Admissions | PhD in Biostatistics

Apply to the PhD in Biostatistics program by submitting an online application through the Georgetown Graduate School of Arts & Sciences portal.

Admission to our program is highly competitive. To learn more about us, please visit our contact page or fill out our Request for Information form.

Deadline

December 1

Final Deadline to Apply for Fall Admission

International applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow sufficient time to submit all application materials and apply for a U.S. visa if admitted.

The PhD Admission Committee consists of faculty assisted by a program coordinator. The Admissions Committee will review applications, select candidates for interviews, and make admission decisions and recommendations for financial support.

Applicants are admitted by the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Admitted applicants who confirm their intent to enroll will be eligible to participate in graduate student orientation and registration activities. 

See the Academic Calendar for our program’s Fall start date.

Application Requirements

Applicants are to submit all required credentials and supporting documentation no later than the application deadline.

Applicants do not need to arrange a position in a laboratory prior to admission. Any prospective students who currently have positions in departmental laboratories must apply to the program through the same procedure as all other applicants, and will not receive special consideration.

A 4-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (across all undergraduate coursework and/or institutions attended). Undergraduate coursework must include:

  • Strong coursework in Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra (with grades of B or better)
  • An introductory course in Statistics or Biostatistics (with a grade of B or better)

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, in:

  • Biostatistics, Statistics or Mathematics, OR
  • Another Quantitative Area (Economics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, etc.) with strong coursework (grades of B or better) in Statistical Inference and Statistical Modeling

List your postsecondary institutions in your application, and upload a transcript for each institution. Applicants are required to list/upload copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions where more than 15 credits of coursework were completed and/or where program prerequisites were completed (any number of credits). This gives the admissions committee a more complete picture of your academic preparation for graduate study.

WES  or NACES  credential evaluation services are highly recommended for international transcripts.

Follow the transcript instructions in Admissions FAQ  to ensure you upload proper documentation.

Recommendation letters may be from previous professors, research mentors, or employers in a position to appraise your potential for graduate study.

The Academic Statement of Purpose should be at least one page, but not more than two pages long, and should cover:

  • Factors (such as personal background, professional past experiences, or academic interest regarding department faculty or faculty research) that motivated you to apply for to our program
  • Research background/experience, if applicable
  • Long-term goals you wish to achieve during or after your PhD studies

Your CV/resume should include relevant professional (such as research, volunteer and intern experiences) and academic experiences with dates and descriptions/responsibilities. When applicable, items in each section should be in reverse chronological order, with the most recent experiences listed first. For experiences involving research, please note clearly the name of the principal investigator of the lab. Include citations for your publications, abstracts and presentations (if applicable). Use 11pt font size or larger; allow your CV/resume to span multiple pages if necessary.

The application fee is nonrefundable but limited application fee waivers may be available. View information about the application fee .

Applicants to any Georgetown program may choose to submit an Optional Statement that addresses diversity, personal background and contributions to community. A detailed prompt for the statement can be found in the application.

GRE scores are not required, but we invite applicants to report these scores if they are available. View instructions for submitting official test results .

All applicants are required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in the English language sufficient to meet the admission requirement of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Follow the TOEFL/IELTS instructions in Admissions FAQ  to determine whether you need to send us test scores to prove your English language proficiency.

Tuition & Stipend

Biomedical Graduate Education PhD students can receive merit-based fellowship awards that cover tuition, stipend, student health insurance, dental insurance and mandatory fees. Visit BGE PhD Tuition & Stipend for more information.

Applicants with external (third-party) funding guaranteed for the entirety of their PhD program (e.g., scholarships, sponsorships or fellowships through governments, employers or any organization) should include a copy of their award/sponsorship letter with their application. If the sponsorship is awarded after you submitted your application, please send a PDF copy of the letter to BGEAdmissions@georgetown.edu to be added to your application file.

Training Grants

Students may apply to participate in Georgetown’s NIH-funded, externally peer-reviewed institutional training programs. Visit BGE T32 Training Grants to learn more about our programs.

Career Readiness

Our students benefit from the services of the Biomedical Graduate Education career office, including one-on-one advising, skills workshops, leadership programs and more.