required for Brown's Graduate School to offer admission, an event that typically occurs after applicant interviews. Brown's Graduate School requires official transcripts only for matriculation before the first Fall semester.
Three Letters of Recommendation
All international applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score. The minimum score for admission consideration is 577 on the paper-based test and 90 on the Internet-based test. For IELTS, the recommended minimum overall band score is 7.