Application Procedure

Each application must include a completed Application for Admission form; an official certified transcript sent directly from ALL colleges, graduate or professional schools attended; three letters of recommendation concerning the potential of the applicant for graduate education; and an official copy of GRE scores (and TOEFL or IELTS, if international). Applicants will need to provide an email address for the individuals asked to write a recommendation letter when you submit for your application. They will each get an email giving them the location for the online reference to complete. Letters of recommendation should be emailed by your recommenders.

All required documents should be sent directly to the Office of Enrollment Services: UTMB, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-1305. There is no deadline for applications; however, review of completed application packages (including application with fee paid, all transcripts, scores, and reference letters) begins in January.

It is recommended that you have your application complete and ready for review prior that time. The GSBS accepts applications for Fall only, and most decisions are made by mid-April.

Since many programs have specific application due dates, the applicant should request this information from the appropriate school representative or web site. International applicants are urged to submit applications and supporting documentation nine months prior to the anticipated date of entry.

Students applying to the combined M.D.-Ph.D. program should submit an application only to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service only indicating an interest in the combined program. A separate application to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is not needed.

Prospective Students / Admissions Procedures

Each applicant for admission to the GSBS must complete the following steps:

  1. Submit a properly completed application for admission. Applicants may complete an online application by visiting the Office of Enrollment Services home page or may request a copy of the application form directly from the Office of Enrollment Services.
  2. Submit the appropriate application fee: Click here for details
  3. You must submit official transcripts to the Office of Enrollment Services for the final processing of your application data. (International applicants – please see #6 below for the correct procedure.) Please note that it is mandatory that official transcripts be sent electronically via SPEEDE or other electronic means if your school has this capability. Click here for listing of these participating schools.
  4. In order to expedite the screening of your application, please upload unofficial transcripts and other supporting documents (excluding letters of reference which must be submitted via the online form). If you do not upload these items, the screening of your application for admission decision purposes may be delayed.
  5. Request that an official copy of scores earned on the GRE and, if applicable, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) be submitted to Enrollment Services. Any scores that arrives from any source other than directly from ETS to Enrollment Services are UNOFFICIAL, with no exceptions.

    Candidates for admission to the Graduate School must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or proof of equivalent degree and training from an acceptable foreign institution of higher education. An applicant who holds a graduate degree or first professional degree (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., J.D.) from a regionally and programmatically accredited college or university in the United States or proof of equivalent degree and training from an acceptable foreign institution of higher education may be considered on an individual basis even though he or she does not hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent as defined above.

    Final recommendation by the graduate program faculty will be based on competitive evaluation of the qualifications of the applicant plus consideration of the availability of space and resources. Each graduate program has specific requirements, but common factors considered by the admissions committee include the following:
    1. undergraduate overall and upper division grade point average and, if applicable, graduate grade point average and the appropriateness of the curriculum as preparation for graduate study. (There is no minimum required GPA, but a cumulative undergraduate GPA above 3.0 on a 4 point scale is preferred.);
    2. scores on the Graduate Records Examination;
    3. a minimum score on the TOEFL of 550 (paper), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (internet-based) or a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS for applicants whose native language is not English;
    4. research or other relevant experience;
    5. letters of reference;
    6. background for and commitment to a career of scholarly endeavor in the field of study;
    7. availability of opportunity for training in the desired field of scholarship;
    8. unique educational, career, or life experiences;
    9. personal statement;
    10. socioeconomic background;
    11. ability to communicate in English; and
    12. race and ethnicity.
  6. International Applicant Information:
    Effective with the Fall 2012 entry term, applicants from international institutions must use one of the credentialing services approved by UTMB to provide a verification and a course by course evaluation of transcripts in order to be able to be considered for admission to programs at UTMB. Applicants are no longer required to send official transcripts from the issuing institution to UTMB since we are now utilizing these services. The following are the Credentialing Services approved by UTMB:

    Foreign Credentials Services of America
    1910 Justin Lane
    Austin, TX 78757
    512 – 459 – 8428
    Email: billpaver@fcsa.biz

    Spantran Services
    7211 Regency Square Blvd., Suite 205
    Houston, TX 77036-3197
    713 – 266 – 8805

    World Education Services, Inc.
    PO Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
    New York, NY 10113-0745
    1 – 800 – 937 – 3895 ext. 316
    Email: info@wes.org

  7. Additional requirements and qualifications are needed for some specific fields of study. In all cases applicants should refer to the specific program information for possible additional requirements. Applicants to the Nursing Doctoral program must hold at least the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, the Master of Science in Nursing is preferred. Applicants for the Master of Public Health degree must be a licensed physician graduate of an accredited medical school and have successfully completed at least one year in a residency in another field or be a registered graduate student or medical student at UTMB.. Applicants for the Master of Medical Science degree must be a licensed physician graduate of an accredited medical school and must be a resident, fellow or faculty member of a UTMB School of Medicine clinical department.