Applying to Masters Programs FAQs

Jefferson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (JGSBS) uses an online application which allows applicants to submit their application fee, personal statement and resume/CV.

Applications are considered on a rolling-admissions basis throughout the year and newly matriculated students may begin coursework in any academic term. (Fall, Spring1, Spring2, and Summer).

A decision is often reached in two to three weeks from the time the application is complete.Once an application is complete and submitted for review, the admission committee interviews all applicants whom they are considering for admission.

A complete application consists of:

• A complete online application submitted with non-refundable, $50.00 application fee
• Personal statement
• Resume/CV
• 3 Letters of recommendation
• Official Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Standardized test scores sent directly from testing service (GRE,TOEFL, IELTS)

Students applying to the Master of Science in Pharmacology should have taken undergraduate general and organic chemistry courses and at least one biology course. An undergraduate biochemistry course is strongly recommended, but not required.

• If your undergraduate credentials are from an institution outside of the United States or Canada, the Office of Admission requires a course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary credentials (undergraduate and graduate, if applicable). We accept these evaluations from services like World Education Services, Inc. (WES) or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE). It is your responsibility to provide the necessary paperwork and payment to WES or ECE and to request that a copy of the report be sent to the Office of Admission.

• If your native language is not English, or you received your baccalaureate degree from an institution where English is not the official language of instruction, you must submit official scores from an accepted English proficiency exam such as TOEFL or IELTS.

For other information (Student VISA, etc) please visit our Office of International Affairs

All application materials should be sent to the JGSBS Office of Admission at the following address:

Jefferson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Office of Admissions
1020 Locust St. Alumni Hall, Rm M60
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Application materials may arrive separately both before and after your application is submitted, but please be sure your full name is on each document.

The application fee is $50.00 and needs to be submitted by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) upon submission of the application. The fee is non-refundable.

An application fee waiver may be requested in cases of documented financial hardship. To request a waiver, please email the Director of Admissions with an explanation of your situation prior to submitting your application. You may be asked to provide additional documentation.

• Scholarships and assistantships are not available for students in our M.S. programs. Our students fund their education through a variety of means. Information on applying for financial assistance can be found through our Office of Financial Aid.
• Many students will fund their education with tuition benefits through their employer. We suggest applicants inquire about their employer’s tuition policy and contact the Office of Admission for more information.

All M.S. programs are designed to be part-time which allows students the opportunity to hold a full-time job. The shortest time to complete the programs is typically two to two and a half years. Most candidates complete the program in two and half to four years.

As a general policy, applicants to the MS programs are required to take either the GRE® (Graduate Record Examination) or the MCAT® (Medical College Admission Test). However, the GRE or MCAT requirement may be waived for:

• applicants with advanced degrees from accredited institutions
• applicants who have taken JGSBS graduate level courses with grades of B or better
• applicants with substantial work experience in relevant fields

Waivers are granted at the discretion of the Admission Committee and the applicant will be notified of the decision.

The assigned ETS institution code for Jefferson College of Graduate Studies is 2999. You are not required to enter a separate ETS department code since all materials are sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

ETS will not issue GRE® scores that are more than 5 years old or TOEFL® scores more than 2 years old. If the scores have expired, applicants will be required to retake the test(s).

JGSBS uses an online recommendation process. To submit a recommendation, proceed to the online system.

While we prefer to receive the recommendations through our online system, applicants can download our recommendation form which their recommender fills out, attaches the letter of recommendation, and mails directly to the JGSBS Office of Admissions.

The personal statement should be approximately 500-750 words and explains the reasons for applying to JCGS as well as research interests/experiences.

The MS programs are not post-baccalaureate pre-medical programs and are not designed to prepare students for medical or other professional schools. The curriculum and training methods are intended to prepare students for a wide range of positions in the biomedical sciences in industry, government, academia or PhD degree programs.

The Admissions Office holds several Master of Science Information Sessions throughout the year. A Program Director leads a presentation and answers questions from prospective students while an admissions representative discusses the application process. For upcoming dates visit www.jefferson.edu/jgsbs and check under ‘Upcoming Events’. Attendees are waived from the $50 application fee.

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Admissions Office at (215) 503-4400 while specific questions about the programs can be directed to Eleanor Gorman, Assistant Coordinator for MS Programs in the Basic Sciences, at (215) 503-5799.