Graduate Admissions
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Graduate Record Examination (GRE):
The GRE requirement is waived for applicants seeking admission to the BME graduate programs at UIC. However, strong GRE scores (Quantitative >80th percentile, Verbal > 70th percentile, Analytical writing >4) can enhance your application. Thus, GRE scores will be accepted and, if provided, evaluated as part of your application.
Prerequisite math requirements and typical GPA of accepted students:
The typical student admitted to the graduate programs in BME at UIC has a GPA of at least 3.0 and has received grades of B or higher in differential calculus (Calc 1), integral calculus (Calc 2), vector and multivariable calculus (Calc 3), and differential equations. Linear algebra may be needed to be successful in specific graduate-level courses but can be waived as a requirement if justified to the Director of Graduate Studies. However, having a GPA higher than the minimum is no guarantee of admission.
Learning objectives:
The graduate programs in BME at UIC are designed to enable students to acquire the foundational and advanced knowledge for their chosen sub-discipline within BME through formal educational opportunities such as coursework and research seminars, as well as scholarly interactions with faculty and/or fellow researchers. Students will also acquire skills in defining projects involving the development/design, characterization, control, and/or modeling of biological systems, and will be able to present in oral and written formats the principles and techniques of BME to audiences ranging from academic, industrial, government, and public.
Thesis research:
Graduate students engaged in thesis research for either the MS or PhD degrees will also learn how to design and execute research plans to investigate and find solutions to important problems within research areas of BME faculty/labs including, but not limited to, robotics and wearable electronics for rehabilitation, biomaterials and stem cells for tissue engineering. microphysiological systems for drug development, diagnostic and biosensor platforms for healthcare, cell mechanics in disease, biomedical optics and imaging, and quantitative biology and bioinformatics.
Funding:
PhD students in BME will be funded with stipend, full tuition waiver, and partial fee waiver year around for the duration of their studies as long as they are making satisfactory progress towards the didactic and research requirements set forth by BME/UIC. MS students are typically self-funded though some have been able to secure teaching assistant positions in different departments and research assistant positions in select faculty labs; therefore, please contact faculty whose research aligns with your interests.
Career placements:
The graduates of the BME programs at UIC have gone on to secure positions at universities (e.g., tenure-track or teaching faculty), industry (e.g., medical devices, biotech/pharmaceutical, startups), government (e.g., FDA), and for gaining admission to other professional programs (e.g., medical school, law school).
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Would you like to know more about our biomedical engineering or bioinformatics graduate programs? Please fill out the form linked below, and we will respond with information about your program of interest at UIC.
Graduate program information request form
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Students apply for admission to graduate programs in biomedical engineering and bioinformatics through the UIC Graduate College. Applications are considered individually by the admissions committee for graduate programs.
If you are considering master’s-level study at UIC, our MS programs overview booklet is a great place to begin. If you are interested in doctoral study, start here.
Reach out to our graduate team with any questions Heading link
Thomas Royston
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Email:
Salman Khetani
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Yang Dai
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Application Requirements for MS and PhD Students Heading link
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Application Requirements
Applicants must meet the requirements of the Graduate College and the requirements of the biomedical engineering department. Please note that GRE scores are not required. In general, applicants should be prepared with:
- Admissions application completed online
- Transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work, indicating a minimum GPA of 3.0 (assuming a system in which A = 4.0) for the final 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of undergraduate study
- English proficiency test. Valid English proficiency test scores must be submitted if required, based on the country or territory in which an applicant previously studied. Minimum required scores are: iBT Internet-based TOEFL of 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21; IELTS of 6.5, with all four subscores of at least 6.0; or PTE-Academic of 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56. English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) performed by the UIC Tutorium in Intensive English is accepted. Click here to find out more details. UIC does not accept Duolingo, IELTS General exams, iTEP, the TOEFL Essentials exam or any other form of examination not explicitly listed.
- Letters of recommendation (3)
- Personal statement. Students should describe what research areas they are interested in, which faculty they would like to work with, and any deficiencies or strengths they would like to highlight in their application (Preferred format: up to 2 pages, single or double spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins).
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Deadlines
Fall only
- December 1: recommended deadline for PhD applicants to be considered for fellowships
- December 15: all PhD applicants
- February 15: all MS applicants
For current deadlines, please see the Graduate College’s admissions deadlines page.
Additional Information for PhD Applicants Heading link
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Direct admission
Most PhD applicants already have earned (or are about to complete) an MS in biomedical engineering. However, exceptional applicants who seek to start the PhD with only an undergraduate degree may be considered for what is called “direct admission.” Students who are admitted to the PhD program with only a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or a related field must complete at least 48 hours of coursework for the PhD, of which 24 semester hours must be biomedical engineering courses and of which at least 20 hours must be at the 500 level, excluding BME 595, BME 596, and BME 599. A maximum of 4 hours of BME 590 may be applied toward the degree.
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MD/PhD track supported by NIH
UIC biomedical engineering also participates in the prestigious NIH-supported Medical Scientist Training Program, a competitive MD/PhD track providing seven years of funding support in collaboration with the UIC College of Medicine, home of the largest medical school in the United States. Visit the program website for full information on this dual-degree program.