Applying to PhD Programs

The Jefferson College of Life Sciences uses a central application service, to collect and manage our applications.  Apply here.

The priority application deadline is December 1st. Applications received after this date will be considered at the discretion of the admissions committee of the desired program and on a space available basis.

Most interviews take place between late January and mid-March, and applicants are notified of their acceptance between February and May.

The admission committees interview all applicants whom they are considering for admission. If the candidates are overseas, interviews can be conducted by phone and/or video conference.

A complete application consists of:

• A complete online application submitted with the $60.00 application fee
• Personal statement
• Resume/CV
• Three Letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended
• The GRE is no longer an application requirement...it is optional. Standardized test scores sent directly from testing service (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS)

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

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

• 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).
• GRE: International students with degrees from non-US institutions are particularly encouraged to submit GRE scores to aid the committee in evaluating their application. Please note that the GRE is not required to complete your application.

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

The application fee is $60.00 and needs to be submitted by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) upon submission of the application. The fee is non-refundable.

To request a fee waiver, please send your request with any supporting documentation to Marc Stearns, Sr. Associate Director of Admissions. The request will be reviewed and a decision will be returned on whether the fee can be waived.

Students accepted to a PhD program in JCLS receive a fellowship, which includes tuition, fees, health insurance and a competitive stipend. This fellowship is granted regardless of financial need.

If students are interested in applying for additional funds through student loans, etc., they can contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

• The GRE is optional, not required, for the PHD program in Biomedical Sciences. Applicants may choose to submit the GRE general test to provide additional evidence of their fitness for the program. International students with degrees from non-US institutions are particularly encouraged to submit GRE scores to aid the committee in evaluating their application.
  
  If you decide to submit GRE scores, please have your official GRE scores sent by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Jefferson College of Life Sciences (Institution code 2999, no department code needed). You should also self-report your scores as part of the online application.
• 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.

JCLS does not have a minimum GPA or GRE requirement. When reviewing applications, the admission committees are taking into account all components of the application to make a final decision.

The GRE is no longer an application requirement. It is now optional.

The average scores for our 2018 PhD cohort are:

• Undergraduate GPA: 3.5
• GRE scores (verbal + quantitative): 314 

The GRE is no longer an application requirement. It is now optional.

The assigned ETS institution code for Jefferson College of Biomedical 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.

The GRE is no longer an application requirement. It is now optional.

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

The JCLS TJAPP application has an online recommendation included in the system. Applicants submit their letters in the Program section under Evaluations. 

The personal statement should be approximately 500-750 words and explain your reasons for applying to JCLS as well as your research interests/experiences.

If you are unable to find your answer on our website or in the instructions, you may contact the Office of Admissions at 215-503-8890.