Applications are in two stages: a primary application through the SOPHAS (the centralized application service for public health) website. and a secondary, supplemental application to VCU Graduate Admissions (the secondary application requires a $70 fee to VCU). Both applications must be received for an applicant to be considered by the Admissions Committee. Once an applicant submits the SOPHAS application, VCU will send instructions on how to complete the secondary supplemental application.

Admission requirements are available in the VCU Graduate Bulletin.

Applications typically open in SOPHAS by late August of each year. Pay attention to the application deadlines listed in SOPHAS for each degree program. Applications must be complete (contain all required elements, including official transcripts and letters of recommendation) to be considered for admission.

The deadline for applications is the same for both domestic and international applications and is listed in SOPHAS for each program.

Consult the application portal in SOPHAS for the current year's application deadline.

Incomplete applications will not be considered and will receive a status of "rejected." SOPHAS offers applicants the option to continue an incomplete application to the next academic year. Applications that are submitted by the deadline but have outstanding elements (e.g., waiting for official transcripts or letters of recommendation) will be monitored by the program and reviewed once the application is complete, depending on timing of application completion and available space in the program for the academic year.

Due to the sequencing of courses in our graduate curricula, we admit students only in the fall.

Our admissions committee begins meeting in February, and decisions are sent out on a rolling basis beginning in March. Timing for an admissions decision depends upon the submission of the application and how long it takes for all elements to be complete (e.g., receipt of official transcripts or letters of recommendation). No decision can be made until a complete application is received. Applications are screened and grouped for committee review as they become complete; the admissions committee typically meets several times during the spring semester.

Competitive PhD applicants will be invited to a first-round phone or video interview with the Graduate Programs Director and potential advisor. Following the first-round interview, competitive students would then be invited to an on-campus (or zoom) second round interview with other faculty members and current PhD students. Admissions offers would follow a successful interview process.

There is only one level of acceptance, which is full acceptance. Full acceptance is unconditional acceptance and is the highest level of acceptance granted by the University.

For the PhD in Epidemiology Program: Students should respond with a decision by the deadline indicated in their offer of admission letter, usually 30 days from receipt of the formal offer of admission.

Yes, you may submit your application without materials such as transcripts or letters of recommendation, but follow the instructions on the SOPHAS website. Submitting the application online starts the admissions process, but you should be sure to follow up as soon as possible with the rest of the application materials, since the process cannot be finalized and your application cannot be fully reviewed until we receive your application fees and all required supporting documents.

All supporting documents are submitted through SOPHAS, according to directions provided on the SOPHAS website. Do not send application materials to any VCU address unless specifically directed to so by a program administrator

For the Epidemiology PhD program, scores at the 75th percentile or higher are preferred. The admissions committee will review each application as a whole, taking all elements into consideration, but applicants with scores at or above the 75th percentile will be more competitive.

Yes, GRE test scores are only accepted within five years of the test date.

Submit GRE scores through SOPHAS using the VCU SOPHAS GRE code: 7543.

Since lectures, laboratory instructions, and written and oral examinations are conducted in English, students must be proficient in the language. Guidelines for international students are available.