Graduate certificates
Online programs
Graduate research assistantships
Graduate research assistantships (GRAs) are not viewed as compensation for services rendered, but rather as stipends awarded competitively to eligible students on the basis of academic merit, research potential and sustained scholarly achievement. GRAs are offered to M.S. and Ph.D. students and include a stipend and full tuition waiver. GRAs are typically supported with departmental/college funding or grant/contract funding, and the GRA stipend is negotiated directly between the student and prospective major professor.
Students can start a graduate program any semester. Prospective students wishing to be considered for GRA support beginning in the fall semester should have completed their application to the graduate program by March 1, and by September 1 in order to be considered for GRA support beginning in the spring semester. For general applicants, applications and all other relevant material must be received by the Graduate School at least 45 days before the first day of class of the semester in which the student wishes to begin graduate study. International applicants should submit all required materials at least 90 days before the first day of class of the semester in which the student wishes to begin graduate study. GRAs may be awarded for multiple years, but continuation of financial assistance is dependent upon satisfactory performance and progress toward degree requirements.
A prestigious award for new students pursuing doctoral or terminal professional degrees, Auburn’s Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship Program offers fellows an annual stipend of $30,000 or more for three years. The goal is to recruit doctoral applicants with outstanding credentials and strong academic background to Auburn.
Fellowship recipients are highly motivated and incredibly capable students who bring exemplary scholarship and innovation to their academic departments and research programs. Prospective graduate students who have applied to Auburn University may be nominated by their faculty advisor through their department head, chair or school director. All nominations will be reviewed first by a college committee and then by a university committee to select fellowship recipients.
Admissions decisions to graduate programs in the College of Agriculture are based on the compatibility of the applicant’s goals with departmental resources, the availability of spaces for new students, and a holistic evaluation of the applicant’s potential for success in the program. Other considerations routinely include standardized test scores, grades, grade point averages, letters of recommendation, writing samples, research or applied experience, and/or interviews.
An absolute requirement for admission is a faculty member willing to serve as the applicant’s major professor. No student will be accepted regardless of qualifications if there is no faculty member willing or able to serve as the major professor.
All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university and meet specific departmental academic standards. Applicants from related areas will be required to correct any undergraduate course deficiencies. Successful applicants normally will be expected to have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all undergraduate course work, or of at least 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work. Applicants who hold a graduate degree should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all graduate work.
All applicants must submit an official Graduate Record Examination score report to the Auburn University Graduate School. The Graduate School requires one official transcript of all undergraduate and any graduate credits from each school previously attended. If an Auburn University transcript, the Graduate School will acquire the transcript for you. Applicants should check with the department to which they seek admission to determine exactly what materials are required and when they should be submitted.
