MSP Frequently Asked Questions
The application for the MSP program is available through the UCI Graduate Division.
The application fee is $135 for US citizens and permanent residents and $155 for international applicants. Domestic applicants who are veterans, have participated in certain minority research programs, or have documented financial need may be eligible for a fee waiver.
The MSP program at UCI is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a way to advance their career in pharmacology while being able to attend to other priorities. With totally online classes, this program is an opportunity for people who are not local to campus to earn a degree from the University of California.
The advanced training in pharmacology offered through the MSP program prepares students to succeed in a range of careers available throughout academic, industrial, and government settings, including positions in biotechnology companies, government agencies, research laboratories, academic programs, technical and scientific writing, patenting, and sales and marketing.
Your online application will need to be supplemented with several documents, including your transcripts, Statement of Purpose, and Personal History Statement.
You should also contact three people you trust to speak to your academic and professional achievements and talents in letters of recommendation. Professors, employers, and colleagues are generally best to provide letters of recommendation.
Your Statement of Purpose should express how your desire to complete the MSP program fits in to your academic and professional experience and goals for the future. By sharing your knowledge and achievements, your Statement of Purpose should show that you are a good fit for the program.
In your Personal History Statement, you should detail your personal background, outlining why you have decided to pursue an MSP and including any relevant stories and challenges you have faced.
As an applicant to the MSP program, your undergraduate education should include at least two years of coursework related to biology and/or chemistry and a minimum of one year of laboratory experience. Both laboratory experience completed in school and professional laboratory experience are acceptable.
No, GRE scores are not needed to apply for the MSP program.
A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required to be considered eligible for the MSP program.
If your undergraduate or master’s degree is not from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction (according to the World Higher Education Database), you must demonstrate English proficiency via the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment. Applicants who take the TOEFL must achieve a minimum score of 80, and applicants who take the IELTS must achieve a minimum score of 7.
We review applications on a rolling basis. Applicants should hear about their status within three to four weeks of submitting an application.
Please explore the information available on our website to find complete details on the MSP program. If you have additional questions, you can contact our admissions team at pharmsci-grad@uci.edu. You can also find more information about applying for graduate studies at UCI via the Graduate Division website.
