Admissions

Admission Requirements

Application

Applicants are required to complete the online Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application. All application materials need to be submitted through SOPHAS.

Prerequisites

Applicants must hold at least a BS in Mathematics, Statistics or equivalent degree. Applicants with MPH in Biostatistics will be considered if they had college-level Calculus I, Calculus II, Multivariate Calculus, and Linear/Matrix Algebra, from a recognized college or university.

Transcripts

Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities demonstrating a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above in previous coursework.

Domestic or US Transcripts

Must be sent from the institution's Registrar’s Office directly to SOPHAS at the following address:

SOPHAS Mailing and Contact Information
SOPHAS | P.O. Box 9111 | Watertown, MA 02471
617-612-2090 | Email | Website

• This applies to current or former UNMC students.
• Photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted.

International Transcripts

All non-US transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) using their ICAP Course-by-course evaluation service. For further instructions, you may visit www.wes.org/sophas.

• WES reports should be sent directly from WES to SOPHAS.
• Please ensure that you enter your SOPHAS ID number on your WES evaluation request to ensure your evaluation can be matched to your application.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references. Two letters must be from faculty members from the applicant’s previous program who can attest to the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully a PhD program in Biostatistics. The remaining letter may be an academic or professional reference.

Statement of Intent

A statement of intent which supports interest areas and career goals.

Resume or CV

A resume or curriculum vitae.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE Institutional Code 0695

• GRE scores should be sent by ETS directly to SOPHAS using the UNMC COPH SOPHAS GRE Code: 0695
• The GRE is not required, only recommended if a student has an overall GPA <3.0 or has received a B- or lower in any STEM course.  

English Proficiency Requirement 

Test of English as a Foreign Language, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required of all applicants who have not received a previous degree from a US institution or a country where the only official language is English, such as U.K., Australia, or Canada (excluding Quebec).  

Minimum Requirements: 

• TOEFL: 550-Paper, 213-computer, 80-internet 
• IELTS: 6.5 
• Duolingo: 120 

Scores must have been earned within two years prior to the desired term of entry. 

Submitting your official scores: 

Test of English as a Foreign Language 

Educational Testing Services send official scores to the SOPHAS TOEFL code: 5688. 

IELTS 

• An institution code is not required 
• IELTS Taken in a Test Center: Inform your IELTS test center that you wish to send your results to SOPHAS. You can do this during the test booking process by selecting SOPHAS or asking your test center to select SOPHAS after you receive your results. IELTS results are sent to SOPHAS electronically. 
• IELTS Online: Send your results to SOPHAS using the IELTS test taker portal. You can send your IELTS results to as many organizations as you wish with no additional fee. IELTS Online results are provided in an electronic format. 

Duolingo

You will receive the certified test results a few days after taking the exam. When you receive them, log on to your account, click the “send results” button next to your test results, and select the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. This will send your results to us. For additional information, please review Duolingo’s frequently asked questions. 

Information on Preparing for the Exam 

Take the Exam or Practice Exam