APPLY for QBS PhD

Dartmouth’s Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (QBS) doctoral degree is an innovative interdisciplinary program preparing elite professionals to solve complex biomedical challenges. Our students benefit from world-class facilities, renowned faculty, and cutting-edge theory that foster academic and professional excellence.

The application period begins in August and runs through December. All application reviews begin on December 1.

QBS application deadlines

PhD program (Fall 2024 start)

Deadline to apply: December 1, 2023

PhD applications will open in August 2024 for Fall 2025.

APPLY to our QBS PhD program

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to the Guarini School of Graduate Studies Application FAQs.

Read more about the admissions requirements for the QBS PhD degree program.

Review the PhD program overview presentation, Fall 2022

Supplemental application materials

In addition to completing the online Dartmouth application, students applying to a QBS program must submit additional supporting materials.

  • A required personal statement. Address the following topics in your statement (1000 words or less).
    • Describe your motivation and interests in pursuing a graduate degree at Dartmouth, what research interests excite you the most, and how a graduate degree will further your career goals. (500 words max
    • Describe your most impactful research experience(s)  and any relevant academic preparation that is not reflected elsewhere in your application. (500 words max)
  • An optional statement on diversity.
    • The Guarini School is committed to a climate that acknowledges and embraces diversity, supporting a culture that fosters inclusion, and actively pursues equity. Our commitment is driven by a firm belief that welcoming differences of opinion, experience, identity, and perspectives is essential to building a stronger community. We encourage you to share how your perspective on these factors, and your unique experiences within them, will contribute to the diversity of your cohort at Guarini.
  • A current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official or unofficial college transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework to the application. Official transcripts will be required should an offer be made to the applicant.
  • GRE scores are optional for the current QBS admissions cycle. If you would like your GRE scores considered with your application, please include unofficial score reports with your application. If you chose to submit GRE scores and you are offered admission, official test scores will be required from Educational Testing Services for verification purposes. WES evaluations are acceptable; however, official documents will be required should an offer be made to the applicant.  The institutional code for GRE scores is 3351.
  • Official TOEFL exam scores from ETS are required for international students who do not have a degree from an English speaking institution. QBS students are expected to be able to communicate easily and fluently in written and verbal English. Applicants should include unofficial score reports in their application. We accept TOEFL scores of 450 or above for the paper-based exam, internet-based exam scores of 90 or above, as well as IELTS scores with band scores of 7.0 or higher. TOEFL MyBestScores are also accepted if submitted through the ETS system. The institutional code for TOEFL scores is 3351.

Applicants to the PhD program can submit the supplemental application materials to the following address:

Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies
Dartmouth College
64 College Street, Suite 6062, Room 102
Hanover, NH 03755

When sending materials such as transcripts, DO NOT send to the Dartmouth College Admissions Office. That office is for applications to the undergraduate college only and doing so may result in delays in processing your application.

Once your application is submitted, you may contact Guarini Admissions to request updates to your application, such as missing transcripts or other elements of the application. Your application will be considered incomplete until all required materials have been received. In order to be eligible for admission consideration, the online application, application fees, and all supporting materials must be received by the QBS team by the specified deadlines for the program.

Information about PhD applications, program requirements, and other questions may be directed to the QBS Program at quant.biomed.sci@dartmouth.edu.

Graduate fellowships and scholarships

Financial assistance is available to eligible students applying to the QBS programs. All QBS PhD students receive a fellowship. Learn more about specific details of the QBS Dartmouth Fellowship program.

Visa information for international students

The Office of Visa and Immigration Services at Dartmouth (OVIS) supports the presence and success of international students at Dartmouth. OVIS also provides up-to-date information regarding current SEVIS regulations.

An additional resource for international applicants are the EducationUSA Centers that are located in U.S. embassies and consulates, as well as partner institutions worldwide. We encourage international applicants visit these sites to find additional helpful information about applying to graduate schools and advisories about traveling to the United States.

Contact the QBS team

The QBS team is ready to help you navigate the PhD graduate admissions process. Questions about applications or program requirements can be directed to the QBS Program at: quant.biomed.sci@dartmouth.edu

After you apply

What happens between the time you click Submit and when you receive a final decision?

Each of us on the admissions committee appreciates how much time candidates put into an application. It shows in your essays and the comments that recommenders make on your behalf.

Your future in the quantitative biomedical sciences is important to us, and we use the application review process to prepare you for the next step of your career. Here's an inside look at how we build a diverse class of quantitative professionals dedicated to improving data-based outcomes around the world.

What we look for in our review

Our admissions committees are made up of a combination of faculty, staff and alumni. Multiple committee members read each application for a thorough initial review. We look at everything you have submitted and take a holistic view of your entire application.

In our review, we make notes about each element in the application.

  • Your essay plays an important role in helping us understand your interests and goals and how those relate to the content and objectives of our program. We’re looking for you to draw a path from where you are now to where you want to be in your career. How will our PhD help you?
  • How you build relationships with others. This comes through via your recommenders' comments.
  • Your academic performance, including trends over time. Do your grades improve from year to year? Are you able to sustain strong academic achievement? Are your standardized test scores (if applicable) consistent with your undergraduate experience?
  • If you have any type of research experience, describe your project or role in a project. What skills, methods, and techniques did you learn? Was there anything novel you contributed independently? Discuss your role in listed publications or presentations. Describe how this experienced helped shape your trajectory regarding applying for a PhD or subsequent career and learning goals.

After their initial independent review, admission committee members meet to discuss the application and make a recommendation, write summary comments, and identify any questions they have.

How we evaluate admissions committee recommendations

Our admissions director reviews every recommendation with one to three other admissions committee members in a decision committee meeting. Together, we decide on the next step, which is an interview with the applicant.

Remote interviews with faculty, students, and alumni are held mid-January. Each applicant identifies faculty of interest for the interview. We are purposeful in scheduling each applicant with their choices of self-identified faculty, but we cannot guarantee this will happen 100 percent of the time. Applicants and faculty are paired for individual interviews. Interviews with current students may occur in panel format.

After interviews, the admissions committee meets to review each applicant to make final recommendations for admission. Admissions notifications are sent by mid-February.

How we make a final decision

Before any decision is final, it is reviewed again by the decision committee. As a group, we weigh the benefits of each application, what the candidate may bring to the class, and the current class composition. We strive to assemble a group of students with different backgrounds who all want to make a positive impact in the quantitative sciences. We value students with different backgrounds and experiences.

During your time in our program we expect that you will inhabit both learner and teacher roles. As a learner, you will be exposed to novel content in health and healthcare. As a teacher, you will coach and support your peers in areas which you may have deep expertise. Together, you and your peers will experience an intense relationship-based learning opportunity.

We try our best to have a process that is rigorous and fair. We trust the qualitative and quantitative data we collect in the review process. Having every decision go through multiple people helps to ensure the process is thoughtful and thorough.