DOCTORAL STUDENTS
AUGUST 1
Graduate application opens
MARCH 1
Graduate application closes
Deadlines & Eligibility
A conferred bachelor's degree is the only requirement for applicants interested in applying for the doctoral program.
Our admissions committee reviews each candidate’s entire application and weighs each piece equally, which we call a holistic review. We don’t eliminate applicants based solely on test scores or GPA. Students with lower GPAs can bolster their application by using their personal statement to explain why they earned the grades they did, including a resume that describes their research experience, submitting a strong writing sample and having stellar recommendation letters.
Since each application undergoes a holistic review, we do not have required minimums.
The average scores for previously accepted doctoral students are as follows:
| Cumulative Undergraduate GPA | 3.47 |
| Cumulative Graduate GPA | 3.66 |
| TOEFL Scores | 101 |
| IELTS Scores | 7.0 |
Fall Semester
Graduate admissions application opens: August 1
Priority application deadline: November 1
Graduate admissions application closes: March 1
Steps to Apply
You will need to pay a $50 non-refundable application fee when you submit your application.
The application will not be considered complete until the fee is paid. If the fee is not paid by the application deadline, your application will not be reviewed. This fee is payable by credit card.
Application Fee Waivers
You may qualify for an application fee waiver based on your participation in certain programs. To receive an application fee waiver, you will need to provide proof of eligibility through the online application portal.
Eligible programs include:
- Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) attendance
- Bridges to the Doctorate
- Completion of GSU's Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni's 25 to Thrive Program
- Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program
- Honorably Discharged U.S. Veterans, Active Duty Military, Guard or Reserves
- Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD)
- Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
- Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) U-STAR
- Ph.D. Project: Business Doctoral Programs for Minorities
- Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
- Research Initiative for Scientific Advancement (RISE)
- Ronald E. McNair Scholars
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference attendance
You will need to submit academic transcripts from each college and/or university attended regardless of whether or not a degree was conferred.
Note:
- Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for an admission decision. If you are extended an offer of admission, you will need to submit official transcripts before the start of courses.
- Documents such as self-printed academic histories, web-based academic evaluations, or anything handwritten are not acceptable for an admission decision.
You will need to submit a Resume/CV and a personal statement.
Note
- The personal statement should summarize your relevant skills and experiences, describe your research and career objectives, address the fit between your goals and the graduate training offered by IBMS and address your view of the goals and benefits of interdisciplinary education in the Biomedical Sciences arena.
You will need to submit a writing sample. This document should be a substantive body of work that exhibits your ability to synthesize ideas, concepts or theories, logically draw conclusions and defend them.
Note:
- Please do not submit a document that contains more than 20 pages. One to two pages is preferred.
- Examples of acceptable writing samples include an abstract, a general research paper, a capstone project, a master's thesis, a research proposal, an article review, a lab report, a case study or a term paper.
- An abstract is the preferred document.
You will need to submit at least 3 letters of recommendation with your application. These letters should speak to your ability to be successful in a graduate program. Professional and/or academic letters are required.
- On the "Recommendations" tab, click "Add Recommender."
- Complete the form, and click "Send to Recommender."
- Your recommender will receive an emailed link to complete the electronic recommendation.
Note: Use your recommender's institutional or corporate email address. Submissions from anonymous email addresses (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) may be subject to additional review.
GRE scores are not required for admission.
English Proficiency
In addition to meeting all other applicable requirements for admission, non-native speakers of English must demonstrate sufficient English-language proficiency. Proof of English proficiency can be demonstrated through one of the following:
- Proof of baccalaureate or graduate degree completion inside (from an accredited institution) or outside the U.S., where English is the official language of academic instruction – see list of countries below
- TOEFL scores (paper or Internet-based)
- IELTS scores
- Completion of a University System of Georgia approved ESL program
The English Proficiency Exemption list can be found here.
Applicants who completed all or part of their education abroad are subject to additional application requirements. International credentials must be equivalent to a U.S. four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, which will be determined by an in-house evaluation or a professional course-by-course evaluation depending on the country the credentials are from.
Credentials from the following countries will be evaluated in-house after admission and do not require a professional credential evaluation:
- Bangladesh
- China
- Ghana
- India
- South Korea
- Nigeria
If Graduate Admissions cannot clearly determine equivalency during the in-house credential evaluation, a professional evaluation by a NACES member institution will be requested.
Credentials from any country not listed above will require a credential evaluation for degree equivalency.
Application Tips & FAQs
Want the inside scoop on how to submit your best application? Learn more about our GRE waivers, the optional writing sample, international student requirements and more.
Doctorate Program
The test score profile for previously accepted doctoral students is a good place to determine your competitiveness. Compare your GPA and English proficiency scores with those posted in the test score profile to obtain an idea of your competitiveness. Review our Do I Qualify section for more information.
No. The application includes a section where you are able to select the names of the IBMS faculty that you are interested in working with. This is used to help determine your lab placement in the event that you are offered admission into the program.
Ph.D. students receive a full tuition waiver and a graduate research assistantship appointment. The doctoral stipend starts at $28,000.
As of summer 2020, GRE scores are no longer required for admission into the Institute for Biomedical Sciences graduate programs.
The Graduate School at Georgia State University provides application fee waivers for applicants who have participated in a range of programs designed to diversify graduate programs. To receive the application waiver, you will need to verify your eligibility in the application portal.
