PhD in Biomedical Engineering
The doctor of philosophy in biomedical engineering is conferred upon evidence of excellence in research resulting in a scholarly dissertation that is a contribution to knowledge. The application process is very competitive and candidates are encouraged to adhere to all priority deadlines.
- Fall semester admission: Ph.D. application priority deadline is December 15.
- Spring semester admission: Ph.D. application priority deadline is July 15. However, please note, typically only a few candidates are admitted for spring (if any).
Applications submitted after that deadline will be considered. However, for full consideration for fellowships, applications should be submitted by the deadline.
Complete the Graduate College’s online application and submit the application fee.
How to apply
Complete the Graduate College’s online application and submit the application fee:
- Review the graduate application instructions
- Review the application FAQ’s
- Direct all questions regarding the application process—including updating transcripts and other documents—to the Graduate College at https://graduate.asu.edu/about/contact.
- Send ALL documents to:
Regular Mail
Arizona State University
Graduate Admissions Services
PO Box 870112
Tempe, AZ 85287-0112
FedEx, DHL, UPS etc.
Graduate Admissions Services
Arizona State University
1151 S. Forest Avenue, #SSV112
Tempe, AZ 85287-0112
- Official transcript from each institution you have attended. Each must be in a sealed envelope from the institution.
- Official TOEFL scores (if applicable): ASU’s institution code is 4007.
- Official GRE Scores (optional): see below
SBHSE is committed to the ASU charter that states, “ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed;…” In striving to uphold this charter, we welcome applications to our Biomedical Engineering PhD and Master’s Programs from all qualified individuals, including populations that have historically been under-represented in science or academia.
Submission of GRE scores is optional for the Biomedical Engineering PhD and Master’s Program applications. Applications are evaluated using a holistic review process that considers the multiple, intersecting factors—academic, nonacademic, and contextual—that uniquely define each applicant. This process can include, but does not require, consideration of GRE scores. Therefore, an absence of GRE scores will not be viewed negatively during the application review process. Applicants who chose to have their scores considered as a supplement to their application should submit them to ASU’s Graduate Admission Services and indicate in their personal statement how the scores supplement their application.
Personal statement
Your personal statement should be a one page statement highlighting your interests, background in biomedical engineering, career goals and other factors that the admissions committee would find valuable when reviewing your application. You will upload your statement as part of the on-line application.
Letters of recommendation
Letters should be from faculty at institutions you have attended and/or others who can speak to your ability to succeed in a graduate program. You will supply information for three recommenders as part of the online application. Your recommenders will receive an email which will then instruct them to complete an online form.
PhD Applicants – 3 recommendations are required.
Financial assistance
Teaching or Research Assistant/Associate (TA/RA) positions are typically reserved for Ph.D. students. Applicants who submit their complete applications by the priority deadline will also be considered for fellowships.
Visit the tuition and paying for college page for financial assistance resources.
Prerequisites and Core Competencies
The graduate committee reviews an applicant’s transcript, undergraduate degree and research/internship background when determining any prerequisites and core competencies that may be needed. Typically, applicants who have not received a prior degree in biomedical engineering will need to build a solid foundation of engineering and biomedical concepts prior to applying for the program.
The list of required courses includes (Prerequisites and Core Competencies):
- Physiology
- Calculus I
- Calculus II
- Calculus III
- Differential Equations
- General Chemistry
- General Biology
- Physics with Calculus I
- Physics with Calculus II
Four of the following six topics must all be completed:
- Thermodynamics or Physical Chemistry: Variety of courses available
- Fluid Mechanics or Bioengineering Transport Phenomenon: Variety of courses available
- Engineering Mechanics
- Electrical Networks: Circuits I
- Signals and Systems
- Biomaterials
Applicants may finalize their application while completing the final two courses from the above lists.
Curriculum and program information
Accreditation
The Biomedical Engineering, Ph.D. program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. Student enrollment and graduation data are available at http://engineering.asu.edu/enrollment.