MS/PhD FAQ's

General FAQs

  1. What is the minimum GPA required for admission?
  2. What are the average GRE scores of students who are accepted into our program?
  3. What are the deadlines for submitting my application?
  4. Which application information needs to be submitted to the Graduate School if I am a domestic applicant? (international applicants, see below)
  5. Who should I have write my letters of recommendation?
  6. How should my letters of recommendation be submitted?
  7. Do I have to apply separately to the Athens and Griffin campuses or is one application sufficient? 
  8. I am not sure if my application fees or official test scores have been received. With whom should I talk to find out?
  9. I am getting ready to send my official test scores. Does the department have its own code?
  10. How many applicants do you usually get for your graduate program? What is the acceptance rate? 
  11. Is it possible to apply directly to the PhD program without having a master's degree?
  12. What is the difference between the M.S. and the M.F.T. programs?
  13. Can the application fee be waived?

If you have other questions, please go to the Graduate School FAQ page

International FAQs

  1. As an international applicant, which application information needs to be submitted to the Graduate School?
  2. What additional application information is needed for international applicants?
  3. When do I need to submit my Certificate of Financial Support?
  4. Where do I find the Certificate of Financial Support?
  5. What are the Graduate School’s requirements for the TOEFL and IELTS scores?
  6. What are the rules regarding which international applicants are required to take the TOEFL?

General FAQs

What is the minimum GPA required for admission?

The minimum undergraduate GPA standard for admission to the Graduate School at the University of Georgia for applicants who do not have a prior graduate degree is 3.0.
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What is the average combined GRE score of students who are accepted into our program?

The average combined GRE score for our accepted applicants is approximately 310-315. We have a minimum verbal score of 149.
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What are the deadlines for submitting my application?

Applications are only accepted for fall matriculation. The early acceptance deadline for admissions into the Food Science M.S. and Ph.D. programs for Fall is January 1st. Files are reviewed in order of receipt starting in late January through mid-March. Notification of the decision should be sent by the Graduate School by mid to late March. If you are an applicant for the M.S. and Ph.D. programs, and you are not interested in early acceptance, files received by February 15th may be considered. Once we have received all of your application materials, your application will be considered by our Graduate Selections Committee and a recommendation will be made to the Graduate School.
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Which application information needs to be submitted to the Graduate School if I am a domestic applicant? (international applicants, see below)

The needed information can be found at the Graduate Admissions website.
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Who should I have write my letters of recommendation?

The three different letters usually come from former or current professors and professional supervisors.
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How should my letters of recommendation be submitted?

The preferred method of submission is through the online application for admission which contains a section that allows you invite your recommendation writers to submit their letters electronically. If this is not an available option to you, then the letters may be submitted by mail or email to the Department of Food Science and Technology.
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Do I have to apply separately to the department at the Athens and Griffin campuses or is one application sufficient?

No, only one application is necessary.
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I am not sure if my application fees or official test scores have been received. With whom should I talk to find out?

Please check the graduate applicant tracking system for updates. You can also check with the Graduate Admissions Office. That office collects the application fee and receives the official test scores.
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I am getting ready to send my official test scores. Does the department have its own code?

No, the scores should be sent to the Graduate School. The Graduate School's code is 5813. All scores are received there, and a copy is shared with the department.
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How many applicants usually apply for your graduate program? What is the acceptance rate? How many of the accepted candidates enroll?

While the number varies from year-to-year, we usually receive between 140 and 160 applicants per year and will accept about 20-25% of those applicants. Of the accepted applicants 15-20 will enroll each year.
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Is it possible to apply directly to the Ph.D. program without having a master's degree?

Post-baccalaureate students may apply directly for the Ph.D. degree at the time of application, but must satisfy specific requirements. These requirements are outlined below.

Meet the Graduate School's requirement:
Using the old 1600 point GRE scale: (1000 x undergraduate GPA) + verbal and quantitative scores of GRE > 4300
Using the new 340 GRE scale: (8 x undergraduate GPA) + (GRE verbal x 0.2) + (GRE quantitative x 0.2) > 85
Have a letter of recommendation or justification from a UGA graduate faculty member strongly supporting the request.
Show exceptional proficiency in performing research.
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What is the difference between the M.S. and the M.F.T. programs?

Students in the M.S. program are required to successfully complete and defend a research thesis under the direction of a major professor at either the Athens or Griffin locations. It is open to both part-time and full-time students. Students in the M.S. program are eligible for assistantship support. Potential students for the non-thesis online M.F.T. program are working professionals who may or may not have formal education in food science but are employed in the food or food-related industries. The M.F.T. degree is offered totally online. Students in the M.F.T. program are not eligible for graduate assistant funding. If you have additional questions about the M.F.T. program, view the information available at UGA Online.
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Can the application fee be waived?

The graduate application fee may be waived by the Graduate School under certain circumstances only. Please see the Graduate School website for a list of programs which are eligible for application fee waiver. The Department of Food Science and Technology is not able to waive the application fee.
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International FAQs

As an international applicant, which application information needs to be submitted to the Graduate School?

The needed information can be found at the Graduate School Admissions website.
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What additional application material is needed for international applicants?

Additional admissions information can be found at the Graduate School Admissions website.
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When do I need to submit my Proof of Financial Support?

The proof of finances is not necessary until you have been notified by the Graduate School that you have been recommended for admission into the program. 
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Where do I find the Certificate of Financial Support?

All international applicants recommended for admission must show proof of finances. Once recommended, you will receive an email with more information on requesting visa documents and submitting your proof of finances to the Office of Global Engagement.
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What are the Graduate School’s requirements for the TOEFL and IELTS scores?

Minimum TOEFL score requirement: overall score of 80 with a score of at least 20 on the speaking and with a score of at least 20 on the writing portions.

Minimum IELTS score requirement: overall band-width of 6.5, with no single band (score) below 6.0.

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What are the rules regarding which international applicants are required to take the TOEFL?

The following information taken from the UGA Graduate School website may be helpful.  

“Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores. The scores may not be more than two years old. Applicants who have received degrees from accredited institutions in the U.S. or from institutions in countries where English is the primary language (e.g., the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand) usually are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

If such an applicant received the degree more than two years prior to application to the Graduate School and has been residing or working in a country where the primary language is not English, he or she must submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores. Students who are currently enrolled and have been enrolled at least one year at a regionally accredited U.S. institution, may have the English language proficiency requirement waived, if their work shows a strong quality of performance. Some departments may require the TOEFL (or IELTS) regardless of previous educational experience.”
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