About PhD Program,
The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah is an internationally renowned center of basic and applied interdisciplinary research. The Department offers two graduate degrees: the Master of Science (M.S.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Graduate students can pursue research and educational opportunities in bioInnovate, biomaterials and therapeutics, biomechanics, computational systems and synthetic biomedical engineering, cardiac electrophysiology and biophysics, neuroengineering, and imaging.
Each student’s Ph.D. qualifying exam is structured around their area of specialization and therefore courses completed as part of the program of study serve as partial preparation for the qualifying exam. The following areas are relatively common for Ph.D. qualifying exams and M.S. programs of study at the University of Utah:
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Ph.D. applicants who meet the priority application deadline will be considered for an invitation to our graduate recruitment weekend in February for interviews with faculty, research presentations, social activities with current students, and to explore Ph.D. program opportunities at the University of Utah! Note: Invitations will be sent to exceptionally well-qualified Ph.D. applicants currently residing in the continental U.S. (international travel is not sponsored). Applicants not receiving an invitation will continue to be considered for admission through April 1. However, no additional recruitment visits are planned.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Students making satisfactory progress in the Department may be eligible to receive financial support as indicated below and participate in the University of Utah Graduate School Tuition Benefit Program during their graduate studies.
Most Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. students are supported by individual faculty members as Research Assistants (funded by grants) or Graduate Assistants (non-grant funding). Generally, MS students are expected to be self-funded; however, some faculty may have the ability to support MS students (typically thesis option) as Graduate/Research Assistants.
We encourage you to contact faculty members directly at the e-mail addresses shown on their web pages in order to seek out potential research projects and to explore avenues of funding. The Admissions Committee has no direct role in determining lab placement or whether or not a particular faculty member will offer funding. Therefore, it is in your best interest to play an active role in this process. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the types of research being conducted by a professor, before contacting them, to determine the potential to participate in and contribute to these lines of research. Because this research will constitute your Ph.D. dissertation or Master’s thesis, it should be an area of genuine interest to you.
A limited number of College and Department Fellowships are offered on a competitive basis to exceptionally well-qualified applicants. You will be automatically considered for these awards on the basis of your application materials. You do not need to provide any additional information unless you are specifically requested to do so at a later time.
We also encourage prospective students to apply for Fellowships from extramural funding sources such as the National Science Foundation or the Whitaker Foundation. Please see the following website for more Fellowship information:
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Support
Price College of Engineering Fellowships
Graduate School Fellowship Opportunities
Application Requirement,
- Unofficial Transcripts for Applicants: Unofficial copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be uploaded into the Slate system at the time of application. For foreign institutions, include transcripts in the original language, plus official English translations if the original language is not English.
- Official Transcripts for Admitted Students:Upon admission to the program, official transcripts must be sent directly from the academic institutions to the Graduate School Admissions Office (not the Department):
- University of Utah Office of Admissions
201 S. 1460 East, Rm 250 S.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 - GRE Scores: “Graduate Record Examination” (GRE) scores are highly recommended for the BME graduate program. Applications may be considered without GRE scores. However, if the admissions committee believes that your application does not provide sufficient evidence of your preparedness for graduate studies in Biomedical Engineering, they will request that you submit GRE scores. You may initially self-report your scores on your SLATE application to be made available to the admissions committee. Upon admission to the program, an official report of scores from the General Test of the GRE should be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Graduate School Admissions Office at the address indicated above. Please use the institutional code for the University of Utah, #4853. Note: MCAT scoresmay also be accepted in lieu of GRE.
- Letters of Reference:We require at least three letters of personal reference from course instructors, research supervisors, or employers who are familiar with your abilities and performance. Please include the names and email contact information for your references in the Slate application. Once your application is submitted your reference will be automatically notified and must submit their recommendation through the “Slate” online form. Applications will not be fully considered until all letters are received.
- Statement of Purpose:A one-page personal statement (approximately 500 words) outlining your background, research interests (including possible faculty research advisors), goals, and reasons for applying to our graduate program.
- Résumé or CV:A professional résumé or academic curriculum vitae is required.
- Writing Sample (Optional): A sample of original writing, such as a brief article, abstract, or essay may be submitted. However, it is optional and may be skipped without penalty.
- Potential Areas of Specialization:Applicants should choose among the research tracks offered, review our research page, and look up individual faculty members by research interests in the Directory of Faculty by Research Areas.
- For International Students only.
- Proof of English proficiency:An official report of exam scores from one of the following testing methods will be required:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- DUOLINGO
- You will need to use code #4853to request your scores be sent directly to the International Admissions Office. See requirements at: https://admissions.utah.edu/english-proficiency/
- For students requesting an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility. Upon admission to the Biomedical Engineering program, the applicant must provide the following items for full acceptance to the University and I-20 certification:
- A financial statement with supporting documents showing a minimum amount in U.S. dollars to cover the first year tuition and living expenses is required. A graduate student must have a minimum of $52,667 in U.S. dollars available. (Costs are subject to change.)
- A copy of the first page of the applicant’s current passport or national ID card.
- Other documents may be required by the International Admission Office. Please visit their website for more detailed information and regulations.
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee,
International PhD: $65
Domestic PhD: $0