PROGRAMS:
- Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) U-STAR Program
- Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD)
- Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
- McNair Scholars
- Bridges to the Doctorate
- Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) attendance
- Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program
- Research Initiative for Scientific Advancement (RISE)
- Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
- PhD Project: Business Doctoral Programs for Minorities
- Annual Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference Attendance
- Completion of GSU's Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni's 25 to Thrive Program
- Honorably Discharged U.S. Veterans, Active Duty Military, Guard or Reserves
Unfortunately, IBMS does not currently provide application fee waivers for financial hardship.
Since applications for both the master's and doctoral program are reviewed in batches, applicants can expect to receive an admission decision or request for an interview within 4-6 weeks after the application deadline.
All applicants who submit a completed application for admission into an IBMS graduate program will automatically be considered for a graduate research assistantship appointment during the admissions process. Applicants are not expected to complete a separate application for consideration.
- IBMS - Institute for Biomedical Sciences.
- BMSC - the course abbreviation for all IBMS courses.
- BIS - Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
- IDS - Interdisciplinary Studies.
- BSEN - Biomedical Science and Enterprise.
To request an English proficiency waiver, complete the English proficiency waiver request form. For your request to be considered, you must:
- Upload scanned copies of transcript(s)
- Upload a resume or CV
Applicants should summarize their relevant skills and experiences, describe their research and career objectives, address the fit between their goals and the graduate training offered by IBMS and address their view of the goals and benefits of interdisciplinary education in the biomedical sciences arena.
Yes. As long as applicants are able to submit a final transcript, including their posted degree before the start of the fall semester (mid-August), they are eligible to apply for the upcoming semester.
Our admissions committee reviews each candidate’s entire application and weighs each piece equally, which we call a holistic review. We don’t eliminate applicants based solely on test scores and GPA. Students with lower GPAs can bolster their application by using their personal statement to explain why they earned the grades they did, including a resume that describes their research experience and having stellar recommendation letters.
A bachelor's degree is the only requirement for applicants interested in applying for the doctoral program.
Most international students take the TOEFL, but we also accept the IELTS.
Because the Institute for Biomedical Sciences reviews applications for admission holistically, we do not have a minimum required IELTS score for either program. Competitive applicants will have a total overall score of 7.0.
Yes. The Institute for Biomedical Sciences accepts the IELTS Academic score. The recommended minimum is a score of 7.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assesses the language ability of candidates. More information about this test, including testing sites and pricing, can be found at https://www.ielts.org/.
Applicants may apply at any time. Test scores must be received by the application deadline for admission consideration. Applications will not be considered if TOEFL scores are not received by the deadline.
Because the Institute for Biomedical Sciences reviews applications for admission holistically, we do not have a minimum required TOEFL score. Competitive applicants will have a total score of at least 100.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. More information on the test, testing centers pricing, etc., may be found at www.ets.org/toefl.
Students who are non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate proficiency through one of the following:
- Completion of a bachelor’s or graduate degree from inside (from an accredited institution) or outside the U.S. where English is the official language of academic instruction
- TOEFL scores (paper or Internet-based)
- IELTS scores
- Completion of a University System of Georgia-approved English as a Second Language program
An applicant whose country of birth is an English-speaking country (as listed below) is not subject to the English proficiency requirement.
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Ascension Island
- Australia
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Christmas Island
- Cook Islands
- Dominica
- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Great Britain
- Grenada
- Guam
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Malawi
- Monteserrat
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Pitcairn Islands
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Vincent/ Grenadines
- South Africa
- St Helena
- The Bahamas
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tristan da Cuhna
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Virgin Islands
No. You should complete the international immigration form at the time of application. If admitted to the program, you may submit required supplemental information.
Yes. Submit a copy of your passport with your application materials.
Contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services if you have questions related to immigration regulations and studies. Visit http://isss.gsu.edu/about/contact/ for contact information.
Review the rules and regulations on the Tuition Classification page: http://sfs.gsu.edu/tuition-fees/tuition-classification/.
E-mails should be sent to:
Office of Admissions - Graduate Programs
[email protected]
Official Electronic Transcripts should be sent to:
Regular mail should be sent to:
Graduate Admissions, The Graduate School
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4018
Atlanta, GA 30303
In-person deliveries and courier packages should be sent to:
Graduate Admissions, The Graduate School
Georgia State University
55 Park Place NE, Suite 308
Atlanta, GA 30303
Yes. Good photocopies or scanned copies of transcripts are acceptable for a decision. This can either be an official electronic transcript or a paper copy you have scanned and uploaded. The document must have one or more of the following features: registrar’s seal, registrar signature or watermark of the institution.
Documents such as self-printed academic histories, Web-based academic evaluations and anything hand-written are not acceptable for the review process. Official transcripts will only be required if you are subsequently offered admission by Georgia State.
Yes. You must submit a copy of your transcripts from each institution attended regardless of the number of classes you took or whether or not you received a degree at that institution in order to be considered for admission. Once admitted, you will be required to submit one official transcript from each institution attended by the first day of classes for the term of admission.
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The Institute for Biomedical Sciences is a degree-granting institute that offers innovative, unique academic programs that prepare our graduates for success in the biomedical industry.
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