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Important Information
Considering Fall 2026 Admission?
Apply Here starting September 1, 2025- The application deadline for Fall 2026 is December 1, 2025.
- The online application for Fall 2026 admission will open on September 1, 2025. We do not have Spring term admission.
- GREs are no longer considered for admission into our program and applicants will not be requested to submit scores on the application.
Considering Fall 2026 Admission?
Apply Here starting September 1, 2025Please Read Before You Begin the Application Process
Plan ahead. The application portal will close promptly at 11:59pm on December 1, Eastern time zone, so be sure to note any difference with your time zone and plan accordingly. Any number of unforeseen circumstances affecting could cause the application process to take longer than anticipated and lead you to miss the deadline. Once the application system closes at 11:59pm Eastern time, you will not be able to submit your application, even if you initiated completion of the application prior to the deadline. Please note that reference letters must be submitted before the deadline, so contact your letter writers before December 1st to confirm upload.
We will begin reviewing applications in mid-November, so early applications are highly encouraged! Competitive applicants will be invited to a virtual interview session by one of our admission committee chairs.
If you have questions about the BIMS Graduate Programs or admission requirements during the admission process, please feel free to contact bims@virginia.edu. If you have questions about or complications with the online application, please contact bimsadmission@virginia.edu.
Admission Requirements
The requirements for admission to the BIMS Graduate Programs are rigorous, as it is our goal to recruit the very best students who will go on to be leading scientists in academia, industry, and other areas. All applicants should have earned or should be in the process of earning an undergraduate degree at an accredited institution. Although strong weighting is given to a student’s grade point average, the most important criterion for admission is a student’s passion and commitment for research and aspiration for a professional career conducting pioneering biomedical research.
The BIMS application must be completed online. The following materials must be submitted to support your application in order for it to be considered complete.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Most international students must submit either TOEFL or IELTS scores. The TOEFL is not required of applicants who have or will have obtained an undergraduate or Master’s degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. The TOEFL requirement will be waived for applicants who submit verification of institutional or program language instruction (such as a transcript or primary language certificate) as part of the electronic application.
Applicants who do not meet the exception noted above are required to record their scores from the TOEFL/IELTS exam on their application. Official scores are not necessary for the review process but will be required if the applicant matriculates as a student.
The minimum internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening).
The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section.
If your scores will expire prior to July of the coming year (TOEFL/IELTS scores are only valid for two years), you should have your official scores submitted prior to their expiration. BIMS receives TOEFL scores directly from Education Testing Services (ETS). Please enter the institution code B875. BIMS does not use the department code, so you may choose any option, as it will have no effect on the review of your application. IELTS scores should be sent electronically to the University of Virginia. No department or code is needed. Official scores sent from ETS/IELTS are automatically matched to the application at the time they are received.
Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts of their entire post-secondary academic record, including all undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework, as supporting documents for their application. Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate programs.
Transcripts that are not recorded in English must include a translation into English.
It is not necessary to request and mail official transcripts as part of the application process, as unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the review of your application. If you accept an offer of admission to BIMS, you will be required to submit final official transcripts from your undergraduate institution before you can matriculate.
You will be required to submit three letters of recommendation. Applicants are encouraged to obtain letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their research experience and potential. Letters of recommendation are processed electronically through the online application system. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for each person providing a recommendation, and will have the ability to track the progression of each reference once the system invitation has been sent.
Your application will not be reviewed if all three letters have not been submitted. If you submit your application earlier than the deadline, please be sure that your reviews are put in at the same time, otherwise your application will be on hold until the time all letters are submitted.
The non-refundable fee of $85 will be due when you submit your application for Fall 2025 admission.
For information concerning fee waivers that are available to domestic applicants, please visit: https://graddiversity.virginia.edu/application-fee-waiver
Applicants to the BIMS program will be asked to provide four short personal statements that describe their prior experiences, their passion for research, their motivation for pursuing admission to graduate school and their interest in the UVA BIMS program. These statements are an essential component of the application that are designed to help the admissions committee understand the applicant’s preparation, motivation and goals.
Essay prompts are as follows:
- Describe your previous research experience(s). Please include examples of your ability to overcome obstacles, experience with managing multiple projects, and other experiences that contribute to your passion for research. (500-1000 words)
- Please describe the scientific interests that motivate you to pursue an advanced degree. For faculty members you listed above, please tell us why you identified them as potential research mentors. (300 words)
- Discuss how your scientific interests and motivations to pursue an advanced degree relate to your future career aspirations and explain why you believe that the UVA BIMS graduate program will help you achieve your goals. (250 words)
- Please tell us how your background, perspective, or life experience(s) have led you to pursue PhD training in the Biomedical Sciences and/or how they have influenced what you hope to achieve through your graduate education. (300 words)
- (OPTIONAL) Feel free to share any additional information that you would like our admissions committee to have when considering your application. (100 words)
1. Do you offer rolling admissions or Spring-term admission?
We do not have rolling admissions and do not admit students for Spring term.
2. Where can I find additional information regarding the application process?
Additional information regarding the application process can be found here: https://med.virginia.edu/bims/prospective-students/
3. Where can I find information on fee waivers for US citizen applicants?
US citizen applicants seeking information regarding fee waivers can find more information here: https://graddiversity.virginia.edu/application-fee-waiver
4. Are you offering fee waivers to international students?
We are not currently offering fee waivers to International applicants fee waivers at this time.
5. Do you require a GRE score to submit an application?
BIMS dropped the GRE requirement in 2018. You will not be requested to submit scores to support your application.