The procedures involved in applying for graduate study at the Department of Biomedical Engineering are described here. To learn more about the different programs of study and degrees offered, view the Graduate Studies page.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted for admission in the Fall semester only. The application deadline is January 15. Applications received thereafter will continue to be considered on a space-available basis, up to the University deadline of April 1. The past deadline applications are subject to an additional $30 fee.

Application Procedures

All applicants are required to use the "Apply Yourself" online application system. Below is a list of materials you will need to complete the process.

• Transcipts. Official copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent directly by the institution (not the applicant). For foreign institutions, include official transcripts in the original language, plus official English translations if the original language is not English.
• GRE Scores. An official report of scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) should be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Department of Bioengineering. Use the institutional code for the University of Utah, #4853, and the department code for Bioengineering, #1603.
• Letters of Reference. We will require at least three letters of personal reference from course instructors, research supervisors, or employers who are familiar with your abilities and performance. The recommender may use the "Apply Yourself" online form, or download a printable pdf form.
• Personal Statement. A two-page personal statement (approximately 500 words) outlining your background, research interests (including possible faculty research advisors), goals, and reasons for applying to our graduate program.
• Potential Areas of Specialization. Applicants should choose among the research tracks offered. See also our research page , and look up individual faculty members by research interests here.
• For international students only.
  • TOEFL scores. An official report of scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will be necessary. You will need to use code 45 for the International Admissions Office.
  • For students requesting an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility. The following will need to be provided by the applicant:
    1. A financial statement with supporting documents showing a minimum amount in U.S. dollars to cover the first year tuition and living expenses in required. A graduate student must have a minimum of $26,079.00 in U.S. dollars available. (Cost are subject to change.)
    2. A copy of the first page of applicant's current passport or national ID card.

Admission Standards

Applicants must have received, prior to commencing graduate study, a bachelor's degree from an accredited institute, college, or university. Although no single field of undergraduate specialization is required, applicants to the program must have a thorough undergraduate background in engineering and life sciences, and are expected to have mastered basic material in the following areas: mathematics (calculus through differential equations), physics (college physics with calculus, including mechanics and electronics), chemistry (organic and/or biochemistry), materials science (introductory course or strength of materials), and biology (introductory human anatomy or physiology). All aspects of an application will be seriously considered during the evaluation process. However, students should have a grade point average equivalent to 3.2 or better on a 4-point scale. International students should have a minimum TOEFL score of 575 on the paper-based test, or 232 on the computer-based test; students with TOEFL scores below 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) may be required to enroll in English classes.

Fellowships and Research Assistantships

Students making satisfactory progress in the Department typically receive stipend support and tuition waivers throughout their graduate studies.

Most Bioengineering graduate students are supported by individual faculty members as Research Assistants. Information regarding the research of individual faculty members can be found on the Department web site, and is organized by topic as well as by individual. Any faculty member with an appointment in Bioengineering may serve as your research advisor, including tenure-track faculty, research faculty, and adjunct faculty. We encourage you to contact faculty members directly at the e-mail addresses shown on their web pages in order to seek out potential research projects and to explore avenues of funding. The Admissions Committee has no direct role in determining whether or not a particular faculty member will offer you funding, so it is in your best interest for you to play an active role in this process. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the types of research being conducted by a professor, and have the potential to participate in and contribute to these lines of research. Because this research will likely constitute part of your Masters thesis or Ph.D. dissertation, it should be an area of genuine interest to you

A limited number of University and Department Fellowships are offered on a competitive basis to exceptionally well-qualified applicants. You will be automatically considered for these awards on the basis of your application materials. You do not need to provide any additional information unless you are specifically requested to do so at a later time.

We also encourage prospective students to apply for Fellowships from extramural sources such as the National Science Foundation or the Whitaker Foundation.

Additional Information

If you need additional information, please contact our graduate admissions secretary, Karen Terry, either by surface mail (see below), telephone (801) 581-8559, fax (801) 581-8966, or e-mail (karen.terry@utah.edu). Mrs. Terry can help you with most routine administrative matters.

Mail Address

All admission materials submitted directly to the Bioengineering Department should be sent to the following address:

    GRADUATE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE
    DEPARTMENT OF BIOENGINEERING
    UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
    20 SOUTH 2030 EAST, 108 BPRB
    SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84112-9458
    USA 
    

We look forward to receiving your application.