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UAF students comprise a diverse group who ultimately seek and obtain careers in economic geology, petroleum
industry,  or continue their education in graduate school, and seek careers in academia. The department offers two
graduate degree programs: MS in Earth system Science,  and PhD in Earth system Science.

MS/PhD - Earth System Science

Students working on a graduate degree in Earth System Science can specialize in one of the following areas of concentration in the department: Cryosphere, Geoscience, Geospatial Science or Solid Earth Geophysics.  Additional concentrations are also available. Detailed information about the degree requirements for MS and PhD degrees in Earth System Science can be found in the UAF Catalog:

Graduate Admissions

Admission to our graduate program is restricted on the basis of:

1. Meeting the admissions requirements for the appropriate .
              a. Geoscience: complete a background at least to the level of a B.S.  concentration in geology, geophysics or earth science
              b. Cryosphere and Solid Earth Geophysics: 1 year calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra (recommended: partial differential equations, computational physics)               
2. A 3.0 minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA.
3. Faculty interest and availability of funding.
4. Completion and submission of all required application materials.

Application deadline for admittance into the fall semester is January 15

Steps to take when applying for our graduate program

Please be aware that the process of applying to UAF and a degree program is managed by the Admissions Office.  It is separate from the academic departments review of an application file.  The department can accept a student into our programs with the documents listed below, but to be admitted to UAF as a student all the requirements in the application portal must be fulfilled.
The application portal is the most efficient way to provide your documents.  Emailing takes time to process.

1. Apply to UAF through the Office of Admissions
   A formal application for admission to graduate school, along with the application fee.  You may apply online at 
     or Office of Admissions.  The Graduate School is a great resource for prospective and
   current students.  UAF Graduate School
   Please note that you will not be able to upload your documents until your application is submitted.
2. Make contact with  faculty and collaborating faculty members in an area of your interest.
   Introduce yourself, let them know of your research interests and your pending application.
3. Make contact with the Department of Geosciences
   Send an e-mail to: uaf-geosciences@alaska.edu and let the Department know that you have applied for
   Graduate School for the upcoming semester. Please list your name, contact e-mail address, and what program you have applied for. This will  aid the Department in assisting you through the application process. Remember, those applications that are completed first will usually be the first to be looked at during the application reviews.
4. Department GRE testing waiver.
   The Department of Geosciences has waived the GRE score requirement.
5. Complete and submit the following documents

• • This is a departmental form and one of the first items looked at during the review process. You can upload a pdf print of your completed form into your application portal.  I can also retrieve it from the form system its self.
  • Statement of interest: If you are unsure of what to write, this is addressed on the ESS summary form. We recognize that your career goals may not be well defined at this point, but do your best. This will help us understand your expectations of a graduate program as well as to evaluate your ability to support your interests.
  • Resume
  • Official transcripts of previous academic work from each college you attended. Please note, to be considered official, transcripts must arrive in sealed envelopes from each institution attended. You may also have your transcripts submitted electronically through a secure transcript service.  The department will review your application file with unofficial transcripts but if an offer is made to you the official transcripts must be received in the admissions office to process your admissions to UAF.
  • Three letters of recommendation from appropriate references. We can start the review with 1 letter.

For òòò½´«Ã½ student applicants these additional documents are required.

• • Proof of English proficiency for òòò½´«Ã½ applicants via official TOEFL or IELTS scores.  For other options please visit the Admissions Office website, International, Requirements.  We can start the review before we have these scores, and occasionally, on a case by case basis, it can be waived. Be sure to check the since there are certain exceptions to this.
  • Official transcripts need to be sent to World Education Services for evaluation. In most cases we can begin the review before these are received, but admission to UAF does require them.
  • Financial statements and citizenship documentation is not needed for the review by the department, but is required for admission to UAF. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services will provide you the Financial statement form and information

All of these documents need to be uploaded into the application portal or mailed to:
Office of Admissions
University of òòò½´«Ã½ Fairbanks
P. O. Box 757480
Fairbanks , òòò½´«Ã½ 99775-7480
emailed to: uaf-admissions@alaska.edu

Funding Your Graduate Degree

Graduate student in the Department of Geosciences are generally supported through a combination of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, scholarships, and graduate fellowships.

Helpful links and contacts for the application process.

 UAF Office of Admissions
uaf-admissions@alaska.edu
907-474-7500 or -1-800-478-1823

 UAF Graduate School
 uaf-grad-admissions@alaska.edu
907-474-7464

 UAF International Student and Scholar Services
 uaf-isss@alaska.edu