Application and Admissions

Admission Requirements

Applicants will meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:

• D.V.M. or equivalent. Students with a B.A. or B.S. in biological sciences may be considered.
• A preferred performance level of 3.0 GPA (on a 4-point scale).
• Competitive GRE scores (preferred – not required)
• Clinical and laboratory experience (preferred – not required)
• International applicants: Minimum TOEFL score of 213 computer based, 550 paper-based and for internet based a minimum total score of 79, plus section scores of at least 21 on the writing section and 19 on the reading section. Requirement for the MELAB is a score of 80, or a 6.5 on the IELTS.

Application Process 

Applying to the VMED graduate program is a two part process. Students must apply to both the Graduate School and the VMED program. Students do not apply to individual faculty members; admission recommendations are made by the VMED program advisory committee and then forwarded to the Graduate School for finalization.                    

The Graduate School application process is as follows:

1. 1. Complete the Graduate School’s  online application form.
   2. $75 for US citizens; $95 for international students.
   3. Send the following documents directly to the Graduate School:
      • Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
      • GRE scores (Educational Testing Service codes for reporting GRE scores are 6874 – institution and 0622 - department)
      • TOEFL scores (international applicants only)

The Graduate School address is:

University of Minnesota Graduate School
Office of Admissions, 309 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0421

The VMED program application process is as follows:

1. 1. Write a personal statement outlining previous research experience, research interests, long and short term goals. Upload your personal statement to Statement #1 in the Applicant Statements section of the online application. We will download your statement from there.
   2. Submit a curriculum vitae or resume. Your CV or resume can be uploaded to the Graduate Program Supplementary Information section.
   3. Provide three letters of recommendation addressing your ability to pursue graduate study and previous research experience. These can be uploaded to the online application if you wish.
   4. Submit copies of the following documents:
        Transcripts
        GRE scores
        TOEFL scores (international applicants only)

The materials above may be sent via postal mail or electronically to:

Sarah Summerbell
CVM Graduate Programs
440 VMC
1365 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

e-mail address:  cvmmsphd@umn.edu
fax number:       612-626-2825

Application Deadlines

The application deadline for fall semester is January 1. This means that all application materials must be received by both the Graduate School and the VMED program prior to the deadline. 

A small number of students enroll spring semester as well. The application deadline for spring semester enrollment is October 1.

Financial Support

After the program advisory committee determines that the student meets eligibility requirements, a faculty advisor with the ability to fund the student is sought.  Students are only recommended for admission if a suitable faculty advisor with financial support for the student can be identified.  Students with financial support from their government are only recommended for admission if a suitable faculty advisor can be identified.

Students are encouraged to contact faculty in their area of research interest to facilitate identifying potential faculty advisors.

Questions?

Questions regarding the application process or the VMED graduate program in general can be directed to Sarah Summerbell, Graduate Programs Associate, at cvmmsphd@umn.edu.