The NACS program is an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary training program leading to a Ph.D. in neuroscience and cognitive science. NACS accepts only full-time graduate students. The complexity and depth of the neuroscience and cognitive sciences require full-time study to successfully complete doctoral-level research.
Application Process
- To apply to the NACS Program, applicants must apply to the Graduate School by completing and submitting the Online Graduate Application. The Online Graduate Application and information concerning the application process is available on the UM Graduate School webpage. Select Neuroscience and Cognitive Science program as your graduate program.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit as many of their application materials as possible electronically via the online graduate application (official transcripts and IES documents must be submitted in original hard copy).
- Official transcripts and IES documents should be submitted to the following address: University of Maryland College Park, Enrollment Services Operations, Application for Graduate Admission, Room 0130 Mitchell Building, College Park, MD 20742.
- Unofficial test scores (if needed) and miscellaneous paperwork should be sent to the following address: Pam Komarek, University of Maryland College Park, NACS Program, 2131 Biology-Psychology Building, College Park, MD 20742.
- Deadline: The application deadline is December 1 for admission in the next fall semester.
For best consideration, we strongly encourage applicants to have their application complete by the December 1 deadline.
- Required Application Materials:
- Undergraduate transcripts
- GRE scores
(Department code for NACS is 0213)
- TOEFL score for foreign students
- 3 letters of recommendation from university faculty or scientists
- Statement of scientific interests and career goals
- Completed graduate school forms
- Application fee
- Admission Process:
- Find a faculty mentor. All students who are admitted into the NACS program must have a faculty mentor already assigned to them. Visit this page for information on NACS faculty. A list of faculty who are taking students is available here.
We encourage applicants to contact faculty whose research interests them.
- Pass through the NACS Admissions Committee. Students who are found acceptable by the NACS Admissions Committee will be contacted for an interview and may be invited to our recruitment event, NACS-fest, which is typically held on a Thursday and Friday in the middle of February.
- Notification of admission decisions is typically sent in early March.
Offers of admission are emailed.
Transfer students
We will accept applications from students wishing to transfer to NACS from another graduate program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Such applications will be considered along with the outside applicants using the same criteria for acceptance.
Transfer students should follow the same application procedures as new students and must meet the same minimum requirements.
Transfer applicants may use the transcripts, test scores, and recommendations from their original University of Maryland, College Park Graduate School application.
A new statement of interests and goals is required. In this statement, prospective transfer students should explain their reasons for wishing to transfer to NACS, and they should explain how the transfer would change their program of study or research from what it would be in their current program.
Transfer applicants should arrange for a letter or recommendation from their current graduate advisor and submit an official transcript of their graduate coursework at the University of Maryland, College Park.
The application deadlines are September 1st for admission in the next spring semester and December 1st for admission in the next fall semester.
International students
Students who do not have English as their first language must meet the following minimum TOEFL requirements in addition to those above:
- Paper based test: total score of 575 and 4.0 on writing
- Internet based test: total score of 100 and 26 on writing
- IELTS based test: total score of 7 and 6.5 on writing
The Graduate School may impose other requirements, such as a financial statement.
It is important to note that financial aid is often contingent on competence in spoken English. Specifically, international students who will have teaching assistantships involving contact with students must pass the Maryland English Institute evaluation of their English oral communication skills. Students who do not pass this evaluation will not be eligible for financial support from teaching assistantships. They will be required to take remedial courses and successfully pass a re-evaluation before they can assume responsibilities that require them to be in direct contact with students.
Evaluation procedure
Evaluation of applications and acceptance decisions are the responsibility of the Admissions Committee.
EvaluaTion Timetable
Evaluation of applications should begin immediately after the deadlines so that highly qualified applicants may be recommended for University Fellowships as early as possible.
Criteria for acceptance
The primary consideration must be to accept those students with the highest promise of success both in the NACS program and in their scientific careers. Applicants should show excellence in coursework and research appropriate to their proposed home department.
Suggested minimal GRE scores (using the new 130-170 scoring system):
- GRE verbal: 156
- GRE quantitative: 151
- GRE analytical: 4.5
A student recommended for acceptance by the Admissions Committee must have a NACS faculty member willing to serve as advisor before the student can be recommended to the Graduate School for acceptance. In most cases the student will have successfully negotiated with a faculty member prior to acceptance by the Admissions Committee. A faculty member willing to serve as advisor for a particular student must confirm this in writing to the Admissions Committee.
The decision of the Admissions Committee whether to recommend acceptance should be based on the qualifications and demonstrated potential of the applicant and should not be influenced by any prior agreement or relationship of the applicant with a NACS faculty member.
