Passionate about the place where science, engineering, and medicine intersect? Earn a PhD grounded in quantitative science or engineering, combined with extensive training in biomedical sciences and clinical practice.
Learn how to apply below, or explore the program further.
Who should apply?
HST thrives when it reflects the diversity of the community it serves. We encourage students from groups historically underrepresented in STEMM, students with non-traditional academic backgrounds, and students from academic institutions that have not previously sent many students to Harvard and MIT to apply.
What should I know before I apply?
The HST PhD Admissions Committee values new perspectives, welcoming students from a wide range of disciplines. Successful applicants will have a strong undergraduate background in an engineering discipline or a physical/quantitative science (for example, chemistry, physics, computer science, computational neuroscience).
In response to the challenges of teaching, learning, and assessing academic performance during the global COVID-19 pandemic, HST will take the significant disruptions of the outbreak in 2020 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials as part of our regular practice of performing individualized, holistic reviews of each applicant.
In particular, as we review applications now and in the future, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/No Record (or Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail) and other grading options during the unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruptions, whether those decisions were made by institutions or by individual students. In addition, we no longer accept GRE scores. We expect that the individual experiences of applicants will richly inform applications and, as such, they will be considered with the entirety of a student’s record.
Ultimately, our goal remains to form graduate student cohorts that are collectively excellent and composed of outstanding individuals who will challenge and support one another.
How can I strengthen my application?
In addition to outstanding undergraduate performance, we look for students who have demonstrated a sustained interest in applications of engineering and physical/quantitative science to biology or medicine through classes, research, or work experience.
Are standardized tests required?
International applicants should review additional requirements below. We do not accept GRE or MCAT scores.
What about funding?
Essentially all MEMP students in good academic standing receive full financial support - consisting of stipend, tuition, and health insurance - for the duration of their graduate studies. This support comes from a combination of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.
How do I apply?
All prospective MEMP PhD candidates must apply to HST via MIT. MEMP PhD students enrolled through MIT can work in the labs of any Harvard or MIT faculty member, including those at the many local institutions affiliated with Harvard and with MIT.
Candidates who are simultaneously applying for graduate study with one of our partner units at Harvard - the Harvard Biophysics Graduate Program or the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) – may optionally follow these instructions to apply to participate in the MEMP curriculum in conjunction with their PhD at Harvard. This path is appropriate if you have a particular interest in the curriculum of Harvard's interdepartmental Biophysics Program, or if you’re interested in joining the lab of a Harvard SEAS faculty member to work on a SEAS-based project.