Admission
Dear All,
We are opening the application call for the School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology 2026. Applications will be accepted until midnight UTC on January 15, 2026.
The season will take place from July 30 to August 15, 2026 at Sabanci University in Istanbul (Turkey). We will make every effort to welcome all accepted students, regardless of their place of residence.
Participation is free of charge for all accepted students. For the offline season, this includes room and board, travel insurance for those who require it, and all materials needed for laboratory work.
We ask parents to cover travel costs to the host city. We understand that transportation expenses may be prohibitive for some applicants. In such cases, please indicate in your application that you will need additional financial aid for travel. Should you be accepted, the School may cover a part of the travel expenses or, in exceptional cases, the full amount.
Accommodation will be arranged in one of the dormitories of the host university, with faculty and students living in the same building.
Answers to frequently asked questions, including those related to accommodation and arrival at the School, can be found on our website, and information about financial support can be found here.
To apply, you will need to create an account on our website. If you have applied to SMTB before, please log in using the email address previously associated with your account.
The application consists of the main application form in English or Russian and a letter of support, which must be submitted separately from the main form. We ask all students to familiarize themselves with the general features of the school and admission rules on our website prior to submitting an application.
You may apply through either the Russian-speaking or English-speaking track. The competition is equally competitive in both tracks. While you may choose which language to apply in, you may only submit one application. Accepted students will have the same opportunities at the School regardless of the track through which they were admitted.
The letter of support must be written and submitted by another person nominated by the applicant. We recommend contacting this person well in advance of the deadline. Once you find someone to write the letter for you, you may send an official invitation to them through the application system - even before you submit your main application form.
All application materials, including the required letter of support, must be submitted up to and including January 15, 2026.
To participate in SMTB-2026 offline, students will need a valid travel passport or other document that allows them to travel abroad and remain there for the duration of the School. Some students may also require a visa. Not having a passport or visa at the time of application should not discourage anyone from applying. There will be sufficient time to obtain these documents after admission decisions are released. The SMTB team will offer all the necessary support and, when appropriate, provide financial assistance to cover visa application fees and travel to the nearest visa center.
The School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology does not discriminate, in the admission process or otherwise, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, sexual orientation, disability or any other potentially discriminatory factors or circumstances.
We strive to provide an equal opportunity for all applicants. Questions regarding the application process or any other aspect of the School may be addressed to us by email (smtb@molbioschool.org) to our Manager, Anna Puzyreva, or by telephone to our Scientific Director, Fyodor Kondrashov (+81-70-1478 0347).
SMTB Admissions Committee