Skip to Content
SBMI Horizontal Logo

Non-degree Biomedical Informatics
2018-2020 Student Handbook

Program Description and Goals Admission to the
Biomedical Informatics
Non-degree Program		 Requirements for
International Applicants		 Application deadlines

Program Description and Goals

A student who is admitted to SBMI for one or more courses but not admitted to a degree or certificate program is considered a non-degree student. Enrollment as a non-degree student does not entitle a student to admission to a SBMI degree program. A non-degree student is not eligible to receive a certificate or degree. Non-degree students will not be allowed to register for practicum/doctoral courses. Non-degree students can complete a maximum of 9 semester credit hours and must maintain a 3.0/4.0 grade point average.

Back to Top

Admission to the Biomedical Informatics Non-degree Program

The admission process to the certificate programs is designed to get the professional working applicant into a SBMI degree program by meeting minimal requirements. Each applicant must submit to the Registrar’s Office the following:

  1. A completed non-degree application online
  2. $60 application fee
  3. An official transcript with the minimum of a baccalaureate or higher degree.
  4. CV/resume
  5. One letter of reference6. See the SBMI Prospective Student Admission Requirements webpage for additional information:https://sbmi.uth.edu/prospective-students/admission-requirements.htm

Back to Top

Requirements for International Applicants

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)/IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. The official score for the TOEFL test must be submitted directly to the UTHealth Office of the Registrar from the TOEFL test centers using institutional codes 6906; no department code is required. The minimum acceptable score is an 87 on the internet-based test. The official scores for the IELTS Academic test must be submitted directly to the UTHealth Office of the Registrar from the IELTS test centers. The minimum acceptable score is a 7. Testing is at the applicant’s expense.
  • International applicants who have received a diploma from a university at which English is the language of instruction are not required to submit an English Language exam. If this school is outside of an English-speaking country, evidence that indicates the language of instruction will need to be provided with your application such as a letter from the University on official letterhead.
  • International applicants must submit official transcripts and a course-by-course education evaluation of all transcripts from all universities attended outside the United States. The application forms for such an evaluation may be obtained online from the service providers; Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., www.ece.org and World Education Services, www.wes.org. Only evaluations from ECE or WES will be accepted. The results of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UTHealth Office of the Registrar by the agency. The evaluation report is at the applicant’s expense.
  • Students on an F1 student visa are not eligible to enroll in the Applied Certificate or the Applied Master’s in Biomedical Informatics track programs. F1 sponsorship is available for students in the Certificate in Public Health Informatics, Certificate in Biomedical Informatics, Research Master’s and PhD programs.
  • The I-20 form, required by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is prepared by UTHealth and issued to qualified non-immigrant applicants who have been admitted and who have demonstrated financial ability to support their education. Upon acceptance, the non-immigrant student will be asked to provide financial and visa information so that the I-20 form may be completed. The student must submit the completed form to the American Embassy in his/her country of origin in order to receive a student visa or must otherwise be eligible for F1 status in the U.S. Please contact the UTHealth Office of International Affairs for information (713-500-3176, utoiahouston@uth.tmc.edu).

Back to Top

Official transcripts of all previous academic institutions attended must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Admission Deadlines:
Fall Admission July 1
Spring Admission November 1
Summer Admission March 1

Back to Top

The coursework completed as a Non-Degree Seeking Student is at the graduate level. A transcript showing graduate credits may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.

This coursework may be transferred into a degree program. No grade lower than a “B” will be accepted to transfer into the certificate, master’s or doctoral programs.