Basic requirements (requested by the USFQ Graduate School)

• To have an undergraduate degree in Biology, Genetics, Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Ecology, and related disciplines. The diploma must have Apostille or be certified via the consular office of the issuing country in Ecuador. Once accepted, the applicant will have to register the degree at SENESCYT (the National Secretariat for Superior Education, Science, and Technology) before the program's start date.
• Proof of English proficiency, equivalent to B1 level of the Common European Framework. Proficiency may be proved by taking the USFQ English exam or providing certification for taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge exams within the last 2 years.
• Copy of identification document (passport or Ecuadorian cédula).
• Official transcripts.
• Degree registered at SENESCYT (once accepted).
• To approve the USFQ Graduate School exam. To take this exam (in Spanish), please go to: /en/admissions/postgraduate

Specific Requirements of the Master’s Program:

• To approve the Program-specific Knowledge Test (questions will have a «short essay» approach). The exam will be offered online using the USFQ D2L system. Applicants must demonstrate their capability in the integration of knowledge and analysis of case studies on basic tenants of Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, and Experimental Design. The exam will be developed in English to evaluate the student 's writing skills and synthesis ability in this language. For the exam, check the list of subjects HERE.

If you need access to books to prepare for the exam, please contact Irina Muñoz at imunozr@usfq.edu.ec

• Complete Application Form for the Master's Program. In this form, the applicants will select their preferred date to take the Program-specific Knowledge Test. Also, they will have to select the scholarship to which they would like to apply (maximum two). Finally, they will have to attach the following documents in PDF format:
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Letter of intent, in English, explaining the student’s interest in becoming part of the Master's Program.
• Two academic/professional references, including full names, email, and institutional affiliation. The program Director will request the referees to fill out the Reference Form (in English or Spanish) to complete the application process.
• If this were the case, upload additional requirements for each scholarship (see FUNDING section).
• Once the Application Form is validated, the aspirant will be contacted for an interview face-to-face at USFQ Cumbayá campus or online if the aspirant is not in Quito, with the Admissions Committee.

Application Form: https://form.jotform.com/203246069309051

The admission process to the program has two parts: admission to USFQ graduate programs and specific admission to the master's program.

For the USFQ Admission process, contact Graduate Admissions office HERE. Once the requirements have been submitted, a date will be assigned for the admission exam.

For the admission process of the program, applicants must fill out and upload the requirements to the registration form (link)  where they will also indicate the date on which they prefer to take the master's exam and the type of scholarship they want to apply for, if applicable.

Once the requirements of USFQ Admissions and the program have been fulfilled, all documents will be evaluated by the Academic Committee of the Master's Program, which will send a response to the applicant via e-mail. The response will be sent no later than two months from the date of the admission exam to the program.

In order to expedite the admission process, it is recommended that applicants take the USFQ Admission exam and Master’s program specific knowledge exam consecutively.

*IMPORTANT: Please refer to the following tab for the dates for the admission and program specific knowledge exams.

Program start date:

August 2023 (each two years)

*IMPORTANT: For the awarding of scholarships, priority will be given to applicants who apply during the first two dates.