Submit your application for admission on TJAPP. 

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

International applicants who are coming from abroad or who are in the U.S. on a non-F-1 visa are strongly encouraged to submit their admission application by the following dates:

Spring 2018:        November 30th (to begin March 19th)
Summer 2018:    March 16th
Fall 2018:               May 15

This will ensure enough time to complete the visa process. We still accept and review international applications after the dates above, but may need to defer the application to a later start term due to the visa application timeline.

A decision is typically reached 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, application fee
• Personal statement
• Resume/CV
• Three 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.

Please see addtitional requirements for the following programs:

• MS Forensic Biology
• MS Forensic Toxicology
• MS Human Genetics & Genetic Counseling

• English Proficiency: 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 (comprehensive list of requirements by country), you must submit official scores from an accepted English proficiency exam such as TOEFL or IELTS.
• Transcript Evaluation: If you completed your undergraduate/graduate work outside of the United States, you must submit a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES).
• International applicants who are coming from abroad or who are in the U.S. on a non-F-1 visa are strongly encouraged to submit their admission application by the following dates: Spring November 30th; Summer: March 16th; or for Fall: May 15
• This will ensure enough time to complete the visa process. We still accept and review international applications after the dates above, but may need to defer the application to a later start term due to the visa application timeline.

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

Official Transcripts and WES evaluations (if applicable) should be sent to:

TJAPP Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9130
Watertown, MA 02471

The application fee varies depending on the program your are applying to and needs to be submitted by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) upon submission of the application. The fee is non-refundable.

Information of the spevific application fee for your program will be found on the program website under applying as well as in TJAPP.

Requests for application waivers can be sent for review to Marc Stearns. Once the request is reviewed we will contact the applicant on the decision.

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.

JCBS does offer some limited scholarships and applicatnts are automatically reviewed for scholarship consideration.

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 Admissions for more information.

The following programs are cohorts beginning in the Fall semester:

• MS Forensic Biology:    2 years
• MS Forensic Toxicology:    2 years
• MS Human Genetics & Genetic Counseling: 19 months

The following programs can be taken part-time or on an accelerated basis and students can complete their programs as quickly as 1.5 years. This is based on taking a full-time courseload, completing the thesis research in a timely fashion, and working closely with their program director to ensure all requirements are completed. Most candidates complete the program in two to four years.

• MS Biomedical Sciences
• MS Cell & Developmental Biology
• MS Clinical Research
• MS Microbiology & Immunology
• MS Pharmacology

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
• who have taken JCLS graduate level courses with grades of B or better

Waivers are granted at the discretion of the Admission Committee, and the applicant needs to request the waiver during the application process by emailing the Senior Associate Director of Admissions.

The assigned ETS institution code for Jefferson College of Life Sciences 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).

Letters are required to be submitted through TJAPP. Instructions for this will be found in the Evaluation section of the application.

The personal statement should be approximately 500-750 words and explain your reasons for applying to JCBS as well as your 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 industry, government, academia or PhD degree programs. That being said, graduates have gone on to apply and be accepted to various professional school 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. Learn more about upcoming events.

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Office of Admissions at (215)-503-8890 or TJU.Admissions@jefferson.edu.