How to Apply
INTERNATIONAL / NON US CITIZEN applicant eligibility:
Applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents please note: Admission to PIBS is extremely competitive. PIBS accepts only 5% or less of the international applications received each year. In addition, not all programs accept international students.
The following four programs DO NOT accept international applicants through PIBS:
- Biological Chemistry
- Cellular & Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
*Microbiology & Immunology and Pharmacology will accept applications from international students ONLY if they are currently undergraduates in the U.S. with an F1 visa.
Language Requirements
Applicants from non-English speaking countries MUST provide TOEFL (iBT) scores.
Minimum scores needed for unconditional admission are:
- 23 reading
- 23 listening
- 17 speaking
- 21 writing
- 84 total
Applicants who score higher than the minimum scores indicated above but lower than the following scores must take the Academic English Evalutation (AEE) exam prior to class registration
- 26 reading
- 26 listening
- 23 speaking
- 27 writing
- 102 total
Application Process
Applicants must:
- Select three (3) Ph.D. program/department choices in rank order (please note restrictions above on programs not accepting international applications). Note: These choices are not binding but will be used to determine which programs review your application.
- Provide a Statement of Purpose that describes your research background, your career goals, and how Michigan's graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. A detailed description of your research experience is strongly recommended. Please limit your Statement of Purpose to two pages.
- Submit a Personal Statement that describes how your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. Describe any major obstacles that you had to overcome to achieve your goals. Please limit your Personal Statement to 500 words.
- Solicit three (3) letters of recommendation from professors/research mentors who can evaluate your academic and scientific potential. These letters must be sent electronically. As you complete the Rackham Graduate School application, you will have the opportunity to electronically send invitations to professors/mentors to submit letters of recommendation, as well as electronically submit materials such as publications and other relevant documents.
- Provide GRE scores. Subject GRE scores are not required, but are strongly encouraged. [Institution Code 1839. Department code is not needed.]
- Electronically submit one (1) transcript from all post-secondary institutions.
NOTE: No Materials will be accepted in hard copy. All materials must be submitted electronically.
Application fees
$75.00 per application.
Need additional information?
Rackham Graduate School application information
For any remaining questions, please call 734-647-7005 or email PIBS
