Clinical Pharmacy Translational Science PhD Application Process and Requirements

December 1

Application Opens: Mid-September

Admissions to PhD program:
Fall Term Only
No Spring Term admissions

Completed applications including all letters of recommendation are due by December 1.

• U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution
• Credentials from Non-U.S. Institutions
• Minimum Requirements
• Official Academic Transcripts
• Academic Statement of Purpose (See “How to Stand Out” section for explanation)
• Personal Statement (See “How to Stand Out” section for explanation)
• Three Letters of recommendation

Applications

• Applicants must apply through the Rackham Graduate School and setup an application account

Application Fees

• For U.S. citizens and those with permanent resident visa status the application fee is waived.
• For non-U.S. citizens, the application fee is $90. This fee cannot be waived.

All interviews are online and will be arranged for candidates. Candidates will be notified in early January.

Campus visits will be arranged for candidates accepted into the program.

Decision notification letters are sent via e-mail in late February/early March.

Acceptance Rate: <10%

Successful applicants should demonstrate adequate preparation in pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry and biology for the Precision Pharmacotherapy track and pharmacy, informatics, economics, sociology, genetics, or kinetics for the HSR track. A prior PharmD degree is preferred, but not required.

Academic Statement of Purpose
A 500-750 word statement about your academic and research background, career goals, and how the PhD program will help you meet your objectives. Applicants should indicate which CPTS Faculty Advisors they would be most interested in working with.

Personal Statement
A 500-word maximum essay that describes how your background and life experiences (including cultural, geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges) motivated you to pursue a PhD in our program at the College of Pharmacy.

Letters of Recommendation
Strong letters of recommendation are essential; therefore you should choose your recommenders carefully. Choose faculty who know you well and can speak to your strengths, preferably from your area of research interest. A letter from a professional, or a key educational administrator might also be appropriate. Letters from personal friends or family members are discouraged.

Is an online application required at the University of Michigan?
Yes, all applicants are required to apply online. This allows your application and fee to be sent directly to the appropriate places, enabling us to process your application much faster.

Will the College of Pharmacy review my application prior to submission?
No, the College cannot review applications prior to submission to the Rackham Graduate School.

What if I want to apply to more than one graduate program?
Instructions for applying to more than one graduate program are offered on the Rackham site.

What if I want to request or work with a specific faculty member?
Applicants should indicate which CPTS Faculty Advisors they would be most interested in working with.

Can I contact/Am I required to contact a specific faculty member to study with them?
No, the PhD Programs at the College of Pharmacy do not accept applications to do PhD work with specific faculty.

Can I get the application fee waived?
For U.S. citizens and those with permanent resident visa status, the application fee is waived.

Some applicants may qualify for application fee waivers or grants that are available from the Rackham Graduate School and this information can be found on their application fees and waivers page.

Can I have my application evaluated without paying the fee?
No. The fee must be paid before an application can be processed or evaluated.

I am an international student. Do I need to have all of my transcripts, diplomas and certificates translated?
Yes. Everything must be translated, and both the originals and translations must be submitted.

What tests are required for admission?
International students must take one of the following English proficiency tests: the TOEFL, the IELTS, or the MELAB. Scores for these tests are valid for two years.

What is the minimum TOEFL (or IELTS, or MELAB) requirement?
The minimum TOEFL score is 560 for paper-based tests and 84 for IBT tests; the IELTS minimum score is 6.5; the MELAB minimum score is 80.

I’m an international student but I am getting a degree from a U.S. institution. Do I need to retake the TOEFL?
Please follow the Rackham English Proficiency requirements.

Do I have to submit my recommendation letters together?
The preferred method for submitting recommendations is via the online application. Those who are recommending you can complete this online form and attach the letter of recommendation online. Both the Recommendation Form and the letter are needed. You can forward the Rackham Graduate School link to your letter writers and they can download the form themselves.

Do I have to submit both the Recommendation Form and the letter?
Both the Recommendation Form and the letter are needed. If necessary, you can forward the Rackham link to your letter writers and they can download the form themselves.

I sent my official transcripts to Rackham Graduate School. Do I have to send them to the department or College as well?
No. The department will use the transcript that is submitted with the applicant’s online application. Only Rackham must have original, official transcripts or mark sheets, bearing the institution’s official seal.

Please note: Rackham Graduate School conducts a complete audit of each transcript. Due to the high volume of documents being audited, it may take 7 to 14 business days for the notice of receipt to appear online.

I am an international student. Do I need to fill out the Affidavit of Financial Resources and Immigration Information for International Students?
Rackham Graduate School will notify you to submit the Affidavit of Financial Resources and Immigration Information for International Students only if you are offered admission by the academic program. Please do not submit this form with your application.

The Affidavit of Financial Resources and Immigration Information with supporting documents is required after admission for international students

Do you have a Master’s Degree Program?
The College of Pharmacy does have a Masters in Integrated Pharmaceutical Sciences degree (MSIPS).

Do you accept transfer students?


Normally, the PhD programs do not accept transfer students. The usual process is to apply to your desired PhD program through the Rackham Graduate School by the appropriate deadline.  If you are admitted to the program, any course waivers would have to be approved on a case-by-case basis by the departmental faculty, upon review of the appropriate course syllabi from your previous institution.