Graduate Student Resources

Graduate Admissions

Applying to Graduate School

All prospective graduate students must apply through UMass Amherst Graduate Admissions.

Graduate School Office

• Contact the Graduate School for any specific questions you may have about the application process, or to request an information packet.
• The Graduate School Bulletin covers general questions about the application and degree requirements.
• The Graduate School Bulletin also includes a complete list of graduate programs and application deadlines.
• The Graduate Student Handbook provides an overview of campus academic and student resources.

CNS Departments and Majors

The College of Natural Sciences offers several degree programs in each of our 13 departments and one school. For specific information about the graduate programs in any of these areas of study, please see the Graduate Programs Offered page.

Financial Aid

Financial aid applicants must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UMass Amherst code for the FAFSA is 002221. See Financial Aid Services for more detailed information on receiving financial aid.

Funding Resources

General Information

General information about fellowships, assistantships, and graduate student travel is available on the Graduate School Funding Support page.

Graduate School Internal Funding Opportunities

The Graduate School offers several internal funding programs, including inclusion and diversity fellowships, predissertation and dissertation research grants, and travel grants on this page.

Academic Resources

Graduate Student Advising

The Graduate Student Advising section provides contact information for CNS Graduate Program Directors.

Library Resources

The W.E.B. Du Bois Library is the main campus library and offers wireless internet and network ports and a café. 

The Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library is the primary location for resources in astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, all fields of engineering, food science, geosciences, mathematics and statistics, physics, and polymer science.

You can view library hours, here.

Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar lists all the important dates and deadlines.

Registration Information

Curricular Program Training (CPT) for International Graduate Students

CNS policies and procedures for CPT provide guidance for this program.

Grad Student Organizations

Graduate Student Senate (GSS)

The Graduate Student Senate is composed of elected graduate students. All graduate students are welcome at general meetings, and may vote on issues that affect the graduate student body. The GSS Website has useful links on getting involved in graduate student organizations, attending events, and utilizing resources like job listings and child care.

Graduate Employee Organization (GEO)

The Graduate Employee Organization is a unit of the United Auto Workers (UAW). If you're a Teaching Assistant (TA), Teaching Associate (TO), Research Assistant (RA), Project Assistant (PA), Assistant Resident Director (ARD), Intern, Trainee, or Working Fellow on this campus, you're covered by GEO stipends, benefits, and grievance procedures, which have dramatically improved since our first contract in 1991.

Additional Graduate Student Resources

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Practical Information

Housing

The Off-Campus Housing website is a great resource with a large database of rental options.

Career Services

The Career Services Center is located at 512 Goddell and 545-2224.

Campus Directory

Use People Finder to access the UMass Amherst directory for faculty, staff, and student contact information.