All materials must be submitted through the online application. The deadline for applying is December 1, 2026 (this includes those also applying to the Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative--see below for additional information for VTSI applicants). All applications must include:

• Academic History & Prior Research Experience:

o   Applicants must list all colleges and universities they have attended and upload a transcript from each institution. Unofficial transcripts are accepted; official copies will be required upon acceptance and matriculation.

o   Applicants with prior research experience should provide information about that experience, including the institution, research mentor or supervisor, dates of participation, and any publications or other research products resulting from the experience, as applicable.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Applicants must submit a CV. The CV may be updated after the application is submitted, provided that any updates are submitted before the graduate program's application deadline.

• Personal Statement: Applicants must submit a one-page single spaced personal statement describing their 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. The statement should conclude with a concise description of why the applicant wishes to pursue their studies in the Pharmacology & Molecular Sciences Program.

• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must identify three (3) individuals who are familiar with the applicant's academic, research, professional, or other relevant work and provide contact information for these references. The School of Medicine will contact the identified references and request that they submit letters of recommendation on behalf of the applicant.
• GRE: GRE scores are not required and will not be considered in the admissions process for the Pharmacology & Molecular Sciences Program. Applicants should not submit GRE scores.

 

*Only complete applications received by the deadline will be reviewed.

The Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) honors the legacy of Dr. Vivien Thomas, a pioneering scientist and surgical assistant whose work helped advance cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins. The initiative expands pathways to to Johns Hopkins STEM PhD programs for talented students from a broad range of academic backgrounds and provides robust financial, mentoring, and professional development support. Please visit the VTSI program website for more information about the VTSI program.

The Johns Hopkins University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics in any program or activity administered by the university, or with regard to admission or employment. Questions regarding Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 should be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity, Wyman Park Building Suite 515, (410) 516-8075 - https://oie.jhu.edu/contact

 

• International students whose native language is not English are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  When taking the exam, applicants should request official scores be reported to Institution Code 5316 (the Department Code is not necessary). To report official IELTS test scores, please include the Test Report Form (TRF) verification number on the application. Scores must be received before the application deadline.
• The TOEFL requirement will be waived if the applicant has completed a degree in a U.S. institution, or is currently enrolled and will receive a degree from a university within the U.S. prior to matriculation at JHU SOM. The requirement will also be waived if the applicant has completed or will receive a degree from a university outside the U.S. if the primary language of instruction is English.
• All transcripts, letters of recommendation, and parts of the admissions application must be in English. The approved transcript service for use by international students is WES.
• Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents should consult the Application Fees and Fee Waivers section on the On-Campus Programs website for information about application fees and eligibility for fee waivers.
• The University will sponsor visas for accepted students. However, JHU’s willingness to sponsor or support a visa application does not guarantee that a visa will be approved or issued.
• International students receive the same financial support as domestic students. It is not necessary to identify an advisor prior to applying.

JHU School of Medicine PhD students (domestic and international) receive guaranteed financial support 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. 

Do you offer fee waivers?

U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents who meet the School of Medicine’s published eligibility requirements may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Eligibility for a fee waiver is separate from the academic admissions process and does not affect an applicant's consideration for admission. For a complete description of eligibility requirements and the fee-waiver process, please see the Application Fees and Fee Waivers section of the On-Campus Programs webpage.

When will I hear about the status of my application?

Once an application has been submitted, the applicant may follow its progress through the Application Status Page. The page can be accessed after submission of the application and contains the most current information regarding application status and outstanding materials.

The Pharmacology & Molecular Sciences Program will contact strong applicants in late December and early January with invitations to interview. Interviews are typically held virtually in early February.

Letters describing acceptance, wait list status, or rejection will be sent by email. This information will also be available on the Application status website.

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.

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