Admissions

An overview of requirements and procedures for admission to the BME program is provided below. Further details on university-wide procedures and policies for submitting your application to our PhD Graduate Program can be found at the OHSU Graduate Studies Admissions website.

Please direct questions about the online application to: or call Customer Service 857-304-2017 Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm EST.

For specific questions regarding the content of your application, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQ") site.

ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM

Specific Details Regarding Submission of Your Application

Please visit the Admissions section of OHSU's Graduate Studies website.

General Requirements

For admission to graduate school at Oregon Health & Science University, students must have obtained the following:

  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university with an appropriate educational background in engineering or biological sciences with a strong mathematics background.
  • Grade Point Average (GPA)
    Cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a letter grading system of A = 4 points; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0) or its equivalent in other grading systems.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test
    Although there is no GRE admissions "cutoff" score, Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing General Test Scores of 500, 600 and 4.5 or above, respectively, will generally be considered competitive. Applicants are required to provide GRE scores for the General Test of the GRE, unless: (i) the applicant already has a graduate degree from a U.S. university, or (ii) permission is given to substitute scores from the medical College Aptitude Test
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
    International applicants for whom English is not a native language must have acceptable scores in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), unless the applicant already has an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. university.
  • International Transcripts
    All applicants with degrees from foreign/international institutions are required to provide World Education Service (WES) International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) credential evaluations for all foreign colleges attended. Applicants need to consult WES's website for insturctions and fees at www.wes.org. The applicant will be responsible for the full cost of this service.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES

PhD student applications are considered year-round, but prospective students are encouraged to apply by January 15 to receive consideration for financial support starting the Fall term of that year.

 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Applications are encouraged from students who have completed undergraduate coursework in engineering, particularly mechanical, chemical, and computer engineering, and other basic science areas with strong mathematics backgrounds. There are no specific undergraduate course requirements for admission.

Due to the strong emphasis of our program on research, the admissions committee is especially interested in applicants who have demonstrated a strong interest and aptitude for research prior to applying to graduate school (e.g., independent study, honors thesis, laboratory work experience).

 

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

The overall record of funding for research in the Department of Biomedical Engineering is excellent. The source of grant funds are diverse and include National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH –NHLBI), National Cancer Institute (NIH –NCI), and National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as the American Heart Association, and the Department of Defense.

Students admitted to the BME program generally receive a living stipend ($28,000 to $29,500 annually) and full tuition support as graduate research assistants by departmental funds, by research training grants, or by individual faculty research grants. Our trainees have been highly successful at obtaining these grant awards from a number of agencies, including NIH and the American Heart Association.

 

PROSPECTIVE STUDENT FAQ

Please visit the Prospective Student FAQ section of OHSU's Graduate Studies website, and the FAQs for Biomedical Engineering admissions.