Admissions Information

The application deadline for fall intake is 15 December each year. We are unable to consider any applications submitted after that date.

The deadline for spring intake applications is 15 September each year. We are unable to consider any applications submitted after that date.

The BS/MS Plan B Integrated (4+1) Program is exclusive to existing FScN Nutrition BS students and has a different admissions process and timeline. See the BS/MS Plan B Integrated Program page for 4+1 admissions information.

The Dietetics Master of Professional Studies (MPS) Program is a professional graduate program and has a different admissions process and timeline. See the Dietetics MPS Program page for professional graduate program admissions information.

Graduate program applicants must submit applications using the University of Minnesota Graduate School’s central application system.

Thoroughly follow the instructions found in the application to submit a comprehensive application package. In addition to standard demographic information, all research graduate program applications require the following:

• Unofficial transcripts
• Resume/CV
• Personal statement
• Diversity statement
• Academic writing sample
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Nonrefundable application fee

Writing prompts for narrative submissions are provided on the application itself. An application checklist can be found by following this link.

Applications can and should be submitted prior to receipt of all letters of recommendation. Recommendations are collected on an ongoing basis until the application deadline passes. Be advised that it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all letters of recommendation are submitted before the application deadline.

The Food Science MS and PhD Programs are maintaining the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) waiver that was put in place in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food Science applicants will not be expected to submit GRE scores until further notice.

The Nutrition MS and PhD Program applications no longer require GRE scores. Prospective students are expected to spend the time refining their other application materials that they would otherwise have spent studying for, scheduling, and taking the GRE.

International applicants for whom English is not their native language must submit official TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB exam scores with their application. This is a University of Minnesota requirement that is not enforced by the Department of Food Science and Nutrition. See the University of Minnesota Graduate School’s English language proficiency page for more information.

The graduate application fee is imposed by the University of Minnesota Graduate School. Unfortunately, the Department of Food Science and Nutrition does not currently have the resources to subsidize application fees under any circumstances.

Application reviews begin shortly after the application deadline passes. Each applicant is assessed by multiple application reviewers who consider the following general criteria:

• Relevant research/professional experience
• Past academic performance
• Preparedness for graduate study in a lab environment
• Alignment between research interests and faculty expertise
• Demonstrated critical thinking and scientific aptitude
• Demonstrated writing and communication skill
• Demonstrated congruence with the Department’s mission and values
• Graduate program capacity

Applicants who are denied admission may appeal their admission decision one time, provided the appeal is submitted within two weeks of release of the initial non-admission decision. Appeal requests should be sent to [email protected] under the subject “[APPLICANT NAME] application decision appeal.”

Appealed applications will be randomly assigned two new reviewers and a new admission decision will be communicated to the appellate at the earliest opportunity. The appealed decision cannot be appealed a second time.

Applicants determined to be admissible will advance to the second round of application review. It is the stance of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition that admissible applicants are responsible for securing their own advisor prior to full admission. Second round applicants will be formally admitted upon securing an advising agreement with one of the program’s faculty members.

Prospective students are discouraged from contacting prospective advisors before advancing to the second round of application review. The initial application review is conducted by departmental faculty and must be done in as unbiased a way as possible. Early interaction between applicants and potential application reviewers prolongs application review and impacts the integrity of the admissions process.

The likelihood of admission to our PhD programs without a master's degree is quite low. Direct admission to a PhD requires significant evidence of advanced research capacity. Applicants who do not already hold a master’s degree (or who are in the process of completing one) are expected to possess a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and have at least one first-named publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

In most instances, we encourage applicants with a bachelor's degree who are interested in pursuing doctoral study to first apply for the MS program. If admitted and subsequently demonstrate exceptional aptitude during their first year of study, there is a common method to bypass the remainder of the MS and transition into the PhD program.

PhD applicants determined inadmissible will not be considered for the MS program in place of the PhD program. Applicants are considered for the program of application only.