2025 Call for applications for the postgraduate program in Integrative Biology at Cinvestav Irapuato (Master's and Doctorate) for foreigners
Open Call
INTRODUCTION
Cinvestav (The Center for Research and Advanced Studies) is a Mexican governmental scientific research institution
The institute is divided in 10 research centers that are dedicated to research and post graduate training within specific research areas (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CINVESTAV). Our campus hosts two research centers: the Unidad Irapuato that includes the Department of Genetic Engineering and the Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, and the Unidad de Genómica Avanzada. The campus has a permanent staff of 51 professors and ~ 220 students and offers master’s and Ph.D. programs within areas of genetics, genomics, epigenetics, biotechnology, bioinformatics, plant biology, evolution, synthetic biology, biochemistry and microbiology. The campus is located in Irapuato, Guanajuato (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irapuato; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanajuato).
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree, for students wishing to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. degree, respectively.
- A minimum average grade equivalent to 8.0 in the Mexican grading system (8/10); please consult the webpage www.wes.org to see the equivalent of this grade with respect to your country’s grading system.
- Basic knowledge of Spanish is required given that all courses in the master’s program are conducted in Spanish.
- Ceneval EXANI III or GRE General examination dated after August 1st 2023.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION:
In the case of NOT having results for the GRE exam please arrange to take the GRE or the CENEVAL EXANI III.
Important: Because of visa processing times and regulations, foreign applicants till begin two semesters after they apply (i.e in August 2026).
- Apply for admission to one of our two graduate programs:
Integrative Biology Master´s Degree
Integrative Biology PhD
- Please send the following required documents to Diana Barbosa (Academic Secretary’s office, Cinvestav Irapuato) before May 19th 2025 (diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx); documents marked with an asterisk require an apostille:
For Master’s and PhD studies: Motivation letter for applying to our graduate program; two recommendation letters; and a certificate of Spanish language proficiency (if Spanish is not the applicant´s native language) sent directly to diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx
For Master’s studies: BSc Diploma *, BSc academic transcript*, birth certificate*
For PhD studies: MSc Diploma*, MSc academic transcript*, BSc Diploma*, BSc academic transcript*, birth certificate*
For PhD studies: PhD research proposal (3-5 pages) developed in conjunction with your prospective advisor (see below)
The registration deadlines and exam dates are listed below.
EVALUATION PROCESS
Applicants will be evaluated based on the results of the GRE general exam or EXANI III, an evaluation of their qualifications (e.g. grades, work experience, knowledge of English), as well as the other components of the application process. Applicants for the PhD program will also be required to submit a 3-5 page proposal for their PhD project, developed in conjunction with their potential PhD advisor. Thus, applicants for the PhD program must have identified their potential PhD advisor before applying. Qualified applicants will be invited to an interview online as part of the Semana Interactiva de Evaluación, where they will participate in the discussion of a scientific article and present their project proposal, among other activities. The decisions of the Academic Committee are final.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Foreign students are eligible for scholarships from SECIHTI (see https://secihti.mx).
IMPORTANT DATES
REGISTRATION on Cinvestav website:
March 10th: Registration open
May 19th: Registration closed
Send results of GRE general exam by May 19th 2025 to diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx
ONLINE INTERVIEWS
9-13 June: Applicant Interviews online
RESULTS OF ADMISION PROCESS/INTRODUCTORY COURSES
Third week of June 2025: Notification of results of admission process
28 July – 29 August, 2025 Introductory course for accepted students
September 1st 2025: Start of fall semester regular courses
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx (Academic Secretary’s Office)
jesus.vega@cinvestav.mx (Academic Secretary’s Office)
or Dr. Sean Rovito sean.rovito@cinvestav.mx (Integrative Biology Program)
Telephone: +52 462 623 9620