Students interested in applying to the Pharmacology PhD program will submit an application to the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS). There is no minimum GPA, however entering students have an average GPA of 3.5 (2.8-4). PIBS no longer requires the GRE. Applicants will need to submit a copy of their transcripts, a statement of purpose and personal statement.

When you apply you will need to select your top two department choices. The admissions committee in Pharmacology will review all applications from students who have selected Pharmacology as one of their choices. After the review, offers to visit and interview will be made by PIBS to selected applicants. After interviews, PIBS will send out final decisions. Students will be notified no later than March 1 of their status.

PIBS accepts applications from early September to the December 1 deadline every year. Applicants should apply the year before they enter graduate school.

PIBS no longer requires the GRE. If students do submit their score they will not be reviewed or factored into any admissions decisions. International applicants who have completed their entire Bachelors or Masters degree at an institution taught exclusive in English are exempt from the TOEFL exam.

Rackham Graduate School will require that students attest that their application essays are their own and not the work of others or generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Rackham recognizes the appropriate uses of GenAI tools for providing guidance and suggestions, and has therefore created a resource for prospective students outlining our guidance on the ethical use of GenAI in graduate school application materials.

Some applicants may be eligible for a waiver. Visit the Rackham Graduate School website for more information on fee waivers and grants. The University of Michigan is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance FreeApp. For more information and to request a graduate application fee waiver, please visit their website. Please note that in order to receive the Big Ten Academic Alliance FreeApp (formally known as the CIC FreeApp), you must submit a request to the Big Ten Academic Alliance well in advance of submitting your U-M application.

All students accepted by PIBS as are offered a funding guarantee until the completion of your program. This funding includes tuition, fees, health insurance and a living stipend. Students must remain in good standing for continued funding. PIBS will fund students for the first 10 months of their program. Once students have officially joined a lab they will be funded by their mentor, fellowship or a training grant. PIBS also offers incoming students moving stipend of $2,500.

For students accepted to the program, your tuition, fees, health and living stipend are covered.

Students must pass all required coursework, achieve candidacy after passing their preliminary examination, present their research yearly as a part of the student seminar series, establish and meet with their dissertation committee yearly, teach for one term, and write and defend your thesis.

The first two years will be split between courses and lab work. After achieving candidacy, students will spend most of their time working on their dissertation research in the lab. Expected time commitment depends on many factors, including research advisor's expectations, type of research, current project and progression. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to maintain a good work life balance.

At the beginning of the year, students will meet with faculty who they are interested in doing a rotation with. Students may rotate any PIBS faculty who is accepting students. Student will need to complete a minimum of 5 rotations during their first year prior to selecting their lab. The deadline to select a lab to join is July 1.

On average, students complete their PhD in Pharmacology in 5.2 years. (program statistics)

Please email [email protected].