Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard University
 DMS Home  /  About DMS  /  Current Student Resources  /  Contact Us  /  Search 

Important Information on the Application Process for the

2009-2010 Academic Year

Ph.D. Programs
at
Harvard Medical School
Division of Medical Sciences

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Harvard University

Admissions Requirement:

Matriculants are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Program Description

For specific information about the Division of Medical Sciences, its programs, and related programs elsewhere at Harvard, visit our websites at: www.hms.harvard.edu/dms; gsas.harvard.edu and gsas.harvard.edu/hils.

Online Application & Deadline

The online application will be available until 5:00 p.m. EST on December 8, 2008. We anticipate the online application opening in October 2008. We recommend that you complete your application by a week prior to the deadline to ensure we are able to review your application.

Complete the online Harvard Integrated Life Sciences Admissions Application to apply to the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School. Paper applications will not be accepted. The only materials we will accept in paper form are Official transcripts and official GRE and TOEFL scores. Any other paper items sent to us by mail will NOT be included as part of your application.

Subject Number/Name

Below are listed the four subjects within the Division of Medical Sciences. You must indicate to which subject you are applying. If you apply to BBS, you must also select one of the six BBS subjects.

Subjects:

  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS):

      • BBS/Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP)/4413

      • BBS/Cell and Developmental Biology (CDB)/4404

      • BBS/Genetics/4412

      • BBS/Human Biology and Translational Medicine (HBTM)/4415

      • BBS/Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (MMG)/4406

      • BBS/Pathology/4408

  • Immunology/4405

  • Neuroscience/4407

  • Virology/4411

Fee

$90.00 U.S. The online application fee must be paid by credit card. Your application will not be processed unless payment is received. No other form of payment is accepted.

Financial Aid

Applicants to the Division of Medical Sciences should NOT complete the Statement of Financial Resources for Graduate Study or the Financial Aid Form.

GRE Tests

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test is required. The GRE Subject test is optional; if you choose to take a subject test, you can take it in the subject of your choice. When requesting GRE score reports, be sure to indicate the receiving institution as Harvard University, Graduate Division, Arts and Sciences code 3451. No department code is required. We strongly recommend that applicants take the GRE General test no later than October 2008 to ensure that score reports arrive in time to be considered. Scores are valid for five years. They are valid from 10/1/2003 onward for the 2009 – 2010 application year.

For more information, visit the GRE website or call the Educational Testing Service at 609-771-7670.

TOEFL Test

Applicants whose native language is not English can satisfy the English proficiency requirement by holding a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a university whose language of instruction is English, or by taking the TOEFL examination and receiving a score of 600 on the paper test, or 250 on the electronic version, or 100 on the internet-based test (IBT). Applicants holding only a master’s degree from an English-language university will need to provide scores for the TOEFL test. This requirement cannot be waived.

When requesting TOEFL score reports, be sure to indicate the receiving institution as Harvard University, Graduate Division, Arts and Sciences code 3451. No department code is required.

For more information, visit the TOEFL website or call the Educational Testing Service at 609-771-7100.

Abstract of Courses

Applicants to the Division of Medical Sciences should NOT complete the Abstract of Courses.

Reapplication

Application materials are kept on file for one year. Applicants who filed more than one year ago should follow regular application instructions. Please go to the GSAS webpage for reapplication procedures and view "Reapplication" for more details.

Completed Application

Your application is complete when the following materials are submitted:

Online Application including:

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Scanned and uploaded CV (.pdf preferred)
  • Scanned and uploaded student copy of your GRE, TOEFL scores (.pdf preferred)
  • Scanned and uploaded student copy of your transcripts from all institutions where courses were taken after the equivalent of American high school (.pdf preferred)
  • Scanned and uploaded certificates, or any other items you deem pertinent (.pdf preferred)
  • Letters of Recommendation (NOTE – we require online submission of all letters of recommendation. We will no longer accept any paper letter of recommendation.)
  • Application Fee

Items sent via postal mail:

  • Official Transcripts

Items sent by ETS:

  • Official ETS GRE General Test Score Report
  • Official ETS TOEFL (if required) Test Score Report

The only materials we will accept in paper form are Official transcripts and official GRE and TOEFL scores. Any other items sent to us by mail will NOT be included as part of your application.

Official Transcripts

A transcript is considered official when it is sent directly from an institution directly to DMS, or when a copy is given to an applicant in a sealed envelope, signed on the back flap and then mailed directly to DMS.

Once opened, the transcript is no longer official. It must remain sealed when mailed to DMS. We prefer that official transcripts be sent directly by the educational institution and mailed to:


Division of Medical Sciences

Student Affairs
260 Longwood Ave

TMEC Bldg. Room 435
Boston, MA 02115

Letters of Recommendation

We are no longer accepting any paper letters of recommendation. Be sure to register your recommenders’ information in your application, as all recommendation letters must be submitted online. Paper letters of recommendation will NOT be included as part of your application.

QUESTIONS

Please be sure to check the DMS website for an answer to your question before contacting us.

Telephone: 617-432-0162

Email Address: dms@hms.harvard.edu