Application Information

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences uses an application system to accept applications. To apply to any of our programs please create an account at BioRaider.com. It may take several minutes to receive the account confirmation email.

Email Address Caution: use an email address that you will always have access to. For example, many educational institutions disable student email accounts after graduation and the student no longer has access to that email account. Correspondence regarding the application, supplemental items, and admission offers will be sent to the email address provided, regardless of the applicant's ability to access the email account. Email addresses can be updated by logging into your account at BioRaider.com, clicking on My Account at the top of the page, then on Update Profile in the middle of the page.

Log into BioRaider.com  and click on Applications in the top right hand section of the page. Select the program you wish to apply to.

Information is auto-filled from your account information. You may update this information on the application but the revised information will not update your account. If changes are made on the application, please also update the same information on your BioRaider account.

Select your application type, student type, concentration (if applicable), and anticipated course load. PhD applicants must also add Research Experience.

Applicants interested in the Biomedical Sciences MS program should apply to the Biotechnology MS program.

All applicants with the exception of those applying to a PhD program must describe previous lab, research, teaching, and other experiences. Limited to 2000 characters (including spaces) inside the BioRaider.com application system. 

Graduate Medical Education Sciences MS, Biotechnology MS applicants enter paid employment and internships during the past 3 years. PhD and Pharmaceutical Sciences MS applicants do not have this section on the application and instead must upload a Resume/CV as a required supplemental item. Refer to program specific application page for Resume/CV requirements. Resume/CV is not required for applicants to programs other than PhD.

Please add college information for every institution attended or currently attending, including those institutions for which transfer credit was applied toward an undergraduate degree.

• Colleges attended search tips – do not select city as one of the search terms. For example, for schools within the USA select Country and State but not city. Click on search. Click on the drop down arrow of the Results Found box and select your school.
• If after searching you cannot find your school, select “The organization is not listed” and click Select under the search results box. Click on the box next to Unlisted School and enter the school information.
• If you attended an international institution, most likely your institution will not come up in a search and you must manually enter your institution as an Unlisted School (see above for instructions). However, first try to search by selecting country and do not select search information for the other fields. 

Honors & Achievements - Briefly list any academic distinctions or honors you have received during undergraduate study and beyond or international equivalent (e.g. McNair Scholar, Cum Laude Society). Select Add Honor for each separate honor or achievement you received. For each honor, you must specify at least one grade and one recognition level.

Do not use special symbols, Greek letters, superscripts or subscripts. Pasting directly from Microsoft Word or other word processing programs may insert formatting codes into the text box. The best way to ensure that the text looks just like you intended is to cut and paste from a simple text editor.

There are character limits for text boxes. If your statement does not fit, you must edit the essay to no more than the character limit.

• Essay/Personal Statement – this is your opportunity to tell the admissions committee why you are seeking the degree, motivation, and long-term career goals. Applicants should not plagiarize and must cite any sources used. Limited to 3,000 characters including spaces.

• Optional Background Information – this section is not required, but you may want to provide information that does not fit in other sections of the application. Limited to 2,000 characters including spaces.

Immunization records are only required for applicants who are offered and accept admission. The immunizations form must be submitted at least 10 business days prior to the beginning of the semester.

• Immunization form provided at link below. Immunization documentation must be provided prior to matriculation.

• Required Immunization Form

• All applicants are required to show proof of: two (2) immunizations for varicella (chicken pox), measles, mumps and rubella; 2-step tuberculosis skin test; hepatitis B-series; Tetanus/diphtheria (Td); Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis):  Adult (one time dose starting year 2005); Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV):  Adults 22 and younger (vaccine within the last 5 years).

• Questions regarding immunizations should be directed to the Office of Institutional Health

  • Attn: Nicole Hines

• Most new student scholarships do not require a separate application process, and generally students offered admission are automatically considered for such scholarships.

• Competitive Scholarships are awarded by the various concentrations and programs within GSBS. It is up to the concentration/program to determine the amount and number of scholarships they will award each year based on the funds available and other factors determined by each concentration/program. All admitted students are automatically considered for competitive scholarships, and no separate application forms or interviews are necessary. The GSBS office notifies scholarship winners at the time of admission to the university or soon afterwards.

