Standardized Test Scores

The GRE is no longer required by any of the graduate school Ph.D. programs. If you are applying to the Neuroscience or Quantitative & Computational Biosciences programs, GRE scores are optional, but not required.

If you decide to submit GRE scores when applying to the Neuroscience or Quantitative & Computational Biosciences programs, unofficial scores can be included in your application and must have been taken within the last five years. Baylor College of Medicine’s Institutional Code is 6052.

All graduate school applicants, regardless of citizenship status, must demonstrate proficiency in English to be offered admission. To fulfill this requirement, applicants must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• Baccalaureate degree (or higher) earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or at an institution at which English is the medium of instruction in the following countries.
• Baccalaureate degree (or higher) from a country where official language is not English, but the mode of instruction and examination of the institution was in English. Applicants will need to have the institution’s registrar or administrative official submit a letter containing the university’s seal or stamp stating the mode of instruction was in English.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) toefl.org The minimum TOEFL score required is 90 for the internet-based test (ibt) OR 610 on the TOEFL ITP Plus. Scores cannot be older than two years. Official TOEFL scores must be received electronically directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS). Baylor College of Medicine’s Institutional Code is 6052.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) ielts.org The minimum IELTS score required is an overall score of a 6.5. Scores cannot be older than two years old. The testing agency should mail the official results directly to the Baylor College of Medicine at the following: Baylor College of Medicine Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences One Baylor Plaza, MS Code:BCM215 Houston, TX 77030

For admissions purposes, the graduate school will use the highest test score from one test date. Applicants can enter their unofficial scores directly on the application for initial program review. However, all students offered admission must supply official scores in order to receive an offer letter.

Each academic program conducts an independent and holistic review of their candidates. They may require a higher minimum TOEFL or IELTS score where previous experience and demands of the discipline warrant it.

There are no exceptions to these requirements. Applicants are encouraged to re-take one of the exams above to meet the minimum requirements.