Overview

Education

The Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences program at Northwestern University includes approximately 65 training faculty from diverse science and engineering departments on Northwestern's main campus, who are linked by common interests in addressing fundamental questions in the biological and biomedical sciences.

Increasingly, the life sciences require interdisciplinary approaches in order to make essential progress in understanding normal cellular processes, diseases such as cancer, and the development of complex systems.

With closely connected faculty from the departments of Molecular Biosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Neurobiology, Chemistry, and Chemical and Biological Engineering, and with strong ties to numerous interdisciplinary centers including the Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, the Center for Cell and Developmental Systems Biology, the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and the Center for Structural Biology, IBiS promotes innovative research that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries.

IBiS students also benefit from a close-knit scientific community, a supportive advising structure, an active and involved student organization that sponsors scientific and social activities, and a multifaceted professional development program that further prepares them for a broad range of post-degree career options in academia, industry, teaching and other areas.

Programme Structure

Examinations: qualifying examination: part 1 during second year of study, part 2 during third year

Research/Projects: laboratory research based on dissertation proposal

PhD Dissertation: written dissertation; annual presentation of research-in-progress to thesis committee

Final Evaluations: defense consisting of written dissertation, oral defense of dissertation to thesis committee, and public presentation of research accomplishments

Publication: acceptance of at least one first-author data paper before defense

Teaching: two quarters as a teaching assistant

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

9 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Evanston, United States

Disciplines

Biology General Studies View 351 other PhDs in Biology in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

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IELTS

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Other requirements

General requirements

Admitted students must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree — or an equivalent non-U.S. degree — from a regionally accredited institution.

TGS will accept applications from international students with 3-year bachelor's degrees.

You may be considered for admission before you finish your undergraduate degree, but you must complete that degree before you enroll at Northwestern.

In general, to apply to The Graduate School (TGS), you will be required to:

Submit an application online.

Pay an online application fee by credit card.

Submit your Statement of Purpose.

Upload your transcript or academic record.

Submit your test scores (if required by your admitting program).

Upload two to three Letters of Recommendation.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year
Out-of-State

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year

Living costs

Evanston

United States

1100 - 1500 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Education

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Evanston

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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