Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about the Program

Where can I find the details about the program?

Please review other parts of this website. The official description is in Explore Degrees. The complete listing of all BMI courses is in Explore Courses; search for "BIOMEDIN".

What is the best way to see if my interests align with the program?

Read through the listing of faculty research projects, then recent publications from research labs of interest. Try searching in PubMed.

What is the difference between Stanford's program and other biomedical informatics programs?

Our program is particularly strong in methods development, drawing heavily on quantitative and computational approaches. Many other programs are more applied in nature.

How do BMI graduate students pick a lab and faculty research supervisor?

Students do rotations the first year in labs chosen through mutual agreement by the student and the faculty member.

How long does it take to get a degree?

PhD: 4-7 years, current average is 5.5 years
Academic MS: 2-3 years
Professional MS: 2-5 years

What kind of jobs do Stanford BMI graduates get?

Please look at our alumni pages here.

Questions about Applying

Should I apply to the Stanford BMI program?

Only you know enough about your circumstances to make this decision. We encourage all applicants to consider their personal and career goals, their background and abilities, financial constraints, and reasonable alternatives, before applying.

How do I apply?

Review our website to see if it is a good fit with your goals. The specifics depend on the degree program to which you are applying. You can find instructions for each degree under Prospective Students.

When can I apply? What is the application deadline?

Applications to the PhD program are accepted from mid-September to the beginning of December for admission the following Autumn quarter. For details of timing for the other degree programs, see their respective webpages.

I missed the deadline. Can I apply late (or early) to the PhD program?

No. We do not accept applications to the PhD program out of the normal cycle, as it causes problems both for admissions process which is coordinated with the other Biosciences programs, and for arranging funding.

Does Stanford BMI offer conditional admission?

No.

Is my application good enough?

We are unable to answer that question for specific applicants. The BMI admissions committee considers many factors, including grades, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, the personal statement, prior research experience, life circumstances, and fit with our program. The decision is based on a composite of these elements in the context of all the applications we receive each cycle. Please note that there is no minimum GRE score, nor do we accept candidates based solely on grade point average, GRE, or MCAT scores. There have been candidates with perfect GRE scores who were not admitted because of the balance of other factors. You should also note that competition for admission to our program, especially for the PhD, is very competitive, so it is to your advantage to make sure your application is as strong as you can make it in all of the listed dimensions.

Stanford requires a TOEFL score (if needed) of greater than or equal to 100. If your score is below 100 and you are accepted, then you will have to retake that exam to achieve a score above the threshold. See here.

How many people apply?

Application is quite competitive. Here are some numbers from a recent application cycle:

PhD: 135 applied, 7 admitted, 6 accepted.
Academic MS: 15 applied, 3 admitted, 2 accepted.

Is it okay if some of my application materials arrive late?

For test scores, if you can self-report before the deadline, then we can confirm with the official report later.

Outside of that, we strongly recommend against late applications, including letters of recommendation. We start reviewing applications immediately after the deadline closes. Incomplete applications will be reviewed, but incomplete applications are unlikely to be as strong as the complete ones, placing you at considerable disadvantage in an already very competitive application process.

What is the status of my application?

We realize that the application process is anxiety provoking, and it is natural to be concerned about the possibility of information missing from your application, or wondering where you are in the application ranking. After the formal deadline, if something has changed, you may email the updated information to us. We ask, though, that you refrain from contacting us to request routine updates about your status. If your application is deficient in some way, we will contact you. However, you will have to wait for interview invitations and the final admission decisions on schedule.

I'm interested in several departments in Stanford. Which one should I apply to?

Stanford Biosciences is very interdisciplinary, so you can pick research supervisors from many different departments. You should pick a home department on the basis of your background and fit with a particular curriculum and career plans. In general, we recommend applicants apply to BMI if they are interested in methods and to other departments, such as Genetics or Cancer Biology, if they are primarily interested in those research domains.

What is "Biosciences"?

