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Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for degree and non-degree programs at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston, formerly UTHealth Houston School of Biomedical Informatics (SBMI).

McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics utilizes a holistic review process for all applicants. This enables us to give careful consideration to all the credentials presented by the applicant. Applicants are reviewed only once each cycle term, be sure to submit your application with the strongest material.

For more information about our programs please visit our Academics Programs page or contact Admissions at 713-500-3591.

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  • Graduate Certificates & Non-Degree requirements

    NOTE:

    • For the Joint Certificate in Dental Informatics, please refer to UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston (UTSD) Application Criteria page.
    • The application is 100% online through a Centralized Application Service (CAS) via the GradCAS platform. You will submit all required admission documents via GradCAS. All official transcripts, test scores (if applicable), along with Letters of Recommendation can be electronically requested via GradCAS.

      You can contact the GradCAS Applicant Help Center for assistance with your application documents.
  • Master of Science (MS) Degree
    • Application
    • $38 Application Fee
    • Baccalaureate or higher degree
    • Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended in the US.
      • Courses or degrees completed outside of the US must have a WES or ECE course-by-course transcript evaluation with GPA calculation
      • Grade Point Average (GPA): no minimum GPA requirement. Recommended cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
    • Resume and/or Curriculum Vitae
    • Three Letters of reference/recommendation from educators & employers
    • Goal Statement – Please follow the attached template guideline.

    NOTE:

    • Current students in the certificate program considering transitioning to the master's program should complete at least 3 classes before applying.
      • It is recommended that at least one of the reference letters provided comes from our McWilliams faculty member.
    • The application is 100% online through a Centralized Application Service (CAS) via the GradCAS platform. You will submit all required admission documents via GradCAS. All official transcripts, test scores (if applicable), along with Letters of Recommendation can be electronically requested via GradCAS.

      You can contact the GradCAS Applicant Help Center for assistance with your application documents.
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree

    NOTE:

    • Current students in a McWilliams program considering transitioning to the PhD program should consider the following while applying:
      • It is recommended that at least one of the reference letters provided comes from our McWilliams faculty member.
    • The application is 100% online through a Centralized Application Service (CAS) via the GradCAS platform. You will submit all required admission documents via GradCAS. All official transcripts, test scores (if applicable), along with Letters of Recommendation can be electronically requested via GradCAS.

      You can contact the GradCAS Applicant Help Center for assistance with your application documents.
  • Doctorate in Health Informatics (DHI) Degree

    NOTE:

    • The application is 100% online through a Centralized Application Service (CAS) via the GradCAS platform. You will submit all required admission documents via GradCAS. All official transcripts, test scores (if applicable), along with Letters of Recommendation can be electronically requested via GradCAS.

      You can contact the GradCAS Applicant Help Center for assistance with your application documents.
  • Dual Degrees

    The applications via GradCAS are only for admissions consideration to the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics degree program. A separate application for the partnership program/school must be completed according to their admission requirements.

    For dual degree options in conjunction with our MS program, please visit HERE:

    • Application
    • $38 Application Fee
    • Baccalaureate or higher degree
    • Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended in the US.
      • Courses or degrees completed outside of the US must have a WES or ECE course-by-course transcript evaluation with GPA calculation
      • Grade Point Average (GPA): no minimum GPA requirement. Recommended cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
    • Resume and/or Curriculum Vitae
    • Three Letters of reference/recommendation from educators & employers
    • Goal Statement – Please follow the attached template guideline.
    • International applicants with eligible visas see additional requirements section
    • PharmD/MS applicants ONLY: Additionally, must submit a “Verification of Enrollment Form

    Dual degree admission requirements with our PhD program:

    • Application
    • $38 Application Fee
    • Baccalaureate or higher degree
    • Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended in the US.
      • Courses or degrees completed outside of the US must have a WES or ECE course-by-course transcript evaluation with GPA calculation
      • Grade Point Average (GPA): no minimum GPA requirement. Recommended cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
    • GRE General Test (GRE)
      • Unofficial valid scores can be uploaded with the application. Official scores should also be sent to UTHealth Houston Office of the Registrar’s. Use code: 6906.
      • Recommended GRE scores - Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical in the 50th percentile or higher.
      • A GRE waiver can be granted to applicants who meet specified criteria listed in the “Waiver” section of the page.
    • Resume and/or Curriculum Vitae
    • Three Letters of reference from educators & employers
    • Goal Statement – Please follow the attached template guideline. Additionally, please include how the dual degree program with the partnership school will assist in your career trajectory.

    NOTE:

    • Dual degree applicants should upload a copy of the admissions letter to the partnership institution/program with their application.
    • The application is 100% online through a Centralized Application Service (CAS) via the GradCAS platform. You will submit all required admission documents via GradCAS. All official transcripts, test scores (if applicable), along with Letters of Recommendation can be electronically requested via GradCAS.

