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REACH GREAT HEIGHTS

MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) is a unique collaboration between UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center. This synergistic partnership provides students with unparalleled access to modern facilities, world-class faculty and unlimited prospects for research in the biomedical sciences.

STEPS TO APPLY

Online Application

All materials will be collected via our online application system (Embark). Applications for Fall 2025 for the MS and PhD programs are will become available beginning August 1, 2024 . Below is a list of required materials for applying to GSBS. All materials, including letters of recommendation, are due by the deadline. Please read the instructions below carefully before starting your application.

Questions? Please see our FAQ.

Requirements and Instructions

All components of the application must be submitted via the online application system and no paper materials will be accepted. Please note that there is no need to submit official transcripts or test scores when applying. We will contact you directly if official documents are needed.

  • Application form - The form is hosted online and you must create an account here to apply. The form will allow you to save your work and return at a later time. 

  • Unofficial transcripts & GPA - An unofficial copy of your transcript from each college and university attended is required. This includes transcripts from every school attended, regardless if the class was taken for dual credit or transferred and listed on another transcript. Graduate and undergraduate grade point averages must be provided on a 4.0 scale. For assistance with converting GPAs, please see the FAQ.

  • CV/Resume - Please include the following information: academic honors, awards received in college, research experience (i.e. academic, summer programs, internships), relevant employment history, and education information. Also provide a listing of any scientific publications, presentations, and/or posters. For assistance with preparing an academic CV, see this guide from the GSBS Office of Career Development.

  • Personal statement - Please provide a one (1) page personal statement which explains your motivation for seeking a graduate degree in the Biomedical Sciences. This statement should discuss your professional career goals, your interest in science and why you are interested in obtaining your graduate degree at MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

  • Research Statement - Please provide a one (1) page research statement which describes your previous research experience. In this statement, include a detailed description of at least one independent research project, what you did, what you learned and the significance of this work. If you do not have previous research experience, please explain what other experiences you have that make you a suitable candidate for graduate school. The research statement is required if you are applying to the PhD program and MS program in Biomedical Sciences. A Research Statement is not required for individuals applying to the MS Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling.”

  • Optional Essay - Please provide a one (1) page essay, if needed, on resilience. The ability to recover quickly during difficulty. This is one important characteristic that can contribute to success in graduate school. Resilience can be activated and strengthened through many situations in life, for example, by overcoming financial hardship to pursue education or by leading an organization to a major goal. You may provide an optional essay to share your personal story of resilience. Since this essay is optional, the information shared will only be used to learn more about the applicant and provide the committee with more insight to the applicant’s personal journey towards graduate school.

  • Letters of Recommendation - Recommenders should be well qualified to evaluate your scholastic performance, scientific ability, research interests and motivation, and personal attributes such as character and personality. If you are currently enrolled, or have completed, a graduate degree program, one of these recommendations must be from your academic advisor or mentor. Three letters of recommendation are required to apply and applications are not reviewed until all three have been received. You will be asked to enter the recommender's professional (not personal) email address into the online form. Registered recommenders will receive an email from "Embark Team" requesting a letter be submitted online. Each letter must be on institutional letterhead and signed by the recommender. You will receive a confirmation email when a recommendation letter has been received on your behalf, and you may track the status by logging into your Embark account.

  • TOEFL scores (International applicants only) - International applicants who have, or will have prior to matriculation, received a degree that required more than two years of study from a university in the United States are not required to take the TOEFL exam. Some international students may be eligible for a TOEFL waiver; check the FAQs for waiver eligibility. Learn more here.

  • Application fee - A $50 application fee is required. Application fee waivers are available for all applicants who submit a completed application by the priority deadline. You must request your fee waiver from the Office of Admissions through email at [email protected]. Refunds will not be provided if you pay the fee first.