Stanford Biosciences represents the majority of departments and programs in the School of Medicine that grant PhD degrees. You apply through Biosciences to up to 3 different programs at the same time.

What is the difference between Bioengineering and Biomedical Informatics?

The biomedical computation track in Bioengineering is different from BMI in that it focuses mostly on physical simulation of molecular or physiological systems, and less on informatics issues of data and knowledge representation, storage, retrieval, mining, analysis and machine learning. The BMI program offers more opportunities for deeper training in computer science and statistics. Both programs allow students to work with virtually any faculty member, so students should choose a graduate program based on the aspects of the curricula that appeal to them. Also, Bioengineering is not part of Biosciences.

Can I apply to both BMI and Genetics at the same time?

Yes, you can apply to up to any three programs or departments in Biosciences in the same year.

Can I apply to both BMI and Bioengineering (or BMI and Computer Science) PhD programs at the same time?

No. You are limited to one PhD application per academic year. Applications to Biomedical Informatics go through the central Biosciences Program in the School of Medicine, which allows the applicant to select up to three Biosciences Programs for simultaneous consideration. Unfortunately, Biosciences does not include Bioengineering, Computer Science or other engineering fields. Therefore, it is important to decide which program best fits your background and career goals.

Note that if you are accepted into another program, you can take BMI courses, or even get a PhD minor or MS from BMI.

I have been out of school for a while. Do you accept older students?

Yes. Many of our students have gotten other degrees, worked in industry or in clinical practice, or had other experiences before entering the BMI program.

I was not admitted. Can I meet with someone to tell me why?

While we understand that situation is disappointing, we are not able to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Can I visit BMI? Can I meet with BMI faculty before applying? Can I request an interview?

Due to time constraints we are not able to accomodate requests to meet one-on-one with our faculty prior to submitting an application, give individual tours, or meet to provide guidance about applications and career planning.

We only interview a limited number of applicants. Top candidates for our PhD program will be invited out to visit us during the application process. We will contact you in mid-January if we want you to come for an interview.

We invite those who are near Stanford and who are interested in what our students are working on to attend our research colloquium and journal club (Tuesday, 12:15-1:15, in MSOB room X215 during the regular academic year).

I have contacted one of the BMI faculty about admissions? Will I receive a response?

Our faculty members receive multiple messages and requests for information. Unfortunately, they are unable to respond to all such contacts. Please email specific questions about the admissions process to the Student Services Officer.

Should I contact faculty to get a research assistantship before I am admitted?

Generally, we only admit students whose funding is pre-arranged by the BMI program or outside scholarship. (There is more information about funding below.) As part of the admission process, we will bring your application to the attention of the appropriate faculty. We prefer you do not contact the faculty directly. Please work through the BMI Program office.

If I have not completed all the prerequisites, will I still be considered?

Perhaps, but we need to see clear evidence that you have the skills needed to succeed in the program. In most cases, it is better to delay application until those prerequisites have been acquired. If that is not possible, then please clearly indicate what your plan is to complete them.

Do I have to complete the prerequisites at Stanford?

No. We accept prerequisite courses from any accredited college or university, including evening courses from a community college.

Can I meet the prerequisites through the free on-line classes (Coursera, Udacity, etc)?

The on-line courses are still quite new, so it is going to take a bit of time to arrive at a stable, consistent viewpoint within our admissions committee on this matter. For now, although graded versions are preferred, the on-line versions may suffice if taking them allows you to show commitment to learning in this area, and especially for MDs in training as their time is very tightly constrained. The goal of these prerequisites is as much to make sure that you would succeed if admitted as it is to rank admission candidates. Having a completion certificate for the on-line courses that you submit with your application would be a good idea.

I took the prerequisites years ago. Is that okay?

That depends. If you have been working in a position that uses the knowledge and skills from those prerequisites, then that may suffice. If you have been out of school for a while, it is highly advised that you refresh your knowledge. The point of the prerequisites is to make sure that you can do the work required by our program without excessive delay if admitted.

