We take a holistic approach when considering PhD applications and are seeking candidates who have strong science backgrounds and significant research experience in the life, physical, and engineering sciences, including all branches of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, bioengineering, and computer science. Research experience may come from an academic or industry environment.

Application Requirements

To apply to our PhD in Biomedical Science program, please submit the following:

• A completed online application
• Transcripts from post-secondary institution(s) attended. We can accept copies* for the admissions process; you can upload them to the online application. Alternatively, registrars may send official transcripts, in a sealed institutional envelope, directly to:

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Admissions Office
1 Gustave Levy Place
Box 1002
New York, NY 10029

*Please note that official transcripts will be required for admitted applicants that decide to enroll in the PhD program at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

• Payment of the application fee ($80) is part of the online application. You will be prompted on how to pay by credit card, check, or money order.
• Contact information for three individuals who will provide letters of recommendation. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who have interacted with you in a research setting. Please have their email addresses available so you can submit the information when prompted. These references will receive an email from admissions@mssm.edu with information guiding them through the recommendation process.

Even if you are missing a particular undergraduate course requirement, we take into account all of your submitted materials. We consider each applicant on an individual basis.

Application Deadlines and Decisions

All application materials are due by December 1, and reviews begin after this deadline. We encourage you to submit your application early. During the review process, you will hear from us regarding interviews and will be notified of our decision within three weeks of your interview.

International Applicants

We encourage applications from qualified individuals, regardless of country of origin or where you received your academic and research training. We require international applicants to have foreign transcripts translated into English and evaluated by a certified credential evaluation service (i.e., World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Faculty Information System). If your school provides an official conversion of grades to the U.S.-based 0.0-4.0 scale, please include this information. If you are unable to access this conversion, we will do it for you.

SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for the Icahn School of Medicine that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application - Icahn School of Medicine

Our goal is to assess your potential to successfully complete the required graduate coursework. If English is your second language, and you are not a resident of the United States, we require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International applicants whose last degree was taught in English are exempt.

Application Fee Waiver

The PhD in Biomedical Science application fee may be waived for a variety of circumstances, including:

• Active-duty military and veterans
• Current full-time volunteers with recognized, nonprofit service organizations (e.g. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America, etc.)
• Students participating in underserved student educational programs at the time of applying (e.g. McNair Scholars, Higher Education Opportunity Program, etc.).
  • Please send a fee waiver request to admissions@mssm.edu once you have started (and not yet submitted) your application. Please include official documentation confirming status with dates (e.g. a letter from your McNair advisor, confirmation of military status, etc.) for review.
• Financial hardship
  • Please send a fee waiver request to admissions@mssm.edu once you have started (and not yet submitted) your PhD application. Requests are granted, in most cases, if accompanied by official documentation demonstrating financial need. If it is not possible to provide official documentation, please submit a detailed description of your current financial situation. These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Current Icahn Mount Sinai students and Mount Sinai Health System employees
  • Please send a fee waiver request to admissions@mssm.edu once you have started (and not yet submitted) your application.