• CV
  • The CV should contain: name; address, including email address; schools attended and majors with graduation dates; work experience; research experience; teaching experience; publications and presentations; relevant special training. Limit to 2-pages and omit heading for which there are no entries.
• Personal Statement
  • The personal statement should briefly explain your background, why you want to pursue a doctoral degree, what your research interests are, and what you propose to do in your career in the short (<5 years) and long term.
• All applicants are automatically considered for competitive departmental assistantships.
• Three letters of recommendation
  • ​Three letters of recommendation are required from faculty members or job supervisors familiar with the applicant’s teaching, learning, and research abilities. In place of the items on the common form, recommenders can attach a letter and rate the scholarly ability of the applicant in comparison with students in the same field who have approximately the same amount of experience and education: Outstanding (upper 5%), Very Good (upper 10%), Good (upper 25%), Average (upper 50%), or Below Average.  Further, please provide your recommendation for admissions to our program: Strongly recommend, Recommend, Recommend with reservations, or No recommendation.  Finally, please provide your estimate of the applicant’s promise as a graduate student. Give views on such matters as previous accomplishments and training, intellectual independence, capacity for analytical thinking, ability to organize and express ideas clearly, drive and motivation, ability to work with others, and any other information you feel may assist us in evaluating the applicant’s potential for graduate work.
  • The program prefers upload of the letter. If you prefer, send hardcopy form to:   Director of Graduate Studies – IPSS, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, 105 Plant Science Building University of Kentucky, Lexington KY  40546-0312.

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The GRE is not required for admission to this program.

Applicants must meet the Graduate School admission requirements.

Application Deadlines

• ​Spring: December 9 (domestic students), February 1 (international students)
• Summer: April 15 (domestic students only)
• Fall: June 17 (domestic students), April 15 (international students)

• Each student enrolled in the IPSS program through either departmental or grant‐funded research assistantships will receive a uniform base stipend depending on the degree program (M.S. or Ph.D.), tuition scholarship, and health insurance. Other university fees will be the responsibility of the student. The base stipend for grant‐funded assistantships may be supplemented for exceptional candidates and performance at the discretion of the department chairs.  
• The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF’s mission. The GRFP provides up to three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. The GRFP supports over 100 subfields. For the 2020 competition, NSF received over 13,000 applications and made approximately 2,000 fellowships offers.