How to Apply

Eligibility

Applicants must have earned a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor's degrees are awarded before they matriculate. Evidence of the earned degree is required prior to matriculation in the form of an official transcript noting degree conferral.

Application Requirements for PhD Programs

It is expected that all application materials (with the exception of official score reports) be scanned and uploaded to your online application. Please note that the University of Rochester reserves the right to verify the accuracy of all transcripts and test scores, and to require submission of official documentation at any point in the admissions review process.

1. Create an online Admissions Application
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Uploaded copy of transcript(s) to online application.
   Please do not mail a hard copy at this time.
4. 3 Letters of Recommendation

5. GRE scores are optional and submission is at the discretion of the applicant.  Applicants may submit their GRE scores if they believe it will add to their application.  Not submitting a GRE will not be held against the applicant.  Please review the following guidelines:

   1. If the applicant is NOT submitting scores please disregard the GRE submission question on the application.
   2.  Applicants choosing to submit GRE scores, scans of official score reports for GREs taken within 5 years of the original test date will be accepted with the original application (SMD School Code: 2948).

6. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Applicants are required to provide official scores that are within 2 years of the original test date. Official TOEFL (SMD school code: 2948, SOPHAS application code: 5688) or IELTS Scores
   
   For applicants whose native language is not English.

   The following test types are acceptable:

7. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)iBT or ITP Plus
8. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
9. DuoLingo

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The following programs require a writing sample: Epidemiology and Health Services Research and Policy. Otherwise, research papers, publications and other original works, as well as resumes and CVs may also be submitted for consideration, but are not required.

It is expected that all application materials (with the exception of official score reports) be scanned and uploaded to your online application. Please do not include secondary school documentation, financial documentation, etc., as these are not utilized during the admissions process.

PhD Application Timeline

For Admission to Fall Semester

• By November 15th  - The $60 application fee is automatically waived
• By December 1st - Complete application due ($60 application fee applies). Click here to request an application fee waiver due to financial hardship.
• After December 1st - applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until January 1, at each program’s discretion. 
• December - March - Interviews scheduled
• February - Campus Interviews held. Zoom interviews held through early April.
• February - March - Offer of admission notices mailed after interviews
• By April 15 - Responses due for offer of admission
• August 1 - Online application opens
• Late August - Fall semester begins

PhD Applicants

Fellowship Package for Full-time Students

• Full tuition scholarship, including all academic fees. Tuition and Fee Schedule
• A competitive stipend for 2025-2026 of $34,333 per year for 12 month programs or $28,611 per year for 10 month programs.
• Single coverage AETNA student health insurance policy.
• Refund Schedule

Health Insurance

The University Health Service (UHS) provides a full range of confidential, high quality primary health care services for full-time students and other members of the University community.

Full-time students participate in the Student Health Program, which covers primary care visits to UHS, time-limited therapy at the University Counseling Center (UCC), and health promotion services.

UHS offers health insurance for individual full-time University of Rochester students and their spouses/domestic partners through AETNA. Full-time students are required to participate in this plan unless they complete the Health Insurance Selection Process indicating they are waiving the insurance plan because they have other insurance. Insurance for spouses/partners and families is available for a fee payable by the student.

Childcare Program

The University of Rochester is implementing a pilot childcare grant program for full-time PhD students, on University appointments, who are parents of children, newborn through age 6 (“student-parents”). The objective of this program is to provide some financial assistance to Rochester PhD students with childcare expenses. Additional details can be found at https://www.rochester.edu/graduate-education/phd-students/childcare-grant/.

Related Departments

The Bursar’s Office

Financial Aid Office