Priority: January 5
Applicants who wish to be considered for a doctoral graduate assistantship or scholarship must submit their application by the priority deadline. Some scholarships require that applications be received earlier than the published priority deadline. Students who wish to be considered for one of the early submission scholarships should consult our Financing Your Degree page and must submit the degree application and any additional required documents by the stated date for that scholarship.
Fee waivers are available for the first program you apply to in SOPHAS to cover the initial $145 application fee. There are three types of fee waivers: financial-based, service-based, and international-based. You may only apply for one type of fee waiver, and the waiver request must be submitted before you submit your SOPHAS application. Fee waivers are granted on a first come, first served basis, so applicants are strongly encouraged to apply before the priority deadline when requesting a waiver. For more information, visit SOPHAS Fees and Fee Waivers.
Applications may be accepted on a space available basis after the priority deadline. Contact the department directly at [email protected] with questions about submitting your application after the priority deadline.
The application and all supporting materials for the PhD in Biostatistics must be submitted through SOPHAS.
Visit the SOPHAS Applicant Help Center for help with starting your SOPHAS application.
Application Requirements
- Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- MS degree in Biostatistics is strongly recommended
- Grade point average of 3.00 or better
- It is very strongly recommended* to have an undergraduate major in mathematics, statistics, computer science, the biology, physical or social sciences
- One semester in linear algebra, multivariate calculus and computer programming
*Students with undergraduate majors in areas other than those listed may be admitted on the basis of relevant work experience and course work as a non-major in the recommended disciplines. Linear algebra, multivariate calculus and computer programming are required for the successful completion of the program. Highly qualified students who are deficient in these prerequisites may make up such deficiencies.
For application specific questions, contact us at [email protected].
International Requirements
- International students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 98 or IELTS score of 7.0. We will only accept official scores sent by the testing institution.
- UAlbany SOPHAS TOEFL code is 5688. We do not use department codes.
- The TOEFL or IELTS is not required for international students who have completed at least four semesters of full-time study within a four-year time frame from time of application, and maintained at least a B average at a college or university in the United States or a country from an approved list. For questions regarding English Language Proficiency waivers, please email Soha Acosta at [email protected].
- International students must request a transcript evaluation from World Education Services (WES). The WES evaluation must be sent directly to SOPHAS, NOT the University at Albany or the School of Public Health.
Required Application Materials
Official transcripts
- Official transcripts from EVERY post-secondary academic institution attended, including college coursework completed during high school, must be sent directly from the institution to SOPHAS. You must report all colleges and universities attended and submit official transcripts, even if your transfer credits are listed on your primary transcript. See Sending Official Transcripts for more guidelines.
- UAlbany students must have an official UAlbany transcript sent directly to SOPHAS.
- Applicants who use the transcript entry service provided by SOPHAS should note that the entry process adds TWO FULL WEEKS to the time it takes for an application to be verified and considered complete by the admissions committee.
Standardized Exam
- The standardized test requirement may be waived for applicants who have completed a graduate degree program from an accredited US institution and received a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the program. Applicants should consult directly with the department to determine waiver eligibility.
Three letters of recommendation
- A minimum of two letters must be from academic faculty
- At least one letter must be from a university faculty member in the major field of study
- Applicants who have been out of school for five or more years may submit professional references
- Letters must be signed and on institutional/organizational letterhead
Personal Statement
- Why do you wish to pursue a career in public health and why are you interested in your chosen area of study?
- 2-page limit
- The personal statement must have well-defined research interests and should be very specific in nature
CV/Resume
Application Submission
Applicants should submit their application as soon as the items you have control over are complete (personal statement, resume/CV, institutions attended, coursework entry, and all other required sections of the online application). Test scores, transcripts and letters of recommendation will be added as they are received, after which SOPHAS will begin verifying your application.
Applications will not be reviewed until all required items, including official transcripts, official test scores, and required letters of recommendation, have been received and your application has been verified. Please note that once SOPHAS has received all of your application materials, it may take up to 4 full weeks to be verified by SOPHAS. Be sure to request all transcripts, recommendations, and standardized test scores in advance so that your application can be completed and verified by the specified application deadline.