The Tufts MS in Biomedical Sciences (MBS) is a full-time, on-campus special master's program in Boston that helps students strengthen their academic credentials before applying to medical, dental, or other health sciences schools. Choose a one-year or two-year track.
| Length | Commitment | Format | Entry Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
1 or 2 YEARS | FULL-TIME | ON-CAMPUS | FALL |
The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine is a full-time special master's program built for students preparing to apply to medical (MD), osteopathic (DO), or dental (DMD) school. Students take graduate-level science coursework alongside the faculty who teach in the Tufts MD program, and complete the degree in one or two years.
Based in downtown Boston, the program sits on the Tufts Health Sciences Campus alongside the Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Public Health, and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Students complete an intensive biomedical sciences curriculum that mirrors a portion of the first year of medical school at Tufts, work one-on-one with a pre-professional advisor on MCAT and DAT preparation and the professional school application, and build clinical experience across Boston’s medical community.
As a Tufts MBS student, you will build a strong academic foundation through an intensive biomedical sciences curriculum that mirrors a portion of the first year of medical school at Tufts. It is designed to prepare you for the rigors of professional school. The required biomedical science master's coursework covers foundational and clinical disciplines, including Microbiology, Cell Biology, Medical Histology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Clinical Medicine, Physiology, Nutrition, Human Anatomy, Medical Genetics, Pharmacology, and Basic Human Pathology.
The MBS program offers a linkage to medical school that few special master's programs match. Qualified MBS students are guaranteed an interview for the Tufts MD program, and 60% of MBS students interview at Tufts University School of Medicine, compared with 10% of the general applicant pool. A separate pathway provides access to a DMD interview at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
We work hard to ensure that the Tufts MBS program fully prepares you for your first year in medical or dental school.
For this reason, MBS special master’s program courses are taught by award-winning faculty from the Tufts University Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, the same faculty who teach in the MD and DMD programs. They are active researchers, physicians, and public health practitioners.
Acceptance into medical or dental school isn’t easy, but the Tufts master’s in biomedical sciences program is here to support you every step of the way. Faculty are accessible and ready to help you succeed. Every MBS student is paired with an experienced pre-professional advisor who works with them on academics, MCAT or DAT preparation, and the professional school application itself, from personal statement through interviews.
The MBS program is intentionally collaborative. Courses are not graded on a curve, and students are not assigned a class rank, so classmates are not competing against each other for a fixed number of high grades. The MD interview linkage works the same way. Every qualified student is guaranteed an interview if they choose to apply, which means one student's success does not come at another's expense.
The Tufts Health Sciences Campus sits in downtown Boston, alongside the Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Public Health, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Tufts Medical Center. MBS students take classes steps from a working academic medical center. Boston is one of the densest medical communities in the world, and that proximity turns into access: clinical exposure through the student-run Sharewood Project, community health work through TuftsCARES and Tufts Civic Impact, and a professional network in place before you apply to medical or dental school.
Combine your classroom learning with clinical experiences and opportunities to give back to the communities where students work and live:
There is no one mold for what success is. Boston provides innumerable opportunities to volunteer, research, and get clinical exposure in ways that are meaningful to you. Enjoy the path you choose, there will be a chorus of voices cheering you on along the way.
MBS graduates are accepted to some of the nation’s top medical and dental schools and are prepared to excel as they pursue a career in medicine.
Recent MBS graduates have gone on to MD programs including Tufts University School of Medicine, Georgetown University, UMass Chan Medical School, and Drexel University College of Medicine; DO programs including Kansas City University and Rocky Vista University; and DMD programs at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
MBS students who want to build a wider range of skills and pursue a more diverse range of careers can add a Master of Public Health through the MBS/MPH dual degree.
The combination pairs basic science training with population health, preparing graduates for roles in pharmaceuticals and biotech, medical research, and health organizations, and giving medical and dental school applicants a distinct profile.
An MBS degree is a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. At Tufts, the MBS is a special master's program designed for students preparing to apply to medical, dental, or other health professional schools. Students complete it in one or two years.
A special master's program is a graduate degree that allows pre-health students to take medical school-level coursework and build a graduate GPA before applying to medical school. A pre-med post-baccalaureate program usually covers undergraduate prerequisites instead. An SMP program is for students who already meet the prerequisites and want to build a stronger academic record.
The Tufts MBS takes one or two years, full-time and on campus, with fall entry only. The one-year track suits students ready to apply in the next cycle. The two-year track gives more time to build a graduate record and prepare for the MCAT or DAT.
Qualified MBS students are guaranteed an interview for the Tufts University School of Medicine MD program if they choose to apply. Sixty percent of MBS students interview at Tufts, compared with 10% of the general applicant pool. A separate pathway offers a DMD interview at Tufts School of Dental Medicine. More information about qualifications are available here.
Every student is paired with a pre-professional advisor who supports academics, MCAT or DAT preparation, and the application process. Courses are not graded on a curve and students are not ranked, so the cohort is collaborative rather than competitive. Faculty who teach in the MD and DMD programs are accessible for office hours.
Ready to take the next step? Learn about the admissions process, application requirements, tuition, and financial aid for the Tufts MBS program.
MBS prerequisites match the entry requirements for the Tufts MD and DMD programs. Both tracks require seven prerequisite courses, all with a lab, completed within ten years of your intended start date:
General Biology I and II, and General (Inorganic) Chemistry I and II. Upper-level biology is considered in place of general biology.
Organic Chemistry I and II, plus one Physics course. Minimum grade of C- in every prerequisite.
Organic Chemistry I, plus Physics I and II. Minimum grade of C in every prerequisite.
Additional admissions requirements include:
Information sessions and webinars provide an overview of the MBS program, degree prerequisites, and the admissions process and requirements. Students can also sign up for one-on-one office hours appointments.
Hear from MBS students and graduates about how the program shaped their path into medicine and dentistry.
Early application increases your chance of admission; applications open October 1 and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
To learn more and receive emails about the Tufts MBS program, fill out our form. If you have any questions, please contact us at mbs.admissions@tufts.edu—we are always happy to hear from you!
Information sessions and webinars provide an overview of the MBS program, degree prerequisites, and the admissions process and requirements. Students can also sign up for one-on-one office hours appointments.