PhD Application Requirements

Application Process and Deadlines:

  • Primary applications are accepted annually for Fall enrollment only through SOPHAS.
  • For Admissions Deadlines, click here

Primary Application Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA or better. Admitted students usually have GPAs that are higher than 3.0.
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools. Transcripts for all degrees earned in schools outside the U.S. or Canada must be evaluated by an agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. See section on International Applicants for more information about this process. The requirement for evaluation of transcripts is waived for graduates of foreign medical schools with a current license to practice in the U.S.
  • Three references from persons who can address the applicant's capacity to complete a course of graduate study.
  • Updated resume or CV.
  • A Cover Letter is required for the primary application. It should be no more than 500 words and should be submitted with your application in SOPHAS (under Research Statement). 
    • Your Cover Letter should describe your research interest area(s). Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the available funding opportunities.
  • Completion of the online application.
  • A personal interview, if requested by the Research Mentor Matching committee, will be scheduled. We will begin scheduling interviews in February.

Note Regarding Quantitative Skills:

Applicants are encouraged to provide evidence of quantitative ability. Thus, while the GRE is not required for admission, submitted scores will be reviewed and taken into consideration by the admissions committee.  An applicant's background in quantitative courses and applied skills found in the CV/Resume portion of the application will also be considered in their review.

  • To submit GRE scores, please use our SOPHAS code: 0622.

For International Applicants:

  • International applicants who trained in non-English speaking schools and do not reside in an English speaking country are required to take either the TOEFL or IELTS exam. Students who fail to meet this requirement must enroll in a course at the Intensive English Center and achieve satisfactory grades before admission to graduate study. Students whose scores on either of these exams are more than two years old must retake the test. The expected minimum score is for the IELTS exam is 7, with no subsection below 6. The expected minimum score on the TOEFL Internet Based Test is 90.
  • Other English Proficiency tests may be acceptable and can be found in the Graduate School Bulletin. This link will also provide the English Proficiency Requirements for Admission by Stony Brook University.
  • International students are required to have a course-by-course educational credential evaluation completed by an agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org).  We require using World Education Services (http://www.wes.org).  This evaluation provides a U.S. course equivalent including semester hours earned, course content, and corresponding letter grade for all courses listed on the international applicant’s transcript.  This evaluation must be completed before the application can be considered. 
  • For more information about international students services, click SBU Visa and Immigration website.

HAMPCAS