Admission Information

General Information

Interested students should follow the application procedures provided under "Apply Now." Applicants must select one of the five program areas (e.g., neurosciences), and Fall is the only term during which we accept admission.

Please see below for requirements and expectations before starting your application, as meeting minimum university admissions requirements will not be sufficient to be considered for admission.

Typical Profile of Admitted students: Admission Expectations

Admission into the biomedical sciences programs is competitive and meeting minimal requirements will not be sufficient to receive an admission decision. Faculty use a holistic review process to evaluate academic performance, research potential, and persistence and commitment for research.

Below is the typical student profile to help you write your application.

• Extensive research experience during undergraduate and/or during masters program.
• Average undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and average master GPA of 3.6.
• Academic preparation in undergraduate and/or graduate courses relevant to the program and as listed under Program Areas and in the program information in the catalog: http://catalog.kent.edu/colleges/as/bms/#academicprogramstext
• Strong letters of recommendation from faculty advisors who speak to research experience, motivation for research, and ability to be resilient and cope with stress.
• A strong goal statement describing motivation to engage in biomedical research, including descriptions of prior research and long-term goals for research interests in the School of Biomedical Sciences. Identification of potential faculty advisors is optional and not required.

Application and Admission Timeline for Fall Admission

• We only offer fall admission into our programs.
• Application deadlines are December 1st for international students and December 15th for domestic students.
• Applications must be complete at time of review for assistantship consideration.
• Applications are reviewed in January. 
• Top applicants are interviewed in February-March.
• Final decisions are made in March-April.

Admissions and funding decisions are very competitive and based on review by a committee of faculty.

In our program all admitted students are automatically considered for graduate assistantships. See Financial Assistance.

Faculty Advisor Selection

Choosing an advisor prior to arriving on campus is not required. All incoming students are expected to rotate through laboratories in the first year before selecting a faculty advisor.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Transcripts from each college or university in which 8 or more credit hours were completed. A total undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.000 point scale, and a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• A goal or personal statement. Please include in your statement any relevant research experience, and why you are interested in the program to which you are applying. Be sure to outline your research interests and long-term goals.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Transcripts: Kent State University requires applicants to submit either an official transcript or copy of an official transcript from each college or university in which the applicant completed 8 or more credit hours (undergraduate and graduate coursework as well as any coursework done while in high school).
• The general GRE is ONLY required to apply to the Human Evolutionary Biology program. The GRE is NOT required to apply to Cellular and Molecular Biology, Neurosciences, and Physiology programs.
• A résumé or curriculum vitae is optional but can be very helpful.
• For International students: English proficiency score requirements include: 100 iBT TOEFL; 600 paper-based TOEFL;  7.0 IELTS; 68 PTE; 120 DET (Duolingo English Test).
• No admissions made on a conditional basis.
• Also see: https://www.kent.edu/admissions/graduate-degree-student-requirements for transcript policy and additional information, including waivers for English Proficiency for selected countries.