The Neuroscience PhD program accepts applications for either our general admissions program or our direct admissions program. The general admissions program is the main (traditional) program. In this program, entering students perform 3 research rotations in different labs in Year 1, use these research experiences to select a thesis lab in late Spring of Year 1, and then begin thesis research. Students also fulfill the graduate course requirements, take the qualifying exam (QE) at the end of Year 2, gain experience in teaching by serving as graduate student instructor (GSI) for 2-3 classes, attend seminars and retreats, participate in academic and career advising activities, and give a thesis seminar prior to graduating. Target completion time is 5 years.
Beginning with the 2026 entering cohort, we are adding a Direct Admissions (DA) program. This is for applicants who have strong knowledge of a particular UC Berkeley Neuroscience Department faculty lab (e.g., by having done summer or undergraduate or post-baccalaureate research in that lab, or by extensive discussions with the faculty member) and are committed to joining that lab for thesis research. The DA program allows applicants to apply to join that specific laboratory. Direct admit students do not do research rotations, and instead directly join the faculty sponsor lab to begin their thesis research at entry in Year 1. All other components of the program (courses, QE, GSIships, seminars, retreats, advising, etc.) are identical to the general admission program. This program is only for applicants who are committed to joining the faculty sponsor's lab. The faculty sponsor must specifically invite the student to apply for direct admission in their lab. Only applicants who have been invited by a faculty member to apply by this route may apply to the DA program. Applicants to the DA program are automatically also considered for admission to the general admission program.
Being invited to and applying to the direct admission program does not guarantee admission to the Neuroscience PhD program. Applicants for direct admissions submit the same application materials as all other applicants, and will be reviewed and must meet the same high admissions requirements as for the general program. The sponsoring faculty member must commit to accepting the student if they are admitted and must show the program that they have sufficient research funds to support the student beginning from Year 1.
Eligible DA program faculty are noted in the first column of the Neuroscience PhD Program Training Faculty list.