Admissions

Application Deadlines & Requirements
Admissions to the PhD program in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UM is granted to students who have a superior record of achievement in their previous studies and show a strong potential to succeed at an advanced level of study. Successful applicants typically hold a BS degree in pharmacy, chemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, cellular and molecular biology, biological chemistry, or another comparable field of study. Those admitted to the PhD program normally have a strong GPA and excellent letters of recommendation. For non-domestic students, we strongly prefer applicants with MS degree although exceptional candidates with bachelor’s degree are considered for the PhD program.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications for admission to Fall Term 2025 PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences is December 2, 2024.  The Fall Term 2025 application will be available online on August 28, 2024.

Entrance Requirements
​Please note that all of application materials must be submitted through the online application. Please do not send any certificates, copies of passports, papers you have written/published, or copies/duplicates of application materials to the PharmSci department office. All of the documents described below must be submitted online.

1. Rackham application
2. Statement of academic purpose
   • A concise (2-3 pages) statement about your academic background, prior research experience, abstracts, manuscripts, presentations given in scientific conferences, research interests, and the name(s) of faculty with whom you are interested in working.
3. Personal statement
   • A concise (500-word limit) essay that describes how your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a PhD in our program. Please do not simply restate your Academic Statement of Purpose.
4. 3 letters of recommendation
   • These should be written by recommenders best qualified to speak to your academic progress, research skills, and potential for graduate study. Recommenders should submit their letters using the online application site.
5. Transcripts
   • All copies of undergraduate or any graduate program transcripts must be provided. Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded electronically with your online application. In addition, official copies must be submitted directly as part of the application process to the Rackham Graduate School.
6. The GRE is not required.
7. For international applicants only, TOEFL report should be sent electronically from ETS.
   • International applicants are exempt from submitting an official English proficiency score if:
     • The degree was earned from an institution where the language of instruction is exclusively English. This exception does not apply if some classes completed were taught in a language other than English. Verification from the school may be required.
     • The degree was earned from a country where the official language is English (e.g., United States of America, Australia, England).
     • Additional information is available on Rackham's website.
8. Application Fees
   • $90 for international applicants

§  Rackham will not process an application without the application fee, nor can the College review applications prior to the payment of this fee. Some fee waivers are available from the Rackham Graduate School.

Please click here for Frequently Asked Questions on the admissions requirements (FAQs).

Admissions Decision Timeline
Late January to February: Interview process (campus visits will be arranged for candidates residing in the U.S., while online interviews will be arranged for candidates residing abroad).
​Mid-February to Mid-April: All applicants are notified via e-mail as soon as an admission decision is reached, with the final notifications sent by mid-April.

Financial Support
​​The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences has a long history of funding most, if not all, of its PhD students for the duration of their studies, but such support is not guaranteed. Financial aid comes in the form of departmental fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or some combination of these. In addition to Department financial aid, applicants are also considered for various Rackham fellowships, and are encouraged to apply for nationally competitive fellowships available from NSF, DoD, and other sources. All support is contingent upon satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D. degree, and the availability of funds.

Applicants to the BSPS program are invited to apply as First Year Students (Freshman Applicants) or as Transfer Students (both current University of Michigan student "cross-campus transfers" or as transfer students from another college or university). First Year Students must apply by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Regular Decision date of February 1; Transfer Students must apply by March 1 (there are different application forms depending on the type of transfer; transfer applicants must have completed at least one full semester of college courses at U-M or at an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution). The College of Pharmacy only accepts students for Fall term entry.

Students interested in the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program must apply through the U-M Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Review the Bachelors Program Admissions page and visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for more information and how to apply. 

https://pharmacy.umich.edu/prospective-students/programs/dual-pharmd-and-phd-program