      You can contact the GradCAS Applicant Help Center for assistance with your application documents.
  • Non-Degree (TMC Employees/Approved Fellowships ONLY)

    Employees of institutions within the Texas Medical Center may register as a non-degree student for one or more McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatic courses. A maximum total of 9 credit hours are allowed, provided they have the instructor's/Office of Academic Affairs consent, their supervisor's approval and have complete documentation by the deadline date.

    A completed application/registration form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar via e-mail to [email protected].

    Please complete the following form and submit all required materials for processing by the below listed deadline dates:

    • Spring Enrollment: December 15th
    • Summer Enrollment: May 1st
    • Fall Enrollment: August 1st

    Please allow 5-7 Business days for your application form to be processed. It is not possible to submit an application on the deadline day and complete the required processing at the end of business that day. Please allow yourself plenty of time to obtain the appropriate documentation. The Office of the Registrar will not enroll you in the class unless all *documents required are completed.”

    Documents required by the registrar’s office to complete your registration before the deadline date:

    1. Instructions and Enrollment Form completed with all necessary signatures/approvals.
      1. If needed, in place of a signature from the course instructor/Office of Academic Affairs and your supervisor on the form, an email from same allowing you to take the class is acceptable. Please include this as part of your submission.
      2. Unofficial transcript(s) showing Bachelor’s degree or higher.
        1. Applicants with international degrees, please accompany your unofficial transcripts with a professional English translation of your foreign transcripts outlining degree attained; ECFMG certification documents (if applicable) and/or supplemental documents to assess your educational background. A World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) transcript evaluations (course-by-course with GPA calculation) are preferred but not required for this Non-degree program.
      3. Application/Enrollment form fee $50.00 (non-refundable). Payment is processed via Bursar’s Office.

    More information can be found HERE.

  • Undergraduate Accelerated Master’s (4+1) program - Graduate Certificates

    For a list of our partnering institutions for the 4+1 program, please visit HERE.

    The 4+1 program application is designed in a 3-part process.

    Step 1: 4+1 Pre-Application

    The admission process for the Undergraduate Accelerated Master’s (4+1) program requires the submission of the No-Cost 4+1 Pre-Application.

    Pre-Application requirements include:

    1. Biodemographic Information
    2. Unofficial transcripts from all of your colleges and universities attended
    3. Program Recommendation Form – A form will be sent to your recommender to be completed and submitted on your behalf.
    4. Essay Question – In 1-2 pages, please tell us about your future career & educational goals.

    Pre-Application Deadline:
    Fall Admission June 1
    Spring Admission October 1
    Summer Admission February 1

    All documents for the 4+1 Pre-application must be submitted by the above deadline date for the term you are applying to Candidates who successfully make it through the pre-application process will be cleared to begin Step 2.

    Step 2: Interview

    If your pre-application is approved, you will be contacted to have an interview with the 4+1 admissions committee.

    Step 3: McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics Application

    Upon meeting the requirements in Step 1 and the recommendation of the admissions committee, you then submit an application to the Graduate Certificate program.

    The completed application requires the following items:


    Each applicant must submit all required admissions materials for the graduate certificate by McWilliams deadline dates.

  • Verification of Enrollment Forms

    A Verification of Enrollment Form is required to be submitted with an application at the time of applying for only the following programs:

  • GRE Waiver Criteria (PhD Applicants)

    GRE Waiver Requests for PhD Applicants

    The GRE is required for PhD applicants unless a GRE waiver has been approved.

    GRE Waiver Request Deadlines

    • Fall PhD applicants: November 15
    • Spring PhD applicants: June 15

    Who May Request a GRE Waiver?

    You may request a GRE waiver if you meet at least one of the eligibility criteria below:

    • McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics MS graduate: You previously completed an MS degree from the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics with a cumulative McWilliams GPA of 3.6 or higher.
    • Relevant master's degree: You previously earned a master's degree in Computer Science, Biomedical Informatics, Informatics, or another closely related quantitative or technical field from an accredited institution.
    • Doctoral degree: You previously earned a doctoral-level degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
    • International medical degree: You hold an international medical degree and ECFMG certification and are currently practicing medicine or participating in an active residency program in the United States at the time of application.

    Important: Meeting one of these criteria allows you to request a waiver; it does not guarantee approval.

    What Can Strengthen Your Request?

    You should provide evidence of your preparation for doctoral-level study, such as:

    • Three or more years of professional experience in a healthcare setting involving biomedical or health informatics
    • First-author or other significant peer-reviewed publications
    • Research experience
    • Experience with data science, programming, statistics, or other skills relevant to biomedical informatics
    • Other evidence demonstrating your preparation for doctoral-level study

    These factors may support your request but do not replace the eligibility criteria above.