• See our scholarship pages below:

  • Graduate School Scholarships

Most PhD students receive a research assistantship, and applicants will be notified of RA award upon admission offer. Assistantships for master's programs are limited, please check the program application specific pages.

All students are required to have their own personal laptop. The majority of course lecture notes, daily class schedules, and other curriculum related information are only provided online. These resources include lecture presentations, streaming media and online assignments.

See our recommended computer requirements: Computer Requirements

The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents requires all students to have health insurance, and are required to provide proof of health insurance each year. Students who have failed to carry insurance and have suffered illness or injury resulting in high medical bills have often been financially unable to continue their education. Unlike free medical care in some countries, medical care in the U.S. is very expensive.

• A student health insurance plan is available through Academic Health Plans/Unicare. Information regarding cost and coverage is available Student Affairs Insurance..

• A mandatory medical services fee is required of all master's and certificate students. This fee is available as an opt-in for those with a research assistantship. While this fee does not meet the health insurance requirement, physician visits are available at a low cost co-pay. For more information regarding services provided by this fee, please view this Student Affairs Health Brochure

• Research Assistants are eligible for group insurance plans offered by the State of Texas for employees. See the Summary of Benefits 

To calculate benefit enrollment costs, Research Assistants should look at the information under part-time employees, graduate students/teaching assistants, post-doctoral and adjunct faculty

• More information is available on the Student Health Services Website. 

The link below contains the most current textbook information provided to the GSBS office: GSBS Textbook Listing

However, students should check course syllabi for the most accurate information.

Please refer to the Financial Documents for International Applicants under Supplemental Item Information.

The university also reserves the right to make changes in tuition and fees at any time. Students on F-1 visas should have at least $4,000 in their possession upon arrival. We recommend that you bring as much of the amount in cash (Travelers Checks, etc.) as you are allowed to transfer.

NOTE: All checks drawn on foreign banks may require as long as three weeks for processing before money will be released. Please plan accordingly.

Tuition and fee payments are due before classes start.  Payment information by semester can be found at through TTUHSC Student Business Services:

Student Business Services Main Site

Student Business Services Tuition Estimates

The Texas Tech Intensive English program was closed in June, 2011.

TTU is now affiliated with the ELS Center in Lubbock and students and spouses interested in English as a second language classes can contact ELS at:

ELS
1921 Broadway Ave.
Lubbock, TX  U.S.A.
806-787-4231
ELS Online

F-1 Student Visas

F-1 STUDENT VISAS
If you live overseas and have not yet applied for your visa, please submit your acceptance letter, a valid passport, evidence of payment of the SEVIS fee, proof of financial support, and the I-20 form to the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy to apply for the F-1 student visa. Please check the web page of the U.S. Consulate website for any special local requirements. Do not attempt to enter the United States any earlier than 30 days before the report date in item 5 of your I-20. If you do, you may be rejected for entry into the U.S. and will have to return to your home country. The report date cannot be more than 30 days before your first day of class.

If there is a problem with the I-20, please contact the Office of International Affairs at I20@ttu.edu as soon as possible and before you depart for the United States.

All new and transfer students are encouraged to keep up with any new immigration information by going to the Office of International Affairs website.

Within 15 days of your date of entry, you must report to our Designated School Official, attend both international student and GSBS orientations, and register for classes.

IMPORTANT: F1 status is required to enroll. If you hold or will hold a status other than F1, please contact us at graduate.school@ttuhsc.edu

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center does not refund the SEVIS fee.

F-1 TRANSFER STUDENTS
If you are transferring to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center as an F-1 student from another U.S. institution, please notify your foreign student advisor or Designated School Official (DSO) at your current school of your intention to transfer. Your school will then release your SEVIS record. International Student Advisor’s form are available on the Office of International Affairs website.

NOTE
Any international student who intends to study at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center must understand that, if admitted, s/he is responsible for keeping themselves in status with the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the U.S. Department of Justice and for otherwise abiding by federal, state, and University laws and regulations. Disregard for any of the above is possible grounds for dismissal for the Health Sciences Center as well as whatever other penalties might be imposed under the terms of the respective laws.

