NOTE to Fall 2021 Applicants:
Complete applications received before January 10, 2021 have been reviewed. All international positions have been filled. The BSGP Admissions Committee may not review newly submitted international applications for the PhD or MS programs. The BSGP Admissions Committee may not review incomplete domestic and international applications that become complete after January 10, 2021 for the PhD or MS programs. Candidates are welcome to continue applying to the Fall 2021 cohort but we cannot guarantee that your application will be reviewed.
Applying for admission to the BSGP is currently a two-step process:
- Complete UNM Graduate Application
- Submit Official Documents
All applicants: review UNM admission requirements at http://grad.unm.edu/prospective-students/admissions-criteria.html before beginning your application at http://grad.unm.edu/prospective-students/apply-now.html.
Complete the "Personal Information," "International Information" (if applicable), and "Educational Background" sections.
On the “Program of Interest” page, select the following:
Upload "Letter of Intent" - This document is required and should include:
Upload "CV/Resume" - This document is required and should include academic and/or scientific awards and publications (if any) in addition to relevant work history.
Note additional "Relevant Coursework" - only list courses ("B" or higher) beyond what you report in your competency supplement (pdf version).
Provide Recommendations - Three (3) letters of recommendation are required
Pay the application fee before submitting the application!
Upload Competency Supplement
Official Transcripts
Send transcripts to:
Postal Mail: |
Courier Service (UPS, FedEx, DHL): |
Email: |
UNM Admissions |
Student Support and Service Center |
apply@unm.edu |
English Proficiency (international applicants only)
The following steps must be completed before your application is reviewed:
Note: You will receive notification from the BSGP only once your application is reviewed.
The following steps must be completed upon acceptance:
Interviews for our Fall 2021 BSGP Cohort will be virtual, dates to be announced.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us.
Email (preferred): SOMREO@salud.unm.edu with "BSGP Application - [YOUR FULL NAME]" in the Subject
Admission to the graduate program is competitive and attainment of the minimal requirements does not ensure admission to the program. The admissions process does allow for consideration of students who may not have attained all of the requirements but have otherwise demonstrated exceptional potential to succeed in graduate study.
If you are lacking any of the requirements, it is to your advantage to make an effort to acquire them. You may apply for admission while still completing or repeating courses, but you must complete all required coursework prior to the start of Fall semester classes. If accepted for admission, you must submit official transcripts showing successful completion of the coursework with a grade of “B” or higher, prior to the start of Fall classes.
Applicants who complete only the minimal recommended coursework and/or who lack competency in one of the core knowledge areas often struggle with the first-year BSGP core curriculum. Therefore, if you lack competency in any of the BSGP core knowledge areas outlined in the competency supplement, it is to your advantage to seek out opportunities to acquire competency before beginning training in the BSGP.
The University of New Mexico BSGP is proud to use a flexible and holistic admissions process. This means that our final admission decisions are based on a combination of numerical (e.g., grades) and non-numerical information (e.g., presentations, publications, and experience). We encourage applicants to provide as much evidence as possible of their potential to be successful in the BSGP. Non-numerical factors we often consider include but are not limited to:
In order to enhance our holistic application review process, a complete application requires a typed competency supplement (pdf version).
Applicants must have:
Complete online application including: Letter of Intent, CV, three (3) letters of recommendation, all transcripts (unofficial or official) from every college/university attended and competency supplement (pdf version)*.
*The competency supplement must be uploaded as an addendum to your online UNM Graduate Application. In order to do this, you must first submit your online UNM Graduate Application. Then, log back in to your application and upload the competency supplement as an addendum.
Demonstrated competency in core knowledge areas. Evidence of competency in a core knowledge area includes grades of “B” or better in recommended pre-requisite courses (upper-division or graduate-level preferred), relevant scientific presentations and/or publications, relevant research experience, GRE or other standardized test scores, relevant teaching or work experience, etc. If you received below a “B” in a recommended pre-requisite course within these core knowledge areas, you need to provide evidence to demonstrate that you have successfully remediated this core knowledge area. See competency supplement (pdf version)for more information.
Advanced Biological Sciences | Recommended minimum: 2 semesters upper-division Examples: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Physiology, Neuroscience, relevant research, teaching, publications, employment, etc. |
Biochemistry/Chemistry | Recommended minimum: 2 semesters upper-division Examples: Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, relevant research, teaching, publications, employment, etc. |
Quantitative & Analytical Reasoning | Recommended minimum: 2 semesters Examples: Calculus, Statistics, Physics, Analytical Chemistry, 147 or higher on GRE Quantitative Reasoning, relevant teaching, etc. |
Writing | Recommended minimum: 1 semester upper-division Examples: upper-division writing courses, 3.5 or higher on GRE Analytical Writing, significant writing role on relevant publication, relevant teaching, etc. |
Exam | Minimum Score Required |
TOEFL (internet-based) | 79 |
TOEFL (paper-based) | 550 |
IELTS | 6.5 |
PTE Academic | 53 |
Duolingo English Test | 105 |
Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency | 180 |
NOTE: For students who feel that they do not meet criteria for a PhD application, the MS degree may provide the opportunity to excel in graduate-level biomedical science courses, gain research experience, and obtain powerful letters of recommendation to support an application to the PhD program. Many MS students in the BSGP accelerate to the PhD track after demonstrating success in our coursework and research.
PhD Students
Financial support packages are provided by the BSGP to incoming PhD students during the first academic year of the program, mid-August through May 31.
