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	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.