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Where is the online application?
The application is available via https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=upenn-gmed
What other materials do I need to submit with my application?
A complete application consists of:
Where do I send my transcripts and offline letters of recommendation?
All applications, transcripts, and letters of recommendation are received and processed by the BGS office and then forwarded to the individual graduate groups for consideration. Please mail hard copy materials to:
Admissions Coordinator
Biomedical Graduate Studies
160 BRB II/III - 421 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6064
How can I find out if my application and materials have been received?
Applicants may log into the online application to check if letters of recommendation have been received. The admissions office will post your documents to your application page as soon as possible. We request that you PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE TO CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION. We have over a thousand applications to process and unfortunately we cannot sort through them to find individual documents.
When will I know if I’ve been accepted?
Graduate groups arrange to interview all applicants whom they are considering for admission. Interviews of overseas applicants may be conducted by phone and/or videoconference. Most interviews take place between late January and early March. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis between February 1 and April 15. All notifications will be available from BGS by April 15.
Please be sure to keep the email address used in your online profile (created when you first logged into the system) current; we will use that address to communicate admissions decisions to you.
What is the application fee?
The application fee is $70, which is due before we can begin processing your application. The fee can be paid by credit card through the online application.
Is it possible for me to obtain a waiver of the application fee?
We regret that we cannot waive the application fee for international applicants. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may request a waiver in cases of documented financial hardship. To request a waiver, please email the Admissions Coordinator with an explanation of your situation prior to submitting your application. S/he may ask for additional documentation.
Does BGS offer financial aid?
Students accepted to Biomedical Graduate Studies’ PhD programs receive a fully funded fellowship—including tuition, fees, health insurance, and a competitive stipend—regardless of financial need. Funds for these fellowships are derived from reserves provided by the School of Medicine and the University Provost, NIH training grants and individual fellowships, research grants, and other funding sources.
In general, students accepted into Biomedical Graduate Studies are awarded financial support for the anticipated five to six years required to attain the doctoral degree. The stipend for the 2009-2010 academic year will be $28,500.
How do I obtain the Recommendation Form?
The Recommendation Form can be obtained from the application website once you log in. There is an option to have your recommender submit your letter online. There are instructions in the application on how to request online recommendations.
What if I decide after submitting my application to substitute one letter writer for another? What if I end up with four letters of recommendation?
As long as an applicant has three or more letters of recommendation, it does not matter if the letters correspond to the names of letter writers submitted on the application.
What if my letter writer does not use the recommendation form?
While we prefer to receive letters on or attached to a completed recommendation form, we will accept letters without the form if the letter comes directly from the letter writer or from a college career office.
Where do I send copies of my official transcript?
You may send copies of official transcripts from all institutions you have attended to:
Admissions Coordinator
Biomedical Graduate Studies
160 BRB II/III - 421 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6064
Which standardized tests does BGS require?
BGS requires the general GRE for all applicants and the TOEFL for students for whom English is not the native language. We will waive the TOEFL for students who have studied at a U.S. or other approved English-instructed institution for 2 or more years. There are no minimum score requirements. BGS does not require any GRE subject tests.
What are the GRE and TOEFL codes?
Please enter the code 2900 on your GRE and TOEFL tests. You do not need to enter a separate department code. If you are required to enter a department code, you may enter any that are available to you; they will all be sent to us. If you accidentally sent your scores to another school at Penn, we will still be able to match them to your application.
What if my GRE scores cannot be reported by the December 8 deadline?
We will accept GRE scores after December 8 if the rest of the application is complete. However, applications will not be considered until the scores are received. Applicants may email the unofficial results of a computer-based GRE test directly to the admissions coordinator and the graduate group; however, no action may be taken on the application until the official scores are received.
What if I took the GRE more than 5 years ago or the TOEFL more than 2 years ago?
ETS will not issue GRE scores that are more than 5 years old or TOEFL scores that are more than 2 years old. Applicants who have expired scores must retake the test(s).
I am an international student who has studied at an English-instructed institution for 2 or more years; do I still need to submit TOEFL scores?
No. We will waive the TOEFL requirement for students who have studied at a U.S. or other approved English-instructed institution for 2 or more years.
What if I can't decide which group to apply to?
Applicants should choose to apply to the group that best matches their research goals and experiences. BGS Graduate Groups are highly interdisciplinary in nature, and students are generally free to take classes and work in labs throughout BGS. If a student’s interests and research focus change, BGS policy permits students in good academic standing to apply for a transfer from one group to another at any point during the first year of study.
How long should my personal statement be?
Your personal statement allows you to discuss your academic and career objectives. It should be 1-2 typed pages. Be as specific as you can about the area in which you plan to study and your reasons for wishing to study at the University of Pennsylvania. You may also mention if there are any researchers at Penn whose work interests you. If you wish to provide additional information about your academic record or experience, such as a resume, you may submit that as well.
If you are applying to the Public Health Certificate Program or the Graduate Training in Medical Sciences Certificate Program, your personal statement should include one or two paragraphs reflecting your interest in those programs in addition to the doctoral discipline.
I am an international applicant. Is there any additional information I should know?
Biomedical Graduate Studies seeks to recruit the most talented students from a variety of international institutions. However, please be advised that we can only accept a small number of foreign students. Competition for these positions is intense, and thus we advise prospective applicants to be sure our graduate programs are a good fit for their research interests and abilities. Successful applicants will have extensive training in their area of proposed study, very strong academic records, and high GRE and TOEFL scores
I already have a professional degree and want to obtain a Ph.D. Is there any additional information I should know?
BGS accepts applications from from applicants who have already obtained an M.D., V.M.D., D.M.D., Ph.D., or other professional level degree. However, if such an applicant is accepted the applicant is responsible for securing his or her own funding for the entirety of the Ph.D. program; BGS is unable to offer any financial support. These applicants must follow the normal application procedure. Some allowances may be may for standardized testing requirements; please contact the admissions coordinator with questions.
My question is not answered here or in the application instructions. Who can I contact for more information?
If you cannot find the answer on our website or in the application instructions, you may contact the BGS office, the Admissions Coordinator, or the coordinator of the graduate group to which you are applying.