Admissions

In order to be admitted to our Certificate in Biostatistics, M.S. in Biostatistics, or Ph.D. in Biostatistics, you'll want to make sure that you meet the appropriate prerequisites and assemble the required materials. These requirements and materials are described generally below, and you can click on the links for the programs to get more details on these requirements.

Deadlines

Admission to the PhD program occurs only in the Fall semester. Admission to the MS program can occur in the Summer of Fall semesters. Deadlines for applications are as follows:

  • For Summer semester admission, the deadline for all applications is April 1. (Note: Summer term admission is restricted to the Certificate applicants and MS applicants seeking provisional admission).
  • For Fall semester admission, the deadline for all applications is June 30.

Applications received after the deadline will be considered for admission to the next available term, with no exceptions.

*NOTE*: All application materials must be received by the application deadline. Specifically, submitting requests for letters of recommendation before the application deadline is not sufficient - the letters must be received by us before the deadline (so ask for letters early!)

Prerequisites

For the Certificate in Biostatistics, you will need to have completed a bachelor's degree in the basic sciences, economics, psychology, or related discipline. Your degree curriculum should include a sophomore-level course covering statistics and at least 2 courses in the basic sciences. The minimum GPA for admission is 2.75.

Need to brush up on calculus to meet admission requirements for our M.S.? Check out our fully online Math Tools summer course sequence to learn how to get caught up!

For the M.S. in Biostatistics, you'll need a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, basic sciences, or related discipline. You will need to have prior coursework in calculus with coverage through multivariable calculus (partial differentiation and multiple integration), typically covered in a Calculus I-III sequence at most institutions. The minimum GPA for full admission is 3.0. If you have prior quantitative training but lack the background in calculus, check out our Math Tools summer courses, which provide instruction in the components of calculus necessary to be successful in our program.

The Ph.D. program is available to students with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in mathematics, biostatistics, statistics, engineering, computer science, decision science or related discipline. Applicants with only a bachelor’s degree must have completed coursework in calculus (through multivariable calculus), linear algebra, a sophomore-level statistics/biostatistics course, two additional junior-level mathematics courses, and a sophomore-level computing course. Applicants with a master's degree must have coursework in mathematical probability and statistics. The minimum GPA for admission is 3.25.

Application Materials

Applications can be completed online through the University of Louisville Graduate School. Before submitting an application, you'll want to assemble the following:

  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. If your transcripts are from an institution outside the U.S.A., you will need to get a foreign credential evaluation (FCE). We recommend ECE or WES as services.
  • (Ph.D. applicants only) Scores from the graduate record exam (GRE).
  • Instruction for all of our programs is in English, so your application must include some demonstration of English proficiency. This can be a degree from an accredited institution with primary instruction in English, scores from English language tests (like TOEFL), or completion of an intensive English as a second language program.
  • A resume or CV
  • (M.S. and Ph.D. applicants only) A written statement of purpose
  • At least two letters of recommendation written within the past twelve months, which may be submitted as part of the graduate application
  • Non-refundable application fee

If you have any questions about the application process or the materials we require, please don't hesitate to .

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