Admissions Requirements

Our students come from a variety of academic backgrounds and receive training at Yale in a wide array of disciplines. There are therefore no common courses required of all BBS applicants. In general, successful applicants will have completed undergraduate coursework in biology, chemistry at least through organic chemistry, physics, and calculus. The Microbiology, MCGD, and Neuroscience Tracks use these general course requirements. The following Tracks have additional requirements: BQBS, CBB, Immunology, PMB, TMMPP.

We do not have a minimum GPA requirement.

We do not require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. If you submit GRE scores we will not include them in the review of your application.

The application will ask you to submit a Statement of Academic Purpose. Here are the instructions for writing this part of the application:

Your statement of purpose will aid the admissions committee in evaluating your application. Succinctly respond in 500-1,000 words. Please discuss your motivation for conducting research, provide a detailed summary of your research experience and how it prepares for you for doctoral study, and include how you have taken initiative on a research project, academic endeavor, or employment responsibility. Finally, please describe your career aspirations.

The Yale Graduate School requires TOEFL or IELTS scores for all applicants whose native language is not English. The Graduate School waives this requirement only for applicants who will have received a baccalaureate degree, prior to matriculation at Yale, from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction. Waivers are not granted for those who have received a masters degree from such an institution. Please review this flow chart to determine whether you are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. If you do not need to submit the scores, there is no formal waiver process or form required.

TOEFL: We require a score of at least 600 on the paper version, 250 on the computer-based exam, and 100 on the internet-based exam. Please take the test no later than November and no earlier than 24 months prior to submitting your application. Use institution code 3987 when reporting your scores; you may enter any department code.

IELTS: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are acceptable in addition to or in lieu of TOEFL scores. For details about this testing alternative, please visit www.ielts.org. At the time of test-taking please indicate that you would like to send the scores to the Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. There is no minimum score requirement for the IELTS. If you score below a 7.5 on the speaking section you will be required to complete an English language program at Yale in August prior to matriculating in the fall.

Please visit the Graduate School admissions site for more information about submitting test scores.