If I come to BMI, can I work with a particular professor?

If you have already identified a possible research mentor, then you are one step ahead. However, be advised that even if admitted, there is no guarantee that that professor would have space in their lab, have appropriate funding, or be a good interpersonal match with you. In general, we recommend that you apply to Stanford BMI because your interests align well with our overall program philosophy and emphasis.

Does BMI have an undergraduate degree?

No, but there is a coterminal MS program in BMI for current Stanford undergraduates, and Stanford offers an undergraduate biocomputation major.

Do I need to have an MS degree before I apply for the PhD?

No.

Why do you offer three different MS degrees?

Each serves different purposes and has somewhat different application procedures.

The academic research MS program is primarily for post-doctoral trainees, either MDs or PhDs in an allied area, who are seeking research training in biomedical informatics.
The professional (Honors Cooperative Program, distance learning) MS is designed for part-time study from off-campus, typically for working professionals.
The coterminal program is for Stanford undergraduates who through additional study can complete the BMI MS.

Is there a part-time MS degree program?

Yes, see the HCP MS program details.

How do I get answers to questions about the distance education MS?

Please address questions about fees, video availability, company membership, and employment requirements to SCPD at: scpd-customerservice@stanford.edu.

For questions about the MS currculum and degree requirements, please review the relevant section of the BMI website, and address remaining questions to us via email.

Do I have to come to campus for any part of the distance education programs?

No, it's all on-line.

Is there a full-time distance education Masters option?

No.

Is there a part-time PhD degree program? Is there a distance learning PhD?

No. Our faculty believe that the PhD must be obtained on-campus, with full-time involvement.

We do have distance learning (part-time) programs (MS and certificate), whose coursework can be used towards a PhD if the student is later accepted into the PhD program. The student doing the PhD must meet all the residential requirements (BMI and Stanford) for that degree, which means at least several years on campus. The distance learning courses can be used ahead of time to get a start on some of the coursework. The BMI program doesn't require taking any course for a second time on entering the PhD program, but Stanford requires a minimum number of additional units that must be completed as part of the degree. Up to 18 credit units earned for a graduate certificate may count toward a degree program if you apply and are accepted.

Can I transfer credit?

Transferring credit means using credit for courses taken outside of Stanford to reduce the number of credits taken at Stanford.

For the MS degree: No. The University residency requirement is 45 units taken at Stanford for an MS. No transfer credits are allowed to count towards the masters residency requirement.

For the PhD degree: Yes. The PhD requires 135 units, of which 90 units must be taken at Stanford during the PhD program. Thus, you could transfer credits taken elsewhere or taken at Stanford in another graduate program. More information is here.

Note that for both degrees, up to 18 units of academic credit from relevant Certificate or Non-degree option programs taken at Stanford may be used upon acceptance into the degree program.

Are the GRE's required?

Stanford University requires that GRE scores for graduate degree programs (unless you already have a PhD, or are applying to the coterminal program). Physicians or currently enrolled medical students may submit MCAT scores in lieu of the GRE scores. Others, including pre-medical students or physicians who did not take the MCAT, will have to submit GRE scores.

Do I have to take the TOEFL?

TOEFL scores are required by Stanford University of all applicants whose first language is not English. However, individuals who have completed a U.S. bachelor's degree or a two-year master's degree (or the equivalent of either) at a recognized institution where all instruction is in English are not required to submit TOEFL scores. This exception does not apply if the courses were completed in a country where English is spoken, but not all courses were provided in English.

Being a citizen of the United States does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking the TOEFL. If the applicant's first language is not English, the applicant must meet the exception above or submit TOEFL scores.

Can international students apply to the program?

Yes. If you have very strong credentials then you should consider applying to the program. See below for important information about funding, and our page for International Applicants.

Questions from Clinicians

I have an MD. Can I apply?