In the case of prospective transfer students from other US institutions, the student is responsible for ensuring that s/he is in status with the Immigration and Naturalization Service prior to being enrolled at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences located at 3601 4th Street, MS 6206 Lubbock, TX 79430.

Office of International Affairs (OIA)

• Dedicated to serving the needs of international students. They are the main caretakers and legal troubleshooters of your stay in the United States. 
• VISAs - For eligibility and requirements, please see the OIA Information on the Student Visa Process.

• English and Speech Courses

  • Texas Tech University offers English and speech courses for students requiring additional language courses after admissions.

• Numerous opportunities are available for international students who would like to learn more about the American society:

  • International Friends Program

  • Speakers Bureau

  • International Women's Association

  • Hands Across Nations

  • Mayor's Award of Honorary Ambassadorship.

Required supplemental items are applied to an application AFTER application submission. Log into your BioRaider.com account and scroll down to see the supplemental items and status of those items. All required supplemental items must be received before an application is considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

• GRE general test is required. Subject tests are optional but not required.

• Graduate Medical Education Sciences MS may accept MCAT in lieu of GRE. To request MCAT in lieu of GRE Email the Graduate School and include your AAMC ID and AAMC Verification Code. The Verification Code is on the MCAT display score report, and comprises four sets of numbers and letters. For example: ABCD-EFGH-IJKL-MNOP

• Graduate Medical Education Sciences MS applicants submitting a GRE are highly recommended to also submit the GRE Biology Subject Test scores as well.

• Non-refundable $50 application fee payable by credit or debit card. Email the Graduate School for instructions if paying by check or money order.

• Application fee waiver information: applicants who spoke to a GSBS representative and provided contact information at any of these events (ABRCMS, SACNAS, HACU, NCUR), McNair Scholars (requires documentation from institution), attendees at the annual GSBS Recruiting Dinner, attendees of Grad Fairs who spoke to a GSBS representative and provided contact information to the representative at the event, participants in our summer internship programs ABRI or SABR, U.S. active duty military, U.S. military veterans, applicants offered and who accepted admission but deferred admission to a later term and with approval by the program/concentration admissions committee (application fee waiver is only valid once for deferrals), Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center full-time staff (excluding faculty), as well as at the discretion of the Senior Associate Dean (under very limited circumstances).  Applicants for Fall admission to Biomedical Sciences PhD and Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD programs with complete applications by December 1 are also eligible for an application fee waiver. Please Email the Graduate School for more information and instructions.

• Minimum of 2 letters and no more than 4 are required.

• As a general rule, applicants should request recommendations from research mentor(s) and faculty who can address your academic suitability for the graduate study. Recommenders evaluate intellectual ability, research aptitude, imagination/originality, initiative/motivation, industry/perseverance, emotional stability, oral communication, written communication, and teamwork. While recommenders may not be able to evaluate all these areas, we advise that you choose recommenders who can evaluate the majority of these areas. More information regarding letters may be on the program specific application information page.

• Enter the name and email address of your recommender. S/he will receive an email from graduate.school@ttuhsc.edu with a link back to the online form and recommendation.

• Letters submitted outside our online recommendation system are strongly discouraged.

• Graduate Medical Education Sciences applicants should consult the program specific application information page for detailed instructions regarding recommendation letters.

International applications who do not qualify for exceptions (bottom of section) must submit one of the following as proof of English proficiency.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The minimum TOEFL score required is 550 (paper-based version) or 79 (internet-based version). The TOEFL score must be received directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS); TTUHSC’s institutional code is 6851. TOEFL scores are valid for only two years. Due to the limited time frame regarding accessing test scores, if TTUHSC has received a test score that is over two years old, we will accept it as official.

International English Language Testing Service (IELTS)

The minimum IELTS required score is an overall band score of 6.5 on the Academic version; IELTS General Training results are not acceptable. There is no IELTS institution code for TTUHSC. IELTS scores are valid for only two years. Due to the limited time frame regarding accessing test scores, if TTUHSC has received a test score that is over two years old, we will accept it as official.

Duolingo English Test (Online examination)

The minimum requirement Duolingo score is 100.  There is no institutional code for Duolingo and scores are reported within 48 hours and are valid for two years.  Due to the limited time frame regarding accessing test scores, if TTUHSC has received a test score that is over two years old, we will accept it as official.

