All materials must be submitted through the online application. The deadline for applying is December 3, 2025 (those also applying to the Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative must apply by December 1--see below for additional information for VTSI applicants). All applications must include:

• Unofficial copies of grade transcripts (official copies will be required upon matriculation)
• Your resume or CV, including research experience, publications, posters, and presentations
• Three letters of recommendation (we suggest least one letter should be from a past or current academic or research advisor)
• A personal statement. Applicants shall provide a one-page personal statement (0.5-inch margins, 11-point Arial font, saved as a PDF) that describes their personal motivation for pursuing a career in science and their research experience. The research description need not be comprehensive but should describe at least one meaningful experience in detail (~1/2 to 2/3 page). The statement should conclude with a concise description of why they want to pursue their studies in the Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins University..

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required and scores will not be reviewed if submitted.

*Failure to submit a complete application may result in a significant delay in the application review process.

The Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended eligible institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), community colleges, and regional institutions in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for undergraduate study, are eligible to apply. To be considered for the VTSI, all components of the PhD program application, including the VTSI supplemental components, must be completed by December 1, 2025. All supplementary application material, including letters of recommendation, must also be received by December 1.

 

In addition to the application requirements listed above, international students must provide TOEFL or IELTS exam scores. We do not accept scores from other forms of proficiency exams. The TOEFL or IELTS requirement will be waived if an international student has completed a degree, or will complete a degree prior to matriculation, at an institution where the primary language of instruction is English. Our ETS Institution Code for TOEFL and IELTS is 5316.

International students receive the same tuition and stipend support as domestic students.

It is not necessary to identify an advisor prior to applying.

All admitted students (domestic and international) receive a funding package that provides a stipend and full payment of tuition, fees, and individual health insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision).

All Johns Hopkins University graduate students who are accepted will be subject to criminal background investigations. Generally, all offers of admission to School of Medicine degree programs will be conditioned on satisfactory criminal background investigations.

Are there any prerequisites to applying?

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree from a qualified college or university with a major in any of the biological, chemical, or physical sciences. Entering students are expected to have completed college-level courses in biology, chemistry (inorganic, organic, and physical), calculus, and physics; a strong background in biochemistry is particularly desirable.

What are the minimum scores for TOEFL or IELTS?

There is no required minimum. Most competitive applicants will score at or above 100 on the TOEFL or 4.0 on the IELTS.

What is the minimum GPA?

There is no minimum GPA requirement.

Do you offer fee waivers?

The School of Medicine offers fee waivers to US citizens and permanent residents meeting eligibility criteria. More information on fee waivers can be found here. We are unable to offer waivers to applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements described.

When will I hear about the status of my application?

You may check the current status of your application at any time in the application portal.

Invitations to interview are generally issued by late December. Most US citizens and permanent residents can expect a decision by the end of January. International students can expect a decision by late February.

Questions about the application should be directed to the Office of Graduate Admissions at [email protected]. Please note that they are unable to answer questions about the interview or acceptance status of individual applications. Eligibility requirements and instructions for requesting a fee waiver are available here.

For questions specific to the Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences graduate program, please e-mail [email protected].