Our Graduate Program

Graduate students from around the world come to study and perform research with our leading BME scholars and practioners. Our graduate students’ research training is complemented by new lab-to-classroom Immersion Learning experiences in systems bioengineering, mechanobiology, molecular imaging, and repartative medicine. Our program has faculty pursuing research in Cardiovascular Bioengineering, Biomedical & Molecular Imaging, Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering, Computational Systems Bioengineering, Musculoskeletal Bioengineering, and Tissue Engineering & Biomaterials. UVA BME currently ranks #11 in National Research Council rankings and our graduate program consistently ranks among the top 20 in the nation (U.S. News and World Report)! All doctoral students are fully funded, and 40% are supported by national fellowships or training grants.

Degrees Offered

• The Master of Engineering (ME) is a professional degree designed to strengthen the student’s competence in engineering primarily through additional coursework.
• The Master of Science (MS) includes both coursework and research, culminating in a thesis. Graduates of the MS program typically pursue careers in industry or continue their research endeavors in a Ph.D. program.
• The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is designed for students who wish to pursue research careers. Graduates of the PhD program are well-prepared for careers in academia, government, and industry.

Applying to Our Program

If you are interested in applying, forms and instructions for both domestic and international students are available on the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) website. Additional information helpful to applicants may also be found in our FAQ section. Applications and all supporting materials are due by January 15 (for expedited review, please submit your application by January 1). Please consider the following application tips when applying:

1. Apply for the final degree you wish to obtain. If you want to pursue a Ph.D. at UVa, you should apply to the Ph.D. program. You do not need to complete an M.S. degree before beginning your Ph.D. studies with us.
2. Be as specific as you can about what research areas and laboratories interest you. Telling us which professors and labs best match your interests helps us make sure the right people read your application.
3. The primary difference between the M.S. and the M.E. is the depth of the research component. The M.E. requirements include coursework and a small research project, while the M.S. requirements include a more extensive research experience culminating in a thesis.

Requirements for Admission

The general requirements for admission to the Ph.D., M.S., or M.E. programs include a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, GRE General Test scores, a completed application packet with short essay and letters of recommendation. TOEFL scores are required for international students whose first language is not English. Qualified applicants who are deficient in certain prerequisites may be admitted with the expectation that they will remedy the deficiencies during the master's program. Prerequisite courses include introductory chemistry and biology, physics (two semesters based on calculus), mathematics through differential equations, and computer programming (Matlab, C++ or Java).

You may find it helpful to know that a typical entering class of graduate students has average GRE scores over 1350 (verbal + quantitative) and an average undergraduate GPA above 3.5 on a 4-point scale. For students whose first language is not English, TOEFL scores of 250 computer-based/600-paper based, IELTS scores of 7.0 or above or iBT scores of 90 to 100 are recommended.

Further Information

You will find the answers to many common questions on our FAQ page. If, after reviewing this page, you find that you have additional questions about our program, please contact us at bmegrad@virginia.edu.

For Graduate Admissions Questions, please contact:

Dr. Shayn Peirce-Cottler
Graduate Admissions Director
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
bmegrad@virginia.edu

Applicants will be notified of admission decisions for Fall of 2012 at the end of March 2012.