All supporting materials (transcripts, letters of reference, statements, etc.) should be uploaded directly to the online application.

All Food Science and Human Nutrition degrees are STEM-designated programs.

Food Science and Human Nutrition Graduate Applicant Requirements

  • GRE is not required for any applicant
  • Application Fee Waiver: The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition does not offer Application Fee Waivers. Application Fee Waivers require the department to pay the application fee on behalf of the applicant.
  • Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0)
  • Three letters of reference
    • All reference letters must be received in order for your application to be considered complete.
  • Statements
    • Academic Statement (required, see application for specific questions based on program choice)
    • Personal Statement Short Essay (see application for specific questions based on program choice)
      • Personal statement essays 1 and 2 are required for all applicants.
      • Personal statement essays 3 and 4 are optional.
        • Your response to questions 3 and 4 is voluntary and not answering these questions will not affect your admissions decision.
  • Transcript
    • Unofficial transcript is accepted for the application process
    • Must include the most current grades available at the time the application is submitted
    • Name of institution must appear on unofficial transcript
    • University of Illinois students are still required to upload a copy of their transcript
  • Non-English speaking applicants should submit TOEFL/IELTS scores with their application materials.
    • You can submit the application before you have the scores. Application will not be considered complete until scores are received.
    • Minimum acceptable score requirements are available on the Graduate College website. *If your internet-based test TOEFL score is between 79-102, you can still be admitted, but on limited status, as per the rules of the University of Illinois Graduate College.
  • If you are applying to a thesis-based M.S. or Ph.D., after you submit your application, you must find a faculty member willing to train and serve as your major professor before you can be accepted into the Department. This is not a requirement for non-thesis programs.
    • Although applications will be posted for faculty to review, we suggest that applicants take a proactive role by directly contacting faculty members with whom they would be interested in working. A full list of graduate faculty advisors and their research areas is available on the graduate advising faculty page.

Food Science and Human Nutrition does not require additional information beyond what is required through the online application, but applicants should include a brief phrase that describes their research focus in the ‘other specialization’ section of the application.

Application Deadlines

Although most of our graduate students enter into the program in the fall, students may begin their graduate programs during the fall (August), spring (January).

  • Fall Admission
    • December 15 - for full consideration of a Fellowship, all application materials (including reference letters and English Proficiency scores) must be received by this date.
    • May 15 - Application deadline without consideration for a Fellowship
  • Spring Admission - October 1
    • Fellowships are not awarded in Spring terms.

Visit Graduate Financial Support for more information on which graduate programs in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition offer financial support.

Pre-requisite Suggestions

Students with undergraduate degrees in the sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, chemical engineering, nutrition, food science, etc.) have generally already taken the prerequisite courses for our first year graduate-level classes. If you have a non-science background and are interested in food science, before applying you should take courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, physics, statistics, and calculus. Students interested in nutrition should take courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, physiology, and statistics before applying.

International Applicants

Since we have a large number of international applicants each year, admission is very competitive. We only admit a few international students each year. International students who have attended an English-speaking university and/or who come to visit our campus generally have a better chance for admission.

Please use the following codes when submitting test scores using Educational Testing Service (ETS):  TOEFL (international students) and optional GRE scores (ETS codes: UIUC-1836, Department-00).

Program Codes

  • 10KS0037MS Food Science and Human Nutrition MS
  • 10KS0037PHD Food Science and Human Nutrition PHD