Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• Baccalaureate Field  No restrictions. However, applicants must have a satisfactory record of courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, and at least one year of physics and of mathematics.
• Grade Point Average At least 2.75/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours of undergraduate study. Preference is given to applicants with a GPA of greater than 3.00/4.00.
• Tests Required None.

• English Proficiency Additional information on the English proficiency test requirement for international students can be found on the UIC Admissions website. Minimum test scores for this program are:

  • Minimum English Competency Test Scores

    Exam	Score	Reading	Listening	Speaking	Writing
    TOEFL iBT (exams taken on or after January 21, 2026)	4.5	4	4	4.5	4.5
    TOEFL iBT (exams taken prior to January 21, 2026)	80	19	17	20	21
    IELTS Academic	6.5	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
    PTE Academic	54	51	47	53	56

• Letters of Recommendation Three required.
• Personal Statement Required. Personal statement must include a description of past research experience and motivation for obtaining a doctorate degree in Biomedical Sciences.
• Other Requirements Preference is given to applicants with a documented record of research accomplishments.

Degree Requirements

In additional to Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements: 

MS in Biomedical Sciences

There will be no direct admission to the MS. Doctoral students who fail to progress beyond year 2 (including failing the preliminary exam) or who choose to discontinue research upon passing the preliminary exam will be allowed to petition for the MS.

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 36-38
• Coursework

• Comprehensive Examination: None 
• Thesis, Project, or Coursework-Only Options: Coursework only. MS students are not required to produce a thesis from their mentored research or research rotation. Although mentored research is not required, it is expected that most MS students will participate in mentored research.
• Other Requirements: Seminar Series (4 hours in total). Students may register for any one of the following courses: GEMS 595, PATH 595, PCOL 595, PHYB 595, MIM 595, BCMG 595, or ANAT 595.

PhD in Biomedical Sciences 

• Minimum Semester Hours Required: 96 from the baccalaureate
• Coursework:​

• Preliminary Examination: Required. During the second year of graduate study, students must pass a preliminary examination in a format specified by the GEMS Program. This exam has three components. First, students will prepare a preproposal (a three-page description of research project), followed by submission of a research proposal (following the NIH F31 proposal guidelines), and an oral defense of the proposal. The written proposal will be reviewed by a preliminary exam committee consisting of five GEMS faculty. Students will be required to present and defend the proposal during oral examination.

• Dissertation: Required. Students must earn at least 52 hours in one of the following research courses: ANAT 599, BCMG 599, GEMS 599, MIM 599,  PATH 599, PCOL 599, or  PHYB 599.

• Other Requirements: Seminar Series (6 hours in total). Students may register for any one of the following courses: GEMS 595, ANAT 595, BCMG 595, MIM 595, PATH 595, PCOL 595, or PHYB 595.

• Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP): Students with an MD earned in the United States or who are working toward one at UIC may use medical science courses to fulfill the Year 1 coursework requirements (GEMS 504, GEMS 505, GEMS 506, GEMS 521, and GEMS 522).  MSTP students will complete all other degree requirements: the concentration core, seminar series, electives, preliminary examination, and dissertation.