WELCOME TO THE MD ANDERSON UTHEALTH HOUSTON GRADUATE SCHOOL

Congratulations on your recent admission to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences! Below you will find a list of items to be completed by August 1. Please contact Oscar Sevilla if you have any questions regarding the items below or regarding deadlines. International students: please note that your I-20 cannot be issued until you have met the contingencies of admission which includes submission of official transcripts and a transcript evaluation (if applicable, see below). 

New Student Orientation will be held August 19-23, 2024. More details will be provided in early summer. Due to the amount of paperwork required, we recommend domestic students arrive in Houston one week prior to the start of Orientation. For international students, we recommend two weeks. 

Join the 2024 Incoming Student Slack Channel to connect with your future classmates.

Incoming Student Checklist

• Send final transcripts showing your degree conferred to the Office of the Registrar. The Registrar must receive an official transcript from every college or university attended, including classes taken for dual credit or at community college. This includes coursework that is transferred/listed on other transcripts. For more information regarding official transcripts, including mailing address and information on electronic transcripts, please click here. Electronic transcripts may be sent to [email protected]. 
  
  
• Submit test scores (if applicable)
  • TOEFL - International students who have not earned a degree from an institution where the language of instruction is English are required to submit official TOEFL scores. Please use institutional code 6907 (no department code needed).
    
    
• Students who earn degrees from international universities are to required have their transcripts evaluated by an outside agency to ensure that the degree is, at least, equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree. Only a general evaluation, not a course-by-course evaluation is required to be sent to the Office of the Registrar. This evaluation, along with your official transcripts, must be received before your Form I-20 may be issued. For students completing a degree in the summer term, an evaluation of the in-progress degree will be accepted (and the final evaluation must be submitted by the end of the Fall semester). More information will be sent by email but the following credentialing agencies are preferred:
  • World Education Service (WES)
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
    
    
• Complete criminal background check. As noted in your offer of admission, all incoming students are required to obtain a criminal background check and identify verification prior to registering for classes. GSBS has contracted with Pre-Check to process background checks and identify verification for entering students. Please follow this link to begin the process of obtaining the background check and select "University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences" from the drop down menu.  Please note you are responsible for the payment of the $49 fee. Additional fees may be required based on country/state. Pre-Check will contact you directly regarding additional fees.
  • International students who have not lived in the United States for a total of 30 days are not required to obtain a background check. Please contact Oscar Sevilla to request an exemption.
    
    
• Complete and submit Certification of Immunization:  
• Certain immunizations are required before a student can register for classes. A hold will be placed on your account until documentation is uploaded into applyUTH and verified by Student Health.
• It is recommended you include any COVID-19 vaccination information when uploading your immunization information. Please note: students who rotate in and/or join a lab at MD Anderson Cancer Center will be required to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination or obtain an approved exemption.
• Please see the FAQ for questions or contact Student Health and Counseling Services for assistance regarding required immunizations. See below for more information about applyUTH.
  
  
• Update your contact information once you have obtained your Houston address, including your email address if you provided your college email address when applying and an updated telephone number (if applicable). Please send updates to Oscar.
  
  
• UTH Housing Waitlist: 
  • Please e-mail [email protected] for walk-in availability (walk-in availability is any apartment available off the waiting list) for those affiliated with UTHealth, MD Anderson and Baylor.

     More info on housing can be found here: https://www.uth.edu/housing/future-residents/index.htm

• Email a passport-style photo to Oscar for your student ID badge.
  • Photograph Requirements:
    
    • MUST resemble a passport photo or driver license photo
    • Taken within the past 2 months, showing current appearance
    • The photo must be color
    • Full face, front view with a plain white background
    • Photo must be taken in normal street attire, colored or dark clothing. No white T-shirts or white shirts as they do not appear on the badge.

applyUTH

You will receive an automated email from the registrar's office containing information for your applyUTH account. ApplyUTH will allow you to track receipt of transcripts and test scores (if applicable) and upload your immunization documentation. The following holds may be placed on your account.

• Immunization and Health Form 
• Criminal Background Check 
• Residency Questions Form
• Office of International Affairs

Around July 1 your account will be activated for the fall term and additional holds will be placed on your account.

• Activity Guide - Allows you to verify and update your personal information.
• Health Insurance Certification - Information regarding clearing this hold will be sent by the GSBS Finance Office. Do not answer answer any questions related to health insurance certification until you receive the directions from GSBS Finance.
• Identity Management (IDM) - This hold is removed through identity verification and is included as part of the criminal background check and will be automatically removed once the CBC clears.
  • For international students who are exempt from the CBC requirement, please email Michael Valladolid, GSBS IT Director, to schedule an identity verification appointment either in person or online through Zoom or MS Teams to clear this hold. Being on camera is required. Present a current (not expired) state or federal issued photo ID - Drivers License, Passport.