Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | December 1 |
| Spring Deadline | September 1 |
| Summer Deadline | December 1 |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering (biomedical, chemical, electrical, industrial, mechanical, etc.) or science (biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, immunology, physics, etc.). Each application is judged on the basis of:
All applicants must satisfy requirements that are set forth by the Graduate School. Admitted applicants to the program may be required to make up deficiency course requirements.
To apply to the Biomedical Engineering program, complete applications, including supportive materials, must be submitted as described below and received by the application deadline.
Summer admissions are generally limited to continuing Biomedical Engineering students at UW–Madison or applicants who have research assistantships already arranged with UW faculty.
Official Academic Transcript
Electronically submit one copy of your transcript of all undergraduate and previous graduate work in your online application to the Graduate School. Unofficial copies of transcripts will be accepted for review. Official copies are required if an applicant is recommended for admission. Do not send transcripts or any other application materials to the Graduate School or the Biomedical Engineering department unless requested. If you have questions, contact bmegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
English Proficiency Test Scores (if applicable)
An applicant whose TOEFL (iBT) score is below 92; TOEFL (PBT) score is below 580; or IELTS score is below 7 must take an English assessment test upon arrival. Depending on the result, an applicant may need to register for recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) courses in the first semester of enrollment.
All Biomedical Engineering PhD students will participate in teaching during their graduate degree. International students whose native language is not English must take the SPEAK test during their first semester on campus, unless they have achieved a score 26 or greater on the speaking section of the iBT TOEFL (8.0 for the IELTS). Any recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework must be completed during the first year.
Three Letters of Recommendation
These letters are required from people who can accurately judge the applicant’s academic or research performance. Letters of recommendation are submitted electronically to graduate programs through the online application. Applicants should not send any more than three letters (if more than three are sent, only the first three will be considered). See the Graduate School for FAQs regarding letters of recommendation.
Statement of Purpose
In this document, applicants should explain why they want to pursue further education in Biomedical Engineering and discuss which UW faculty members they would be interested in doing research with during their graduate study. See the Graduate School for more advice on how to structure a personal statement.
Resume
Upload your resume in your application.
Application Fee
Submission must be accompanied by the one-time application fee. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (Master Card or Visa). This fee cannot be waived or deferred. Fee grants are available through the Graduate School under certain conditions.