Requirements for Admission
Applicants are selected on the basis of their qualifications, without regard to sex, age, race, creed, national origin, or handicap. The School of Graduate Studies strongly welcomes and encourages applicants from ethnic groups underrepresented in science. Decisions regarding admission are based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, research experience, academic records, results of standardized tests, letters of recommendation, and a personal interview. Qualities such as interest, intellectual curiosity, perceptivity, and ability to reason are strongly considered, in addition to the academic record.
The School of Graduate Studies, as a unit of the State University of New York, gives preference for admission to residents of New York State. However, applications from out-of-state residents are very much encouraged. The school is also authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant foreign students with appropriate visas. Admission to the School of Graduate Studies is limited to students seeking the degree of PhD or MD/PhD for research in basic biological sciences, biomedical sciences and biomedical engineering.
Applications are reviewed by program-specific admissions committees. Generally, candidates for a doctoral degree are only admitted on a full-time basis.
Members of the graduate faculty will sponsor students in their own fields of expertise, and application to the School of Graduate Studies implies willingness on the part of the candidate to work on subject matter that is relevant to ongoing faculty research at Downstate.
Graduate Students
Applicants should complete the BioMedCAS application which includes:
- Responses to essay questions about research experience and interests.
- Unofficial transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate courses. Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- Letters of recommendation from three or more persons familiar with the applicant's academic background and potential for research (sent electronically).
- Application fee of $86 charged by BioMedCas/Liaison.
NOTE: The GRE is no longer required.
The deadline for PhD applications is December 1, but we will review exceptional applications throughout the year. Graduate Assistantships as well as tuition scholarships are available to graduate students. Graduate Assistantships for the 2024–2025 academic year will be no less than $39,028/year for PhDs and MD/PhDs in the School of Graduate Studies.
MD/PhD Program
Students in this program work toward a combined MD/PhD degree. Applicants to this program apply for admission while in the first year of the College of Medicine, by submitting a short application to the School of Graduate Studies, and a release of their AMCAS application materials.
The selection process for the MD/PhD program is highly competitive, usually admitting 2–4 per year. Applicants are admitted with a full tuition waiver and a stipend for the duration of their training , both of which begin as they enter the School of Graduate Studies after 2nd year. The application (below) is a one page form in which you state your interests and experience and allow us access to your records in the College of Medicine. There is no application fee.
In addition, a Graduate Assistantship at the base rate (currently $32,627 per year) will be provided by the School of Graduate Studies for up to an 8-week period in the summer between 1st and 2nd year in the College of Medicine in order to complete a rotation. While the MD/PhD student is in the School of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Assistantship will be at the standard rate, currently $39,028 per year, until return to the College of Medicine, and then return to the base rate.
Out-of-state tuition rates will only be provided for the first year of a student’s PhD portion of the program. After the first year, tuition will only be provided at in-state rates for all semesters in the School of Graduate Studies and for the four remaining semesters in the College of Medicine.
Information about how to apply for New York State residency can be found here.
Continuation in the program is conditional upon the student's academic progress, fulfillment of the requirements of the graduate school and progress to completion of their thesis.
Financial Information, including graduate assistantship, tuition and fee information can be found here.
Non-matriculated Graduate Students
A graduate student enrolled at another institution may be admitted to take a course given by a particular program if acceptance is recommended by the course director and approved by the program director and the dean; the specific courses must be approved by the home institution. Post-doctoral fellows and research assistants at Downstate Medical Center may also register as non-matriculated students to take courses offered by the School of Graduate Studies upon recommendation by the faculty supervisor and approval by the dean. Credits earned as a non-matriculated student are limited to 12 cr. and limited to one year.
Advanced Transfer Credit
Transfer credit towards the doctorate will be granted for appropriate graduate level work at accredited institutions, in accordance with the regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Section 52.2(e)(3). Up to 12 credits may be transferred. Any advanced credit must be approved by the dean and must be in keeping with the candidate's academic objectives. Program requirements, however, may only be waived by the executive committee of the program.