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)

The minimum required PTE Academic score is 60.  PTE General and PTE Young Learners results are not acceptable.  There no PTE Academic institution code for TTUHSC.  PTE Academic scores are valid for only two years.  Due to the limited time frame regarding accessing test scores, if TTUHSC has received a test score that is over two years old, we will accept it as official.

Cambridge Certificate of Proficient in English (Cambridge CPE)

The minimum required Cambridge CPE grade is C. There is no institutional code for the Cambridge CPE. The Cambridge CPE is valid for life.

Cambridge Certification of Advanced English (Cambridge CAE)

The minimum required Cambridge CAE grade is B. There is no institutional code for the Cambridge CAE. The Cambridge CAE is valid for life.

Testing Waivers & Country Specific Exemptions

• Applicant attended four (4) consecutive long semesters of credit-bearing/non-development/non-ESL courses at an accredited post-secondary school in the U.S.
• Attended two (2) consecutive years of high school in the United States.
• Attended two (2) consecutive years of high school with U.S. accreditation or within an English proficiency exempt country
• Applicants from certain English Proficiency exempt countries
  • Must provide proof with passport
  • See our the GSBS English Proficiency page for more information and full list of exempt countries

All prospective students applying to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences are expected to adhere to the highest level of academic integrity. This includes entering all post-secondary institutions attended or currently attending on the application for admission, including institutions for which transfer credit was received toward an undergraduate or graduate degree. Applicants must also submit unofficial U.S. transcripts or course-by-course transcript evaluations for international institutions for all institutions attended and/or currently attending. Failure to provide this information on the application or not providing all U.S. transcripts or course-by-course transcript evaluations with all academic credentials is considered a falsification of academic records and will result in the admission application being voided.

We require unofficial transcripts from all U.S. Institutions attended, including those institutions for which you received transfer credit toward your undergraduate degree.

• Electronic unofficial transcripts from U.S. institutions are preferred and should be uploaded to your www.bioraider.com material checklist.
• Do NOT provide international transcripts and/or mark sheets. Uploaded international transcripts will be deleted. See below for transcript evaluation requirement.
• If offered admission, official U.S. transcripts from all domestic institutions attended will be required, including from institutions for which transfer credit was received.
  • Electronic official transcripts are preferred and should be sent to: graduate.school@ttuhsc.edu
  • Hard copy official transcripts should be mailed to:Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
    Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
    3601 4th St. MS 6206
    Lubbock, TX 79430-6206

A course-by-course transcript evaluation is required for all institutions attended and/or currently attending outside the USA. Do not send international transcripts, mark sheets, or certificates as these documents will not fulfill the requirement.

• List of Approved Transcript Services
  • If ordering a transcript evaluation from WES, our institution must be manually entered. Select Other for the institution, click on Select this Institution, and enter the information for the mailing address as shown below.
• WES Instructions:
  • Enter and select Texas Tech University
  • In the School/Division dropdown select Health Sciences Center
  • In the Department/Office Name dropdown select Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences - Financial
• Transcript evaluations must come directly from the transcript services directly to TTUHSC, and the mailing address is:
  • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
    Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
    3601 4th St. MS 6206
    Lubbock, TX 79430-6206

• International M.S. applicants and some Ph.D. applicants with an international government scholarship must provide proof of ability to pay tuition/fees and living expenses for the first year. For the 2022-2023 academic year, this amount is $39,537. Applicants who will receive a competitive scholarship must provide proof of $29,721. Spouse is an additional $6,948 and each child is $3,474. More information is available on the program specific pages. Documents cannot be older than 6 months. If the financial proof/bank statement is in a name other than the applicant, we require a letter from the financial sponsor or Financial Affidavit accepting financial responsibility for tuition/fees and living expenses.

• Applicants with scholarships awarded by their home countries, such as Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission, must still submit a Sponsored Student Statement of Understanding AND the government Financial Guarantee Letter. Applicants with dependents who will require an I-20 must also submit a sponsor letter and bank statement showing a minimum amount of $7,500 USD for each dependent (see information above).

• Download the Sponsored Student Statement of Understanding