    How to Request a GRE Waiver

    You must have started or submitted or are ready to submit a PhD application before requesting a GRE waiver. We do not pre-evaluate waiver eligibility for prospective students before an application has been started.

    We recommend submitting your waiver request after completing the application requirements. However, you may submit your request before your application is complete if you provide all materials needed for the waiver review.

    Email your formal waiver request to [email protected] and include:

    1. The eligibility criterion you meet
    2. A brief explanation of how you meet the criterion
    3. Documentation supporting your eligibility
    4. A brief explanation of how your academic and/or professional background has prepared you for doctoral-level study
    5. Any additional supporting materials you would like the Associate Dean to consider

    If the following materials have not yet been submitted with your application, please include them with your waiver request:

    • Transcripts
    • CV/resume
    • Goal statement
    • Other relevant supporting documentation

    Incomplete waiver requests may not be reviewed until all required information has been received.

    Waiver Approval

    Submitting a waiver request does not mean the GRE requirement has been waived.

    Each request is reviewed individually and requires approval from the Associate Dean for Student, Faculty, and Community Affairs.

    Do not consider yourself exempt from the GRE requirement until you receive written confirmation that your waiver has been approved.

    If your waiver request is not approved, you must submit valid GRE scores for your application to be considered complete.

  • Additional Information for International Applicants

    McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston is a graduate school that awards postgraduate degrees. We do not offer undergraduate degrees.

    A bachelor’s degree or higher is required to apply. If all education was completed outside the U.S., you must have a U.S. equivalency of a bachelor's degree or higher.

    All applicants that have completed courses/degrees outside of the US are required to submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation with GPA calculation report by either World Education Services (WES ICAP) or Educational Credential Evaluators. The verified transcripts used for the evaluation need to be included with the education evaluation.

    All international applicants must show proof of English language proficiency through one of the following:

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam – Minimum score of 94. Follow these instructions to have official test scores sent to GradCAS. Use code: B886
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Minimum score of 7.0. Follow these instructions to have official test scores sent to GradCAS. A code is not required.

    Applicants for whom the English proficiency exam is required and who do not meet the minimum requirement will not be forwarded for admissions committee review.

    F-1 Student Visa Sponsorship Information

    F-1 visa sponsorship available for the following:

    Spring and Fall Admission
    Master of Science (MS) - Research Track
    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Informatics
    Admission to one UTHealth Houston program at a time

    F-1 visa sponsorship Not available for the following:

    Summer Admission
    Master of Science (MS) - Applied Track
    Doctorate in Health Informatics (DHI)
    Concurrent multiple admissions to UTHealth Houston Schools/Programs
    Non-degree or Certificate programs

  • TOEFL/IELTS Waiver Criteria (International Applicants)

    All international applicants must show proof of English language proficiency through one of the following:

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam:
      • For exams taken before January 21, 2026: Minimum total score: 94.
      • For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:  Minimum total score: 5.
      • Follow these instructions to have official test scores sent to GradCAS. Use code: B886
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Minimum score of 7.0. Follow these instructions to have official test scores sent to GradCAS. A code is not required.


    Applicants for whom the English proficiency exam is required and who do not meet the minimum requirement will not be forwarded for admissions committee review.

    In some circumstances, your requirement to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores may be waived if any of the below criteria are met.

    • If you are a Permanent Resident or Citizen of the United States
    • If you earned an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a United States college or University.
    • If the degree reviewed by World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Transcript Evaluation, indicates the mode of instruction was in English (3 or more years).
    • If you earned a degree from an English-speaking country – Graduation with a diploma or degree (attended for at least 3 years or a standard period of attendance as required by the country; Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degree) from an accredited school from a recognized English-speaking country as listed below:

      Antigua
      Australia
      Bahamas
      Barbados
      Bermuda
      British Virgin Islands
      Canada (English Speaking provinces & Territories)
      Cayman Islands
      Falklands Islands
      Gambia
      Ghana
      Grenada
      Guyana
      Ireland
      Jamaica
      Kenya
      Liberia
      New Zealand
      Nigeria
      Sierra Leone
      St. Helene
      St. Kitts & Nevis
      St. Vincent
      Trinidad & Tobago
      Turk & Caico Islands
      Uganda
      US Virgin Islands
      Zambia
      Zimbabwe

      If you meet the above reference criteria or have questions regarding waivers, please email [email protected] with a formal waiver. Please include supplemental documentation for consideration.

ADMISSION DEADLINES

PROGRAM FALL SPRING SUMMER
Certificate July 1 November 1 March 1
Master's July 1 November 1 March 1
PhD December 1 July 1 N/A
DHI March 1 Only one DHI cohort will be admitted annually.

Contact Information

Office of Academic Affairs
D. Bradley McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston
713-500-3591
[email protected]