M.S. and Ph.D. programs are offered in Food Science. The program receives over 70 applications per year and admits an average of 12 students.
Application Requirements
Applicants to the program need a bachelor’s degree in any field or its international equivalent, prerequisite coursework, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores, and the TOEFL (for international students).
Prerequisite Coursework - at least one college level term completed
General chemistry with lab
Organic chemistry with lab
Physics with lab
Biology with lab
Calculus (college level or documented equivalent)
Application Instructions
To apply to the program, submit the below materials to their indicated locations. Addresses and detailed instructions are on the applications.
Send to Graduate School
1) The Graduate School online application
2) FScN Department application (attach it to the Graduate School online application in the Supplementary Information section)
3) Three Recommendation Forms (completed by recommenders in the Recommendations section of the Graduate School online application; see below regarding letters)
4) Transcripts
5) TOEFL scores (international applicants only)
Send to Department
1) GRE General Test scores (photocopies accepted). Or GRE may submit electronically to the Graduate School.
2) Recommendation letters (not required if recommenders include comments on the Recommendation Form)
The Graduate School online application is due no later than the below deadlines. All other application materials may arrive separately after the deadlines.
Application Deadlines - for national and international applicants
June 15, fall semester
October 15, spring semester
March 15, summer term
Applicants are very strongly encouraged to apply early (7 months in advance of the deadline is recommended, but not required, because faculty advisors often choose advisees and offer funding much earlier than the offical Graduate School application deadlines).
Applications are processed according to date of receipt. Applicants receive an email admission decision typically within three months of receipt of all application materials.
Admission Process and Financial Support
Overview
After an application is reviewed, applicants that meet the basic admission criteria are notified they are admissible to the program. In order to be formally admitted, admissible applicants must find a faculty advisor. Funding, if available, is in the form of an assistantship and typically offered through a student's advisor.
Details
Those found admissible are not automatically assigned an advisor. Rather, each admissible applicant must find a faculty member to that is available to advise and fund them, if funding is necessary. Admissible applicants should search for an advisor by reviewing the list of Food Science program faculty. Then directly contact those in your research interest areas to inquire about an advisee opening and funding. Faculty cannot agree to advise and fund an applicant until after they are found admissible.
Important Note
Advisors and funding are limited, and not guaranteed to all applicants deemed admissible. There is no separate application to be completed for assistantships, or list of current advisee/funding openings as these vary according to term and faculty member.
Tuition (rates listed at the top of the table) and Housing
GPA/Course Scores
The Graduate School has a minimum preferred undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Preferred scores for international coursework vary based on Graduate School recommendations.
GRE
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by the program, but there are no minimum preferred scores. See the Graduate School for the average GRE scores and demographics of admitted students. When taking the GRE, enter the number codes 6874 to designate the institution and 0107 for the department.
English Language Requirements
International applications must complete the TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS if their native language is not English, except those who will have completed 24 quarter credits/16 semester credits (within the past 24 months) in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States before entering the University of Minnesota. When taking the TOEFL, enter the number codes 6874 to designate the institution and 31 for the department.
International Applicant Assistance
International Student and Scholar Services and the Graduate School
FAQ's
