APPLY NOW
Thank you for your interest in the Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology Graduate Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Visit the School of Medicine Graduate Programs application page to access the online application. The deadline for application to the BCMB graduate program is December 1, 2024. The following materials are needed:
- Completed Online Application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Interest and Career Objectives
- Undergraduate Transcripts
- Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
- Application Fee
Curriculum Vitae
The C.V. should outline your academic, professional, research, and volunteer activities relevant to preparing to pursue a PhD in biomedical science. In addition, you may wish to highlight honors you’ve received; leadership and/or service efforts you’ve pursued; extramural activities that demonstrate persistence, skill, and/or commitment (e.g. achievements in sports, music, art, etc); and/or contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Statement of Interest and Career Objectives
The one-page Statement of Interest and Career Objectives should describe your motivations for pursuing a graduate degree, your scientific preparation, and your long-term career goals. It should include a concise description of one of your research experiences, outline your areas of interest for graduate research, and describe why the BCMB program aligns well with your research and career goals. You may also use the Statement of Interest to briefly highlight outreach, leadership, or service efforts that are important you as you pursue your career in science.
The Statement of Interest allows you to introduce yourself and your strengths, motivations, interests and values to the admissions committee. It further serves to demonstrate to the admissions committee that (1) you are committed to pursuing a PhD and understand what it takes to succeed in graduate school, (2) you are intellectually engaged in your science and can communicate it to a broad audience, and (3) the training offered by the BCMB program aligns well with your research and career interests.
Letters of Recommendation
We require three letters of recommendation to be submitted through the online application system. Letters are a critically important component of your application, and we encourage you to request them from faculty members or other professionals who can comment on your aptitude and promise for independent research. Letters from individuals who supervised your research or academic work and can speak to your intellectual abilities and contributions, creativity, resilience, initiative, and independence are most valuable to the admissions committee.
In the application, you will be asked if you would like to waive or retain your right to access your letters of recommendation. If you are uncertain of the implications of this decision, we encourage you to consult with your advisors or academic counselors prior to deciding.
Degree Requirements
A bachelor’s degree from a qualified college or university is required for matriculation. A strong academic foundation with coursework in biology, chemistry, physical sciences, and quantitative analysis is expected.
Standardized Tests
The GRE General and Subject tests are not required and will not be considered if submitted. The TOEFL or IELTS is required for international applicants, except those from countries where the official language is English or those who have completed or will complete a degree at a U.S. institution prior to matriculation. Please note that Duolingo is not accepted by our program.
TOEFL Institutional Code: 5316
IELTS Mailing Address:
Johns Hopkins University – School of Medicine Graduate Programs
Graduate Biomedical Education
1830 E Monument Street, Suite 620
Baltimore, MD 21287
Failure to submit a complete application will result in a significant delay in the application review process.
The application for the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine graduate programs 2025 academic year will be live beginning September 1, 2024 – APPLY NOW.
The application fee will be charged upon completion of your first application. For the second through fourth application, the “Finalize and Pay” button will appear, but there will be no additional charge.
Application Fee Waiver
BCMB program does not provide application fee waiver. Graduate Admissions provides fee waiver if you meet one of the criteria. Please review the Application Fee Waiver document to see the requirements.
To contact BCMB Admissions Office:
Email: bcmb@jhmi.edu
Interview Weekends and Offers of Admission
In the 2024-2025 application cycle, BCMB will host two days of virtual interviews. Those that receive admissions offer will be invited for an in-person visit to meet BCMB faculty and current graduate students, learn first-hand about the program, and explore the Johns Hopkins campus and Baltimore. Attending one of these interview days is by invitation only. There are three possible outcomes after the interview: (1) an offer of admission for a laboratory rotation track, (2) an offer of direct admission to a pre-determined laboratory, or (3) no offer of admission.
Criminal Background Check
All Johns Hopkins University graduate students who are accepted will be subject to criminal background investigations. Generally, all offers of admission to School of Medicine degree programs will be conditioned on satisfactory criminal background investigations.
Financial Aid
All students accepted into the BCMB program will receive full tuition, health and dental insurance, and stipend support for the duration of their studies. The stipend for current students as of July 1, 2024 is $47,000.00. Each year the stipend is adjusted to reflect cost-of-living increases.
Relocation Funding
We recognize that it can be financially burdensome to relocate to a new city to attend a PhD program. Students who are admitted to PhD programs at JHU can apply to receive a $1500 need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to JHU. These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.
For more information, visit the Office of the Provost webpage on Need-based Relocation Grants for Incoming PhD Students.
Vivien Thomas PhD Scholars
The Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended a historically black college and university (HBCU) or other minority serving institution (MSI) for undergraduate study are eligible to apply. More information about the VTSI program is available at this link: https://provost.jhu.edu/about/vivien-thomas-scholars-initiative/. To be considered for the VTSI, all components of the PhD program application, including the VTSI supplemental components must be completed by December 1, 2024. All supplementary application material including letters of recommendation also must be received by December 1.