Admission Requirements

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:

• Letters of recommendation
• Rigor of coursework
• Interview
• Demonstrated interest in the BSGP and our faculty
• Mentor and research interest fit
• Potential for collegiality and leadership
• Writing abilities
• Work and life experiences
• Professional goals
• Community activities

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, competency supplement (pdf version), and demographic survey using completion page.
• BS, BA, or equivalent 4-year degree from an accredited US institution or a recognized foreign institution.
• Overall 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (grades of "B" or higher are expected in all relevant science courses).
• 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.

• GRE scores (optional)
  • As of 2020, GRE scores are optional and should only be submitted if they strengthen your application package.
  • GRE Verbal scores ranged from 145 to 167 and averaged 154 for BSGP cohorts admitted in 2018 and 2019, with a recommended minimum of 152.
  • GRE Quantitative scores range from 143 to 160 and averaged 153 for BSGP cohorts admitted in 2018 and 2019, with a recommended minimum of 147.
  • GRE Analytical Writing scores range from 3 to 5 and averaged 4 for BSGP cohorts admitted in 2018 and 2019, with a recommended minimum of 3.5.
  • Scores on the Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology GRE Subject Test may be relevant to your application package.
• English Proficiency, International Students Only (Any listed test)
  • To demonstrate English proficiency, students may take; the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Duolingo English Test, Pearson Test of English (Academic), or Cambridge CPE or CAE. Official test results must be sent directly to The University of New Mexico. (The ETS school code for The University of New Mexico is 4845)

• Exceptions to the English Proficiency Test Requirements (only one exception required):
  • Completion of four years of U.S. high school with a 2.5 GPA or better.
  • Bachelor's or graduate degree from a recognized institution in English-speaking Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.
  • 1 year of full-time study (minimum 18 credit hours) at a regionally-accredited US college or university with a 3.0 GPA or higher completed within the last two years.
  • Completion of two semesters of freshman English composition (English 110 and 120 equivalent) with a grade of C or better at a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university. (These courses must be completed on an A-F grade scale.)
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university.
  • Attendance in the Center for English Language and American Culture (CELAC) program at UNM with successful completion of full-time studies in the Academic Bridge level of English instruction (2.5 GPA or better), good standing, and approval of the academic graduate department.
  • If you are from one of the following English-Speaking Countries (Click here to check Countries).
• Participate in admission interviews
• Previous laboratory research experience: not required, but highly desirable; Students offered admission to the BSGP PhD program have 1 year of wet laboratory research experience (on average) with 2 strong letters of recommendation from research mentors.
• Technical Standards Required to Perform the Essential Functions of the BSGP Curriculum:
  • Observation: The applicant must be able to accurately acquire information from numerous sources, including, but not limited to, written documents, images, lectures, and videos with or without the use of assistive devices.
  • Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently and sensitively with research subjects, faculty, peers and staff, and disseminate their discoveries to the scientific community.
  • Motor function and coordination: The applicant must have the capacity to perform the required laboratory tasks with or without accommodations.
  • Intellect: The applicant must be able to identify, define, and solve problems, with the ability to accurately measure, calculate, reason, integrate, analyze and synthesize data, and to apply these skills in a variety of settings.
  • Professionalism: The applicant must be capable of developing and retaining mature, professional, responsible, and effective relationships, to exercise good judgment, and to demonstrate the degree of honesty and integrity outlined in the Biomedical Research Education Program Code of Professional Conduct (see BSGP Handbook).
  • In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The University of New Mexico School of Medicine Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program will implement policy and procedures to ensure equal access to educational opportunities for persons with disabilities. If you have any questions about these standards, other policies as they pertain to the ADA, or wish to disclose a disability for which you would like to request accommodations, please contact the ADA HSC Accommodations Specialist, Kelly Cano Martinez.
• Equipment Required: personal computer capable of running the latest release of SAS University Edition