Admission Requirements

A Complete Application

The Rice Bioengineering online application system will ask candidates to electronically submit the following items by each program’s corresponding deadline.

The Rice University Department of Bioengineering will no longer require applicants to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for graduate admission, effective immediately. 

• Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended
  • All applicants must attach an unofficial transcript to their application. If accepted to their graduate program of choice, students are required to also send an official copy of their transcripts.
• A statement of purpose in addition to the “supplemental information” section of the application.
• At least three letters of recommendation from teachers or advisors
• In certain circumstances, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for students who have not received a degree from a university in the United States or where English is not the official language of instruction.
  • The TOEFL is administered through the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
  • The internet-based TOEFL IBL is offered more than 50 times a year and is administered online at testing sites around the world. Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL test and should score at least 90 on the TOEFL iBL, or at least 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or score 250 on the computer-based TOEFL.
  • Students whose native language is not English may also use the INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM (IELTS) Academic test. For students who choose to take the IELTS in lieu of TOEFL, the minimum score is 7.
  • Make arrangements to have all official scores sent to Rice University. The codes for submitting GRE and TOEFL scores are: 1603 for the Department Bioengineering, 6609 for Rice University, and the TOEFL code is 6609.
• The application fee of $85. The fee can be paid either by credit card or electronic check. For all programs, payment of the fee cannot be deferred until time of enrollment. The application can be processed only when the application fee has been received.*

To make sure scores are available when graduate admission decisions are made, and if applicable, register to take the GRE or TOEFL as required a minimum of 90 days prior to the PhD or MBE application deadlines mentioned above. Applicants should also request transcripts at least 30 days before graduate application deadlines to give senders time to get the material to Rice University.