Admissions

The Program begins accepting applications in September. Prospective applicants will create an account with the Boston University Centralized Application System (BU-GMS CAS) completing all personal, academic and supporting document sections. Applicants will be able to select the graduate program(s) of choice (including PiBS) within GMS and will then be prompted to fill out the corresponding program materials in order to complete their submission.

The Admissions Committee will select competitive applicants for interviews which will take place in late January or February. Admissions decisions are made after the final interview day, and applicants will be alerted by email. Due to privacy regulations, we cannot provide admissions decisions over the phone.

The minimum requirements for the PiBS application are below.

• Submitted application through BU-CAS portal with all parts complete
• Completed all requirements for a baccalaureate degree
• Three letters of recommendation
• An English transcript of each college or university attended OR international credential evaluation (such as WES) which can be unofficial
• Structured personal statement (see below)
• Additional requirements for international students outlined in section below

Important notes:

• The Program in Biomedical Sciences does not review GRE scores. Please do not submit them.
• Letters must be uploaded by recommenders through the portal via email link. The software will not accept mailed paper letters or Interfolio.
• You may submit your application before letters of recommendation are sent, but all letters are due by the application deadline with the rest of your materials. There is no guarantee that letters received after this date will be reviewed/included in your application.
• Sending transcripts via mail (as an applicant) is not recommended and may not be included in your application review. Upload all available transcripts to the portal. Unofficial transcripts, screenshots of webpages, and scans are acceptable for the application process.
• U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for an application fee waiver.

English language requirement

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic examination results must be submitted for applicants who received their degrees outside the United States.

The requirement above is waived only if you have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in any of the following countries prior to enrollment in GMS: the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland. This waiver does not include undergraduate or graduate degrees earned from an institution in a country listed above while enrolled in a “dual degree” program with an institution in another country. There are no exceptions to this rule. Studying in the medium of English in a country other than those previously listed or studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country without completing a degree program is not sufficient to waive the English proficiency requirement.

Scores required for consideration:

• TOEFL: 
  • 5.0 or higher for the new TOEFL score reports starting in January 2026. 
  • 97-100 Overall Score on the older test, with a minimum of 20 in each section
• IELTS: 7.0 Overall Band Score

Test scores submitted for the application should be unofficial.

For those accepted into the program without a waiver, official TOEFL/IELTS test scores will be required prior to matriculation as part of the ISSO process. These official scores must be dated no more than 2 years before the program start date (Sept. 2, 2025, or the second Tuesday in September each year). This is not required for your application but may be of consideration for your exam dates.

Transcript requirements

Transcripts and letters of recommendations submitted to the application must be in English. An international credential evaluation (such as WES) is not required but is helpful for the review process, especially if your institution does not use a 4.0 GPA scale.

For those accepted into the program, if a transcript is not in English, or is from an institution in a foreign country where the registrar will not directly mail an official transcript to GMS, an international credential evaluation will be required prior to matriculation according to GMS official transcript requirement policies. This is not the case for your application.

BU accepts all National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member services, including WES and ECE. The list of members can be found here: www.naces.org/members

ISSO Process

See the ISSO Website for information about entering BU as an international student.

Please structure your personal statement to address the following points in separate paragraphs. (Word limit 1000 words, total).

1. Describe your motivation to pursue a PhD degree and how PiBS will help you to achieve your goals.
2. Describe your research experience(s) to date.
3. Describe an example of how you overcame an obstacle or conflict in your personal life and/or your research.
4. Describe how you feel your background, experiences, collaborations and teamwork have impacted you and your scientific inquiry as a whole.

Note: the structured personal statement above satisfies the GMS requirement of providing a personal statement of 200 words or more indicated on this page.

Students receive full tuition coverage, fees, health insurance options, and a $46,350 stipend.

What is the tuition to attend this program?

PiBS students receive full tuition and fee coverage. In addition to this, students receive health insurance options and a $46,350 annual stipend. As per of the contract with the BU Graduate Workers Union, this stipend increases annually by 3 percent.

What is the average time to degree?

PiBS students typically take five and a half years to complete their degrees, on average.

Are there teaching assistantships or T.A. opportunities at PiBS?

Students have the opportunity to become student mentors which is an excellent way to gain experience in teaching and leadership.

Do I need to contact faculty to apply to this program?

Contacting faculty is not an application requirement though many applicants do so as a way to learn more about research at BU. At PiBS, applicants do not select advisors as part of the admissions process. Please review our laboratory selection process during the first year on our curriculum page.

What is the fee for application?

There is a non-refundable fee of $95 to submit your application to the program.

 Are fee waivers available for international students?

Fee waivers are only available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The full criteria for eligibility can be found on this webpage.

Is full funding available for admitted international students?

Yes. International students receive the same stipend, tuition coverage, and healthcare coverage as domestic students.

Do you accept Duolingo for the English Language requirement?

No. While some GMS programs accept Duolingo, the Program in Biomedical Sciences only accepts IELTS and TOEFL.

If I my English Language requirement should be waived, do I have to do anything?

No action is required! The waiver is automatic, and the admissions committee will not look for IELTS/TOEFL scores if you hold (or will hold) a degree in the United States or another eligible country (see above).

Do I need to upload or send official transcripts/TOEFL/IETLS?

No. For the purposes of your PiBS application, you may simply upload an unofficial transcript (digital, scanned, or screen-captured) and you may enter your IETLS/TOEFL scores in the “Standardized Test” section.

Can I submit English Language test (IELTS/TOEFL) scores that are expired?

International applicants should consider that IELTS and TOEFL scores submitted for the visa process (after admission) must be within 2 years of the start date (September 1, 2026). However, this is not a requirement for the application, and expired results may be entered into the application. Applicants who do so will be required to provide updated scores once they are admitted to the program.

Do I have to wait to obtain my baccalaureate degree before I can apply?

No, but you must plan to receive your degree in the Fall (i.e., the one during which you complete your application), Spring, or Summer prior to matriculation. As part of matriculation in September, you will be required to submit an official transcript that shows you have been awarded the degrees included in your application.

I’m having a technical problem with the application portal.

The Help Desk is available between 9am-5pm EST. Their phone number is 1-857-304-2005. You may also access a live Help Desk agent via the chat bubble, between those same hours. When logging on to your application, click on the chat bubble, once the chat box opens, type in “live help” and the wait for the “contact support” oval to appear click on that, and then another chat box will open, and that is where you can communicate with a live Help Desk agent. You must have your application ID ready.

For program admissions questions, please reach out to pibs@bu.edu.

Learn more about applying to GMS programs (including PiBS) on our web portal by viewing our step-by-step guide.