Applying to CU 麻豆影院's Behavioral Neuroscience PhD?

Check out our Application Assistance program!

The Behavioral Neuroscience graduate program is a research-oriented program that aims to understand behavior at all levels of organization within the nervous system. Our program draws students from a broad variety of scientific backgrounds, coming from both the social and natural sciences, but they share a few common traits: profound curiosity, and a real energy and enthusiasm about science.

Faculty Recruiting Students for Fall 2025

    • The application website opens in July.
    • 罢丑别听deadline听for all applications is听10 p.m. Mountain Time,听November 15.
    • Graduate School application fee is $60听for US citizens and $80 for international applicants.
    • The general application is听online only听via the听University of Colorado Graduate Admissions site.
    • Steps to applying for the Behavioral Neuroscience Graduate Program can be found听on the Psychology and Neuroscience departmental website.
    • Application Assistance Program

    • 2023 Recruitment Weekend: TBD
    • The Behavioral Neuroscience听Graduate Program utilizes a direct-admit model where prospective students are admitted into the faculty laboratory of their choice (i.e.,听no rotations). We encourage prospective students to contact faculty members prior to applying to determine whether they are admitting students for the upcoming year. Your application should state who you would like to work with, and your personal statement should detail why you feel the laboratory would be a good fit for your research interests.听
    • Graduate applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and initial reviews will be completed in early December. Individual faculty members will contact prospective students to schedule an e-meeting after reviewing all applications.
    • Top prospective students will be invited to campus a 2-3 day in-person interview. Travel and lodging expenses for domestic applicants invited to interview with the program will be provided by the Graduate Program. The Graduate Program will also provide for lodging during the interview process for international applicants, however international applicants must cover their own travel expenses to and from the United States.听
    • Final decisions of acceptance are generally made in January/February after the admissions committee has met and all candidates have been evaluated.

    • Academic Background
      You must have a bachelor鈥檚 degree from an accredited institution. Students from a broad range of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including those with degrees in the neuroscience, biology, chemistry, psychology, bioengineering, etc.
    • Research Experience
      听Competitive applicants typically have 6 months or more听of research experience, preferably in neuroscience.
    • GRE Scores
      • GRE scores are听not required and will not be considered听for admission into the Behavioral Neuroscience Graduate Program.
    • TOEFL
      Applicants whose education was not in English must earn a score of 550 on the听.

    • Salary/Stipends
      Students who are accepted into the Behavioral Neuroscience graduate program are provided with financial support for their graduate education. Graduate students are supported by a combination of Teaching Assistantships (TA) and Research Fellowships/Assistantships (RA). Students are also encouraged to seek external fellowships (e.g. NRSA, GRFP, etc) to support their graduate training.
    • Tuition Waivers
      Students are granted a tuition waiver听as long as they are employed as a TA or RA, enrolled as a full-time student, and maintaining satisfactory progress. The waivers include basic tuition for classes that are taken for credit. Students are highly encouraged to establish Colorado state residency after their first year. Students are responsible for the mandatory student fees on a per-semester basis (approx. $800), although graduate program funds are often available to offset these fees.
    • Insurance
      Students are enrolled into the Gold Student Health Insurance Plan and the University will cover approximately 90% of the health insurance premiums. The remaining portion the health insurance premium (approx. $170/semester) are the responsibility of the student.
    • Student Financial Services
      Fellowships, scholarships and other forms of financial aid are available through the Graduate School. Students who submit a complete application for admission to graduate study in Psychology and Neuroscience will automatically be considered for university scholarships and fellowships for which they are eligible. If students complete a financial aid application, they will be considered for other need-based support.

    麻豆影院 is a highly听livable city of just over 100,000, including approximately 36,000 students. Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains at 5,430 feet above sea level, 麻豆影院 has over 300 sunny days a year, with warm, dry summers and snowy (but relatively mild) winters.

    麻豆影院 is surrounded by a buffer of green space, and recreational opportunities abound. There are over 200 miles of public hiking and biking trails, including many within walking distance of campus. 麻豆影院 Creek flows past campus and through the middle of town, surrounded by a green belt and multi-use path. Many ski areas are nearby鈥搃ncluding Eldora Ski Resort, which is accessible by public bus. Rocky Mountain National Park is also nearby.

    The University of Colorado campus is centrally located, and most graduate students choose to live in apartments or shared houses in easy walking, biking or busing distance from campus. An excellent bus system (free with a student pass) provides access to the wider 麻豆影院 area, Denver, the airport, and skiing.

    More information about 麻豆影院 is available from the听听and听听websites.