Admissions & Program Timeline

First-year graduate students at the University of Rochester Medical Center enroll in interdepartmental clusters. They complete 3 laboratory rotations before choosing an advisor and matriculating (in their second year) into a departmental degree program.

Pathways of Human Disease Cluster

Admission to the Pathways of Human Disease cluster is competitive. 7-9 students are accepted each year.

Online Application:

Prospective PhD students apply for admission through the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Please review the admissions process before completing an online application.

Requirements:

Prospective students should have a four-year degree that includes at least basic training in the biological sciences, chemistry, or physics, and two to four semesters of college-level mathematics. All applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. TOEFL is required for speakers whose native language is not English.

Scholarships and Stipends:

All students receive a full-tuition scholarship, paid health insurance, and an annual stipend. The stipend for 2006-2007 is $23,000.

Application Deadlines:

Applications must be received by January 15, 2007 for the following Fall semester. Graduate students are not admitted in the Spring semester. The School usually schedules two interview weekends, one in February and one in March.

Ph.D. Program in Pathology

Students in the Pathways of Human Disease cluster usually continue into the Pathology Ph.D. program, but students in any cluster have the option of joining any degree-granting department.

Requirements:

Requirements for matriculation into the Pathology program include successful completion of first-year courses, choice of a mentor who will provide a strong training and educational environment, and a desire to pursue thesis research which has a relationship to human health and disease.

Brochure:

Request a program brochure.

The M.D./Ph.D. Program

Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program have the option of completing a Ph.D. degree in Pathology. In many ways Pathology, as a discipline, is uniquely positioned to translate the results of laboratory research into clinical practice. The program has its own requirements and timeline.