A student who will have completed a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree before potential enrollment may apply for the doctoral program. The program does not require that a student first earn a master’s degree.
Applicants should have the following prerequisites:
- B.S. in Engineering, Science, or Math
- One year (two semesters or three quarters) of calculus-based physics
- Organic chemistry is preferred (one semester is suggested)
- Calculus through and including differential equations is also preferred (4 semesters total)
Questions? Please email GradAO@bme.gatech.edu
Ph.D. Program Brochure
Current Graduate Students
Paying for Graduate School
Interested in the M.D. / Ph.D. program?
Learn more and apply through the Emory School of Medicine.
Good question. The Coulter Department, an interdisciplinary department, participates in multiple Ph.D. degree programs, thereby allowing you plenty of options for your educational curriculum. The selections that appear on the online application are shown below in quotation marks. Each program is linked to a website where you should read more about degree requirements. Please review degree requirements for each prior to submitting and finalizing your application.
- "Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering"
This is the flagship Ph.D. program for the Coulter Department, in which students are jointly enrolled at Georgia Tech and Emory University and have full access at each institution. Upon completion of all degree requirements, students earn a degree with seals from both Georgia Tech and Emory University. - "Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (Joint Peking Campus Only)"
This is the Ph.D. program in which students are expected to spend six months to one year at Peking University in Beijing, China. Upon completion of all degree requirements, students earn a degree with seals from Georgia Tech, Emory University, and Peking University.
Georgia Tech Interdisciplinary Programs
The following are Georgia Tech only interdisciplinary programs in which the Coulter Department participates. These programs have different curricular requirements than the above programs and no affiliation with Emory University.
- Ph.D. Bioengineering (Biomedical Engineering)
- Ph.D. Bioinformatics (Biomedical Engineering)
- Ph.D. Computational Science and Engineering (Biomedical Engineering)
- Ph.D. Machine Learning (Biomedical Engineering)
- Ph.D. Robotics (Biomedical Engineering)
December 1 is the deadline to apply for fall admission. We do not accept Ph.D. applications for spring or summer terms.
- Statement of purpose (5000 characters)
- Names and email addresses for three references
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Official GRE scores (optional)
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (for non-native English speakers)
GRE scores are not required for acceptance into a Ph.D. program in which the Coulter Department participates as a home school. Our Admissions Committee looks at each applicant holistically.
- B.S. in Engineering, Science, or Math
- One year (two semesters or three quarters) of calculus-based physics
- Organic chemistry is recommended
- Calculus through and including differential equations is recommended (4 semesters total)
Program prerequisites provide necessary background to be successful in our graduate program. Applicants are still encouraged to apply if they have not yet completed prerequisites. Our Admissions Committee will conduct holistic reviews of each application submitted and will consider each applicant’s specific research interests.
No, the program does not require that applicants first earn a master's degree.
Yes, admission to a Ph.D. program in which the Coulter Department participates as a home school includes financial aid in the form of a graduate research assistantship (GRA) that includes an annual stipend. Conditions of the GRA require you to maintain full-time enrollment as well as satisfactory academic performance and research progress. Financial award details are included in admission decision letters.
With the exception of the M.D./Ph.D. Program, Georgia Tech’s Office of Graduate Studies manages all graduate program application submissions. Many questions regarding admissions and applications may be answered via their FAQ site: Georgia Tech Admission FAQs. Please contact them directly if you have a question regarding the status of your application, submission of scores or other documents, or have general application questions.
All applications must be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and are only reviewed after complete applications have been submitted through Georgia Tech’s Office of Graduate Studies or Emory University (M.D./Ph.D. only).
Yes, we are an inclusive Department that is excited about talent!
After reviewing applications, the Admissions Committee will extend invitations to strong candidates for an on-campus recruitment event in March. This event provides an excellent opportunity to visit with students, staff, and faculty and experience life in Atlanta. Please mark the date, as we host only one recruitment event each year.
Of course, students are welcome to visit campus at other times, but all faculty and resources rally around the recruitment weekend. We cannot guarantee the availability of students, staff, or faculty, and the Coulter Department does not offer any tours or information sessions specific to our graduate programs outside of our recruitment weekend. The Georgia Tech Graduate Studies Office offers information sessions and tours, which are Institute-focused.
Applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee between December and March, and those invited for interviews will be notified in writing. Admission decisions will be communicated as they are made available; therefore, inquiries about admission decisions will not receive responses. All applicants will be notified of a final decision.
Application fee waiver requests will be considered for applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with financial hardship. The decision regarding your fee waiver application will not impact your admission decision.
Please complete this online form to request an application fee waiver.