PhD Admissions

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 $41,200 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 2024 admission was December 1, 2023. The application for Fall 2025 admission will open on September 1, 2024. To check if you qualify for an application fee waiver, visit the waiver request page before submitting your application.