Yes. We encourage applications from MDs, or others with doctoral-level professional degrees (DO, DDS, PhD in nursing).

MDs (or equivalent) may be interested in the two-year research MS, which could be completed before, after, or (with planning) during residency training or subspecialty fellowship. This degree is full-time (half-time classes, half-time research). Both this and the PhD are rather rigorous and you would have to make sure you had the computer science and mathematics (calculus, probability, statistics, and linear algebra) coursework in order to apply. You should contact us as early as possible, especially if you are interleaving the BMI training with further medical residency or fellowship training.

Note that NLM training grant funds can only support US citizens or permanent residents. Others will need to consider alternative sources of funding.

I am a clinician. Which degree is most appropriate?

We recommend you review thoroughly the descriptions of our programs, consider your personal and financial constraints, and professional goals, then address remaining questions to our email contact address.

Can I have a clinical practice while at BMI?

Yes, with limitations. The NLM training grant limits outside work activities (including clinical time) to eight hours per week. Given the demands on your time in our program, it is unlikely that you would be able to devote more eight hours per week to clinical work, regardless of the NLM restrictions.

How do I find clinical work while in the program?

Some residency and fellowship training programs provide funded time to pursue research, and this might align with time spent in graduate training at BMI.

If you have already completed residency or fellowship training, then you will need to make your own arrangments for clinical appointments. These could be at Stanford, the VA, Kaiser, or elsewhere.

Questions about Funding

What financial aid does BMI provide?

The NLM training grant is available to PhD students and post-doctoral MS students who are US citizens or permanent residents. International students will need to find other sources of support; they may be eligible for the Stanford Graduate Fellowship. We do not provide financial support for students enrolled for the MS degree who do not already have a PhD, MD, or or similar doctoral degree.

We do not provide financial support for the HCP (distance learning) MS program. Such students are generally not eligible for student loans or scholarships. Most loan programs require full-time commitment to courses. Most scholarships or fellowships have a required research component. However, some employers offer educational benefits to their employees. Please contact the Human Resources Department within your organization.

For the Coterminal Masters program, students are eligible for undergraduate financial aid until the 12th quarter of their studies.

Do you provide funding for international students?

The NLM training grant only supports US citizens and permanent residents. International students should consider:

Stanford Graduate Fellowship. These are very competitive. See their website for more details.
Research assistantships with members of our participating faculty. If you can find faculty who are closely aligned with your research interests, you are welcome to contact them about possible RA support. It generally works best if you wait until mid-January when we have determined which students are likely to be invited to interview at Stanford.
External fellowships. These generally take some time to arrange, so plan ahead.The Fulbright program funds international scholars. The Fogarty International Center maintains a Directory of Funding Opportunities.
We have very occasionally had self-funded MS students. You may need to show funds equivalent to one year of tuition and living expenses to meet the visa requirements.

Questions about BMI

How much does it cost to live close to Stanford University or in the SF Bay Area? How can I find out about my housing options?

The SF Bay Area is expensive. Many graduate students choose to live on campus for convenience and to minimize costs. Please refer to Stanford's Housing Office for more information.

Can I switch from one MS program to another?

The answer is "yes, with restrictions". Please contact us to discuss your particular circumstances. It is possible to change from the Academic MS to the HCP MS, or vice versa. Students in the coterminal program must fulfill the requirements for the undergraduate degree and it is unlikely that a switch would be possible. Note that several excellent Professional MS students have later been admitted to the PhD program.

Questions about Clinical Informatics

Is there a degree program in clinical informatics?

If you are interested in research on clinical informatics, then you should consider applying to the BMI graduate program. We also offer a distance education certificate in Clinical Research Informatics.

If you are interested in the new clinical informatics fellowship, an MD-only subspecialty fellowship with the goal of board certification, then send us email and we will put you in contact with the appropriate Stanford staff. The program is still being designed, so some details are not yet known. We anticipate that there will be shared faculty and coursework.