At the end of the first academic year, beginning June 1, PhD students are funded by their dissertation mentor (advisor), and/or training grants, and/or the advisor’s department.
This package includes:
Note: Eligibility to receive financial support throughout the program is contingent on the student remaining in good standing according to BSGP and UNM Office of Graduate Studies standards and policies as well as completion of mandatory UNM and HSC trainings.
The BSGP is an intensive research-based PhD program; therefore, students who fail to identify a research mentor and secure financial support beyond the first academic year of the program will be unable to continue in the BSGP.
MS Students
The BSGP does not provide financial support to MS students.
I filled out the UNM graduate application, is my application complete?
When will my application be reviewed?
Admissions Interviews
When will I get a decision regarding my application?
April 15 Response Deadline
Interviews for our Fall 2021 BSGP Cohort will be virtual, dates to be announced.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us.
Email (preferred): SOMREO@salud.unm.edu with "BSGP Application - [YOUR FULL NAME]" in the Subject
Admission to the graduate program is competitive and attainment of the minimal requirements does not ensure admission to the program. The admissions process does allow for consideration of students who may not have attained all of the requirements but have otherwise demonstrated exceptional potential to succeed in graduate study.
If you are lacking any of the requirements, it is to your advantage to make an effort to acquire them. You may apply for admission while still completing or repeating courses, but you must complete all required coursework prior to the start of Fall semester classes. If accepted for admission, you must submit official transcripts showing successful completion of the coursework with a grade of “B” or higher, prior to the start of Fall classes.
Applicants who complete only the minimal recommended coursework and/or who lack competency in one of the core knowledge areas often struggle with the first-year BSGP core curriculum. Therefore, if you lack competency in any of the BSGP core knowledge areas outlined in the competency supplement, it is to your advantage to seek out opportunities to acquire competency before beginning training in the BSGP.
The University of New Mexico BSGP is proud to use a flexible and holistic admissions process. This means that our final admission decisions are based on a combination of numerical (e.g., grades) and non-numerical information (e.g., presentations, publications, and experience). We encourage applicants to provide as much evidence as possible of their potential to be successful in the BSGP. Non-numerical factors we often consider include but are not limited to:
In order to enhance our holistic application review process, a complete application requires a typed competency supplement (pdf version).
Applicants must have:
Complete online application including: Letter of Intent, CV, three (3) letters of recommendation, all transcripts (unofficial or official) from every college/university attended and competency supplement (pdf version)*.
*The competency supplement must be uploaded as an addendum to your online UNM Graduate Application. In order to do this, you must first submit your online UNM Graduate Application. Then, log back in to your application and upload the competency supplement as an addendum.
Demonstrated competency in core knowledge areas. Evidence of competency in a core knowledge area includes grades of “B” or better in recommended pre-requisite courses (upper-division or graduate-level preferred), relevant scientific presentations and/or publications, relevant research experience, GRE or other standardized test scores, relevant teaching or work experience, etc. If you received below a “B” in a recommended pre-requisite course within these core knowledge areas, you need to provide evidence to demonstrate that you have successfully remediated this core knowledge area. See competency supplement (pdf version)for more information.
Advanced Biological Sciences | Recommended minimum: 2 semesters upper-division Examples: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Physiology, Neuroscience, relevant research, teaching, publications, employment, etc. |
Biochemistry/Chemistry | Recommended minimum: 2 semesters upper-division Examples: Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, relevant research, teaching, publications, employment, etc. |
Quantitative & Analytical Reasoning | Recommended minimum: 2 semesters Examples: Calculus, Statistics, Physics, Analytical Chemistry, 147 or higher on GRE Quantitative Reasoning, relevant teaching, etc. |
Writing | Recommended minimum: 1 semester upper-division Examples: upper-division writing courses, 3.5 or higher on GRE Analytical Writing, significant writing role on relevant publication, relevant teaching, etc. |
Exam | Minimum Score Required |
TOEFL (internet-based) | 79 |
TOEFL (paper-based) | 550 |
IELTS | 6.5 |
PTE Academic | 53 |
Duolingo English Test | 105 |
Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency | 180 |
NOTE: For students who feel that they do not meet criteria for a PhD application, the MS degree may provide the opportunity to excel in graduate-level biomedical science courses, gain research experience, and obtain powerful letters of recommendation to support an application to the PhD program. Many MS students in the BSGP accelerate to the PhD track after demonstrating success in our coursework and research.
PhD Students
Financial support packages are provided by the BSGP to incoming PhD students during the first academic year of the program, mid-August through May 31.
At the end of the first academic year, beginning June 1, PhD students are funded by their dissertation mentor (advisor), and/or training grants, and/or the advisor’s department.
This package includes:
Note: Eligibility to receive financial support throughout the program is contingent on the student remaining in good standing according to BSGP and UNM Office of Graduate Studies standards and policies as well as completion of mandatory UNM and HSC trainings.
The BSGP is an intensive research-based PhD program; therefore, students who fail to identify a research mentor and secure financial support beyond the first academic year of the program will be unable to continue in the BSGP.
MS Students
The BSGP does not provide financial support to MS students.
I filled out the UNM graduate application, is my application complete?
When will my application be reviewed?
Admissions Interviews
When will I get a decision regarding my application?
April 15 Response Deadline
Mailing Address
School of Medicine Research Education Office
MSC08-4560
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Phone: (505) 272-1887
Fax: (505) 272-8738
Email: SOMREO@salud.unm.edu
Physical Location:
UNM Health Sciences Center (North Campus)
Reginald Heber Fitz Hall (Building 211)
Room B61