The Department of Integrative Biology mainly accepts candidates for the Ph.D. and does not have direct admission into the Masters degree program. Admission is highly competitive. It is advised that any serious prospective applicant visit the University and contact the appropriate professors with whom the applicant might work. Applicants are rarely admitted if they have not made personal contact with a prospective faculty member or if their interests do not overlap strongly with at least one faculty member. In fact, an applicants' folder must be supported by at least one faculty member to gain entry into the program.
Unsponsored students are extremely rare.
Within conservation-related fields, prior research experience is viewed as highly desirable. Acceptance is also subject to the availability of space within the desired laboratories. The Department of Integrative Biology receives around 200 formal, completed applications and of these 20-30 students are admitted each year. All students are supported by the Department with teaching assistantships for 5 years. The Department of ESPM has both Masters and Ph.D. programs.