Graduate Program Admissions FAQs

Materials should be submitted online at the Cornell University Graduate School

We rarely accept students for the spring term to our Ph.D. program, so applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for fall admission. We accept applications for the Masters of Engineering (M.Eng) program for both fall and spring admission. In both semesters, admissions is done on a rolling basis. For domestic students, it is difficult to consider an application submitted later than November 15 for spring admission and June 30 for fall admission. For international students, the additional paperwork associated with a visa means that it is difficult to consider an application submitted later than October 1 for spring admission and May 1 for fall admission. For more information on the early admission process for Cornell University undergraduates interested in the M.Eng. degree, please contact Belinda Whisman, 607-255-2573.

The official transcript is NOT needed unless you are admitted into one of our graduate programs. You are required to upload an unofficial transcript with your application. 

Yes. Transfer students must apply online through the Cornell University Graduate School.

There is no minimum GPA. We carefully consider your complete application including statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, past experience and outreach activities. Starting academic year 2019-2020, Cornell's graduate field of biomedical engineering will no longer require GRE scores from applicants, and will review all applications blinded for GRE scores.

It is a requirement of the graduate school that all of our international students meet each of the sections of the TOEFL requirements for admission: Writing: 20, Listening: 15, Reading: 20, and Speaking: 22.

For exemption of the TOEFL and other information please visit the Graduate School website.

Applications to the M.Eng. program are accepted on a rolling basis for both spring and fall admission. For domestic students, it is difficult to consider an application submitted later than November 1 for spring admission and June 30 for fall admission. For international students, the additional paperwork associated with a visa means that it is difficult to consider an application submitted later than October 1 for spring admission and May 1 for fall admission.

The application deadline for the Ph.D. programs is listed on the Graduate School's website.

No. Starting academic year 2019-2020, Cornell's graduate field of biomedical engineering will no longer require GRE scores from applicants, and will review all applications blinded for GRE scores.

Your official scores must be submitted before a decision can be made on your application. 

All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. International students demonstrate proficiency by submitting official IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam scores. The Graduate School does not accept Duolingo (DET) scores, Pearson PTE scores, or any other alternatives. An application cannot be considered for admission until Cornell receives official IELTS Academic or TOEFL scores. If your official IELTS Academic or TOEFL scores are not received, are no longer valid, or do not meet the minimum score requirements, we cannot issue a student visa document.

For more info, visit the Cornell University Graduate School page on this.

Please contact the BME Graduate Student Office at:

Cornell University
Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering
121A Weill Hall
Ithaca NY 14853-5201
t: 607 255-2573
f: 607 255-7330
e: biomedgrad@cornell.edu

You do not need to contact our faculty ahead of time since we do a holistic review process and do not direct admit into a lab.