Graduate Application Information & Requirements

Click here to apply to the FSHN Graduate Program

What You Need To Know Before You Apply

Decisions regarding acceptance is made following consideration of the applicant’s academic record, experience, personal qualifications and proposed program of study.
Admission to Michigan State University graduate programs is open to all candidates on the basis of: 1) academic preparation and ability and 2) availability of financial resources, laboratory facilities and faculty with willingness and space to take additional students in the desired area of study.
Admission is open without regard to race, color, sex, religion, creed, national origin, political persuasion, sexual preference, marital status, handicap, age, or (in the case of U.S. citizens or permanent residents) financial needs.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate work or an appropriate MS program to be considered for admission.
Letters of recommendation and previous work experience are also weighed in the application review process.
If an applicant meets our academic guidelines, one professor in FSHN must agree to act as major advisor for the student to be admitted. Therefore, not all qualified applicants can be admitted.
- This is not applicable to the MS-Dietetic Internship or the Online MS Food Regulatory Affairs programs.
Outstanding candidates may apply directly for the PhD program if they have obtained a BS degree. Decisions about direct admission into the PhD program will be made by the Graduate Affairs Committee.
FSHN does not provide application fee waivers for applicants.

Contact a Faculty Member

For the Food Science Master's and PhD programs and the Human Nutrition Master's and PhD programs: We have a limited number of openings for graduate students. Before filling out the applications and paying the application fees, contact faculty members in your specific area of interest to determine if there is a faculty member who has an opening and is willing to take you into their group. An agreement with a faculty member to serve as your major advisor upon admission is required for admission. Faculty contact information and areas of interest are available under Research.

Timing of Application

Fall enrollment applications are due: April 15th
- Applications received by December 1 will be given priority review
- Applicants are urged to apply by mid-Fall to be considered for any departmental funding, laboratory space and competitive University fellowships.
Spring enrollment applications are due: August 15th
Summer enrollment applications are due: January 15th

Application Procedures

How to Apply

Before starting your application, visit the MSU Graduate School's How to Apply links for domestic and international applicants. These pages contain valuable information about university requirements and provide instructions.

When you are ready to start your application, use the Slate Application Portal.

Required Application Materials

All required application materials must be uploaded to your application before the Slate Application Portal will release your application to the department for review.

Transcripts

Official transcripts are required from every university or college that you have ever attended and must be received directly from the applicant's degree-granting institution(s). The applicant may upload a copy of their transcripts to their application, however, a final admissions decision will not be made without an official transcript.

Official transcripts for US-based institutions may be sent electronically directly from the institution, such as through Parchment. Contact your institution's Registrar to request an official transcript to be sent to MSU.

International applicants must include official transcripts in the original language and translated into English. Transcripts from international universities must be sent as physical copies in sealed, unopened and signed envelopes from the degree-granting institution. International applicants should review the "International Transcripts" section of the Graduate School's Quick Tips page for information about transcript requirements. Applicants should also visit the Guidance for Specific Countries to see if there are instructions specific to the country of the degree granting institution.

Official transcripts received at the Office of Admissions will be uploaded to your application by Admissions staff. Electronic transcripts can be sent to admis@msu.edu. Physical official transcripts can be sent to:

Michigan State University
Office of Admissions
426 Auditorium Road
Room 250
East Lansing, MI 48824

Students who apply prior to completing their degrees should submit transcripts to date. An official final transcript and/or diploma will be required after the degree has been conferred.

Personal Statement

Please address each of these areas in your statement:

General background and life experiences (social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges) which motivated you to pursue this degree. These could be experiences inside or outside of the classroom that contributed to your desire to get a graduate degree.
This includes research experiences, specific coursework, or job experience related to the desired degree.
Please provide examples of experiences which show perseverance in the face of obstacles and/or experiences which demonstrate initiative.
Consider a time when a project you were working on failed. What was your response? How did you handle it?
Elaborate on other personal attributes that will contribute to your success in graduate school.

Academic Statement

Please address each of these areas in your statement:

Please elaborate on your scientific interests and passions.
Which advanced degree you are pursuing?
Why you desire to pursue your advanced degree at MSU in the department of FSHN?
What will you contribute to FSHN?
What you think you might find most difficult about graduate school?
What opportunities for further development do you seek from FSHN?
What are you career goals and plans.

Test Scores

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition does not require GRE scores for admission. Applicants are welcome to provide scores as supplemental materials if scores are available, but this is not required and will not influence admissions review.

International applicants from non-English speaking countries are required to provide English language proficiency test scores. Applicants from some English speaking countries may also required to present proof of English language proficiency. See the Graduate School's English Language Competency page for the minimum scores for Proficiency by Test and the list of English speaking countries that do not require proof of proficiency.

Any questions regarding the university's minimum language proficiency requirements for English can be answered by the English Language Center.

Recommendation Letters

Michigan State University requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation for all graduate admission applications. The Slate application portal will prompt you to provide names and email addresses of your letter writers. The system will send each letter writer a request and link to upload their letter.

Status of Application

Check the status of your application to the graduate program by logging into the Slate Application Portal as a "returning user". You will receive an email when there is a change in your status. Depending on the status change, you may need to take action.

International Applicants

We encourage international students to apply as early as possible because there is an extended waiting period for visa applications; preferably a year ahead of the semester in which they wish to enroll.

Visit the MSU Graduate School's page for international applicants for valuable information regarding degree equivalencies, English language requirements, and more.