Admissions

Requirements for admission:

1. Course pre-requisites: no specific undergraduate major is required. Basic pre-med courses will meet our admission requisites.
   • one year of biology and chemistry
   • at least one semester of organic chemistry
   • some advanced coursework such as biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, physiology and/or genetics is a plus
   • no specific coursework in nutrition is required
2. Research Experience is beneficial to your application. Please describe in some detail if possible.
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. No minimum GPA is required, but the most competitive applicants will have a science GPA above 3.5.
5. An unofficial copy of your test (MCAT, GRE, DAT, etc.) scores – optional Our institution code is 3087.
6. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, or Duolingo results must be submitted for applicants who received their degrees in a non-English-speaking country. This requirement is waived only if you have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in a country whose official language is English prior to enrollment in GMS.

For answers to some of basic questions about admission to the program visit the MS Frequently Asked Questions page.

Students may complete the degree in one calendar year, at minimum. Most choose to complete the degree in one and a half to two years. Example degree timelines and breakdown of tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year:

General information for prospective students about documents required, tuition costs, and financial aid can be found at the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences Admissions page.

Visit the BUMC Student Financial Services Website for direct costs (tuition & fees) and an estimate of indirect costs (room & board) using the Cost of Attendance Calculator.

Some scholarship funding is available. Be sure to inquire about scholarship options by contacting the Program Director by email. Apply early for best chance of scholarships.

*International students are required to maintain full-time status in the first two full semesters for visa status.

Master’s Application Process & Deadlines:

Although we offer rolling admissions for Spring 2023 and Fall 2023, we strongly recommend that you submit your application and supporting materials as early as possible. Applications close earlier for international applicants. The Spring 2023 application deadline is November 14, 2022 for international applicants, and December 5, 20212 for domestic applicants. The Fall 2023 application deadline is July 31, 2023 for international applicants and August 14, 2023 for domestic applicants.

Visit Graduate Medical Sciences Admissions webpage for additional details.

Please apply directly to the Nutrition and Metabolism program through the GMS online admissions. After you start the application, you will need to select Nutrition and Metabolism to apply. To check if you qualify for an application fee waiver, visit the waiver request page before submitting your application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Applications to the PhD program in Nutrition and Metabolism must be made through the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS), which begins accepting applications in September of each year. Applications generally end around the first of December each year. Applicants to PiBS will need to create an account with the Boston University Centralized Application System (BU-GMS CAS), and then complete or upload all personal, academic and supporting documentation. During the application process you will select “PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences” as your program of choice (you are applying through the centralized PiBS admissions, rather than directly to Nutrition & Metabolism). The Admissions Committee will select competitive applicants to attend one of two interview days sometime in late January-February. You will be notified of the committee’s decision via email following the last interview day.

Requirements:

1. Course pre-requisites: no specific undergraduate major is required but a strong background in biomedical science is suggested including the following:
   • one year of biology and chemistry
   • one or two semesters of organic chemistry
   • advanced coursework such as biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, physiology and/or genetics
2. Research Experience: a strong research background will be very beneficial to your application. Please describe your research.
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. No minimum GPA is required, but the most competitive applicants will have a science GPA above 3.5.
5. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS results must be submitted for applicants who received their degrees in a non-English-speaking country. This requirement 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.

For answers to questions about admission to the PhD program, visit the PhD Frequently Asked Questions page.

Students in the PiBS program receive full funding for tuition and fees as well as a $40,000 stipend per year. In addition to the stipend for living expenses, students will be provided with health insurance options.

You will need to apply through the PiBS Admissions portal.  The PiBS application deadline for Fall 2023 admission was December 1, 2022. The application for Fall 2024 admission will open on September 1, 2023. To check if you qualify for an application fee waiver, visit the waiver request page before submitting your application.