PhD Admissions Requirements

It is the long-standing policy of Dartmouth College to actively support equality of opportunity for all persons regardless of race or ethnic background, and no student will be denied admission or be otherwise discriminated against because of race, color, gender, religion, age, national or ethnic origin. There is no quota for the number of international students we enroll each year. Education at Dartmouth thrives in a unique rural community of students and faculty who value differences and promote camaraderie and teamwork in order to learn from one another. The QBS Program strongly encourages applications from students of diverse backgrounds and cultures. The varied experience and interests they bring strengthen the Program and enriches the educational environment for all. A number of opportunities are also available for minority students through various programs and the office of the Director of Graduate Recruiting and Diversity in the Graduate Studies Office at Dartmouth College.

Admission into the PhD program is based on appraisal of each applicant's undergraduate academic record, letters of recommendation, and the personal statement of goals.

Doctor of Philosophy

Only students who intend to pursue a PhD degree full-time are accepted into the QBS PhD program. Admission is based on an appraisal of each applicant's undergraduate academic record, letters of recommendation, involvement in research or other activities which indicate a strong commitment to graduate study, and the personal statement of goals.

It is expected that all entering PhD students will have had coursework in all of the following.

  • 1 course in calculus
  • 1 course in statistics or equivalent experience
  • 1 course in programming or equivalent experience

Students with degrees in bioinformatics, biological sciences, computer sciences, engineering, epidemiology, mathematics, medical sciences, physical sciences, public health, statistics, and related areas such as anthropology and psychology are encouraged to apply. Applicants are encouraged to note any prior research experience relevant to the scientific programs being pursued in QBS laboratories. Such experience is particularly important for international applicants.

Test scores

GRE scores are optional for this 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.

Financial information

All QBS PhD students receive a Dartmouth fellowship that provides a full tuition scholarship, paid health insurance plan, and student stipend for each year they are in the program.

The student stipend for 2023-2024 is $40,000 annually. For student who have passed their qualifying exam, the stipend is $40,500 annually.

Stipends for future years will be set as part of the annual budgeting process. Stipends are contingent upon satisfactory performance in studies. QBS does not offer financial aid beyond the fellowship.

New PhD students should plan to have sufficient funds for travel and living expenses until their first full stipend check is issued on October 1.