Graduate Studies - Apply

Application Instructions:

• Apply here for Graduate Studies

• Apply to the Medical Scholars Program and Bioengineering (MD /PhD)

Appling to Bioengineering

The mission of the Bioengineering Graduate Program is to provide students with educational and research experiences that integrate the sciences of biology and medicine with the practices and principles of engineering. The program prepares graduates for highly productive and distinguished careers in research, academe, or business. 

Ph.D. students in Bioengineering receive an M.S. degree during their course of study towards the Ph.D.

The Graduate Program in Bioengineering is oriented towards students pursuing an M.S. and Ph.D. although the department occasionally admits M.S.-only students. If you are interested in pursuing an M.S.-only, we encourage you to contact the Coordinator for Graduate Studies before applying.

Admissions Standards

Admission to the Bioengineering graduate program is very competitive. Successful applicants typically have GPAs above 3.5 (on a 4.0 = A scale), Quantitative GRE scores above the 85th percentile and Verbal and Analytical GRE scores above the 75th percentile. In addition, we look for evidence of outstanding motivation, especially in interdisciplinary studies with a record of successful experimental research or volunteering experiences relevant to Bioengineering.  We also look for matches between the student’s interests and those of potential faculty advisors.

Students applying to the program must have a bachelor's degree in a biological or engineering related field. Students in engineering must have had some introduction to the life sciences and biology students should have had a strong mathematical and quantitative preparation. Ideally, engineers would have a minor in biology and biologists would have a minor (or the equivalent of a minor) in engineering.  For more information see Preparation for Graduate Studies in Bioengineering.

Financial Aid for Graduate Students

Graduate students admitted to the Ph.D. program typically receive financial support with a combination of department teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships.

Application Process

Prospective graduate students should apply on-line. ApplyYourself is the web based application system. It allows you to track your admission progress and conduct most of the admission process electronically. APPLY ONLINE

Use "Bioengineering" as the Proposed Program. The Program Code is "10KS0408MS" for the MS program and "10KS0408PHD" for the PHD program. Only indicate MS program if you intend to finish with an MS degree only.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be accepted for the fall term 2009 beginning in September 2008 . All materials, credentials, and test scores must be received by January 15, 2009.

Additional instructions can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Application Requirements

• Official transcripts of all completed university coursework (send to Bioengineering Department).
• Three letters of reference. (These may be submitted through ApplyYourself.)
• Statement of Purpose. (This may be submitted through ApplyYourself.)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general aptitude test scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical portions). A GRE subject test is not required. These scores must be submitted through ETS, the company that gives the GRE. The institution code for the University of Illinois is 1836 and the department code is "00" or "0000".
• Topic Area Preference Form and Faculty Interest Form – Use these on-line forms to indicate your area of research interest and those faculty members who do research most closely aligned with your research interests and/or experiences. You will need to wait approximately two days after you submit your application on-line before these forms are made available.

International applicants

In addition to the above documents, international students will need to provide:

• Declaration and Certification of Finances for Admission to Graduate College is no longer required. If you have questions about this, please contact the department at the e-mail address below.

• Certification of Degree for all academic degrees obtained. (If you have not yet graduated you do not need to submit this certification until you arrive at the University of Illinois.)

• TOEFL scores: All international applicants whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL score. There are some exemptions to this requirement, for instance, if you have attended a university in an English-speaking country for two years or more. All applicants must submit a TOEFL score of at least 590 (paper-based), 243 (computer-based), or 97 (iBT). Applicants with TOEFL scores below these numbers cannot be considered for admission. TOEFL scores below 610 (paper-based), 253 (computer-based), or 103 (iBT) indicate the need for further English study. This consists of enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses based on an ESL Placement Test (EPT) taken upon arrival at the University.
  
  The University of Illinois now accepts IELTS scores in place of TOEFL. Applicants with scores below a 6.5 overall or below a 6.0 on any subsection cannot be considered for admission. Students who score below a 7 overall will need to enroll in ESL courses based on an an ESL Placement Test.

• Rank in graduating class or in major. (Include rank only if your university maintains these records).

If you have questions regarding any aspect of the Bioengineering Graduate Program, please e-mail them to Sam Smucker at ssmucker@illinois.edu.