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Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the requirements for admission to the BME program?
- Do I have to take the GRE SUBJECT Test for admission to the BME program?
- Do I have to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Test?
- What is the deadline for application for admission to the BME program?
- How do I apply to UVA?
- What are the major research areas at UVA?
- What is the likelihood that I will be awarded a teaching or research assistantship to support my graduate education?
- Do I need to commit to a specific faculty member or lab in advance in order to receive financial aid?
- Can I call individual faculty on the phone and discuss mutual interests?
- Are there any required core courses?
- Is it possible to do an M.D./Ph.D. at U.Va., with the Ph.D. being in BME?
- Are there teaching assistantships as well as research assistantships available in BME?
- Can a Physics undergraduate go straight into the BME Program, or does he/she have to take several engineering courses first?
- Is Organic Chemistry required to enter the BME Graduate Program?
- What if my question isn't answered here?
What are the requirements for admission to the BME program?
The general requirements for admission to the Ph.D., M.S., or M.E. programs include a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, GRE General Test scores, a completed application packet with short essay and letters of recommendation. TOEFL scores are required for international students whose first language is not English. Qualified applicants who are deficient in certain prerequisites may be admitted with the expectation that they will remedy the deficiencies during the master's program. Prerequisite courses include introductory chemistry and biology, physics (two semesters based on calculus), mathematics through differential equations, analysis of electrical circuits, and computer programming (Matlab, C++ or Java).
You may find it helpful to know that a typical entering class of graduate students has average GRE scores over 1350 (verbal + quantitative) and an average undergraduate GPA above 3.5 on a 4-point scale. For students whose first language is not English, TOEFL scores of 250 computer-based/600-paper based, IELTS scores of 7.0 or above or iBT scores of 90 to 100 are recommended.
Do I have to take the GRE SUBJECT Test for admission to the BME program?
No. Only the GRE General Test is required.
Do I have to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Test?
Yes. All students who do NOT speak English as their native language (language first learned and spoken at home) must take the TOEFL Test. If you believe that your situation warrants a waiver of the TOEFL, please provide an explanation of your circumstances in a letter to:
Richard Tanson
International Student & Scholar Programs (ISSP)
208 Minor Hall
P.O. Box 400165 Minor Hall
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA, 22904-4165
434-982-3010
tanson@virginia.edu
What is the deadline for application for admission to the BME program?
If you wish to be considered for assistantships or fellowships, you should apply by January 15. For expedited review, please submit your completed application by January 1.
How do I apply to UVA?
Students interested in applying for graduate study in BME must submit their completed applications to the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Completed applications are then reviewed by the BME Graduate Admissions Committee. Please refer to the SEAS site for more information about the application process and all necessary forms.
What are the major research areas at UVA?
Please see Research page.
What is the likelihood that I will be awarded a teaching or research assistantship to support my graduate education?
All Ph.D. students are supported with full tuition, fees, health insurance, and a stipend ($25,000 per year for 2008-2009). An additional $2000 Dean's Fellowship is available for outstanding students. Funding sources include graduate research assistantships (GRAs), graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs), departmental fellowships, and training grants of the NIH and other federal agencies, as well as private sector support. The department assists students in applying for a variety of individual fellowships. The deadline for application for financial aid is January 15 for the following academic year.
Do I need to commit to a specific faculty member or lab in advance in order to receive financial aid?
No. Some students participate in a lab rotation program during their first semester of study, while others select a specific laboratory from the outset. We conduct interviews of top candidates as part of the admissions process, and these interviews help both faculty and students identify the best matches between applicants and potential labs.
Can I call individual faculty on the phone and discuss mutual interests?
Certainly. We welcome your call or email. You may want to speak with one or more of our faculty about their research and your specific research interests.
Are there any required core courses?
Yes. The required core courses for all BME graduate degrees (M.E., M.S., Ph.D.) are:
- BIOM 601 Physiology I
- BIOM 602 Physiology II
- BIOM 610 Biomedical Instrumentation I
- BIOM 611 Biomedical Instrumentation II
In addition, each degree has specific course and research requirements, which are outlined in more detail in our Grad Handbook.
Is it possible to do an M.D./Ph.D. at U.Va., with the Ph.D. being in BME?
Yes, there is an M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Virginia. This program is supported by a highly competitive Medical Scientist Training Program grant (MSTP) from the National Institutes of Health. The program is run by the Graduate Programs Office in the School of Medicine. Admission to the program is very competitive and includes admission to the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Medicine. For more information, please visit http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/mstp/.
Are there teaching assistantships as well as research assistantships available in BME?
All doctoral students gain teaching experience as a Teaching Assistant for 2 1-semester courses at some time during their studies. During the remainder of their studies, doctoral students are appointed as Research Assistants.
Can a Physics undergraduate go straight into the BME Program, or does he/she have to take several engineering courses first?
Yes. A physics undergraduate can go straight into the BME program. However, he or she will be expected to remedy any deficiencies in the prerequisite coursework during his or her master's program. BME prerequisite courses include:
- Introductory Chemistry and Biology
- Physics, two semesters (preferably based on calculus)
- Mathematics through differential equations
- Analysis of electrical circuits
- Computer programming (Matlab, C++ or Java)
Is Organic Chemistry required to enter the BME Graduate Program?
No.
What if my question isn't answered here?
Contact Meg Harris, Graduate Program Coordinator at bmemeg@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6906.
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