MBS Admission & Tuition

UPDATED 4/9/2021

Due to COVID-19, Tufts staff continue to work remotely. We will continue to update this page as information becomes available. Further, we understand that you, your friends and loved-ones may be dealing with unprecedented challenges at the moment – we can work with you and make a plan for your Tufts application.

The frequency with which we are checking the US mail for applicants’ credentials has been greatly minimized since we are not on campus. Please append unofficial transcripts to your application or send them electronically to med-phpd@tufts.edu.

• Knowing that many applicants may receive pass/fail grades for the fall 2020 semester, we will work with you and be flexible on that; though we prefer grades, if you have a choice, as we approach the spring 2021 semester. Similarly, please be aware that for future applications to medical schools, some schools will prefer a letter grade if a student has that option over pass/fail.

• For GRE test takers, the secure option for you to take the test at home is available. Please see this link to assist you in getting the latest updates, https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/at-home/.

• For MCAT or DAT test takers, we invite you to visit this link, https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/taking-mcat-exam/covid-19-and-mcat-exam/ or https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test/test-preparation, which have the most up to date information on exam administrations, respectively. If you do not feel fully prepared to take the MCAT (or DAT, the MBS Admissions Committee strongly suggests that applicants consider submitting a practice MCAT (or DAT) score (as noted under “Official Test Scores”) or the GRE, if you feel well-prepared to take this exam.

  • If you have concerns that you may not be able to provide a test score this 2021 cycle, please email us at mbs.admissions@tufts.edu so we can understand your circumstances.
  • Applicants should not delay applying simply because a test score is not yet available.

• We also encourage you to register your recommenders within your application so they can append their letters directly to your application; if sending committee letters or Interfolio letters (or additional materials), please have them sent to med-phpd@tufts.edu. As much as you can do electronically (and not via the US mail) is to your benefit.

• MBS Online Application
• Application Fee: $70 (paid directly through the online application)

In a short essay, please help the Admissions Committee understand the experiences, inspirations, and challenges that have shaped you as a person and how obtaining the MS in Biomedical Sciences at Tufts will further your career goals. Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, and approximately 500 words or fewer.

You have three options for fulfilling the recommendation requirement to the MBS application:

1. Each of your three recommenders submit their own recommendations.
2. Request that your pre-health advising office submit a committee letter or a packet of letters on your behalf. (Committee Letters must be the full letters from which the composite was made, NOT a letter formed from excerpts.)
3. Submit three letters through Interfolio or another document sharing service.

Detailed instructions for submitting your letters of recommendation are included in the online application. Please also note:

• Three letters of recommendation are required.
• The Admissions Committee prefers to see academic letters.
• We do accept letters written for medical/dental school, they do not need to be written specifically for the MBS Program.
  • We are not able to retrieve letters sent to Tufts University School of Medicine for an MD application or to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine for an application to one of their programs. You may use the same letters, but they must be sent to our office directly using the process above.
• Letters should mention the relationship of the applicant to the recommender so they can be put into the proper context.
• Recommendation letters may be submitted electronically through our secure website or by mail.
  • If you elect to provide three separate letters of recommendation (not a Committee Letter or an Interfolio packet) you will be asked to provide the name and contact information of your recommender. We will then send an email to the people you identify with a link to our secure website to upload your letter of recommendation. We encourage you to contact your recommenders in advance so they are aware this request will be forthcoming.
  • If you are submitting your recommendation letters via Interfolio we prefer to receive them electronically at med-phpd@tufts.edu.
  • If mailed, letters should be in a sealed envelope with the author’s signature across the seal and sent to our address at the bottom of this page.

A test score is required to apply to the MBS program. The score must be received by our office no later than July 1st. Please plan to take your exam and have the scores sent to us with enough time to make our deadline. Extensions are not provided.

The MBS Program will accept a practice MCAT (or DAT), official MCAT (or DAT), or official GRE score. All applications are reviewed holistically, and the Admissions Committee encourages students to only take official tests if they feel well-prepared. If applicants have not previously taken the MCAT or DAT, submitting a practice exam is strongly encouraged, and may ultimately be to a student’s benefit so that they do not have a sub-optimal score included on future medical school applications. Applicants who have already taken the MCAT, DAT or GRE should submit their official score(s). For practice MCATs the Admissions Committee prefers the low-cost scored practice exams available through AMCAS:  https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/online-practice-mcat-exam/.

If you are applying with an official test score, please follow the instructions below: 

• Copies of ALL undergraduate and graduate transcripts (e.g., EMT courses, study abroad, summer courses, post-bacc) are required for review.
• If you have any courses that are in progress or being completed in a future term, especially pre-requisites, please provide documentation of this (e.g., a transcript that shows courses in progress).
• If you received two degrees from the same institution that are on the same transcript, you will need to list the institution twice, one for each degree. Upload the transcript with one degree and for the other, upload a blank document. If you leave either transcript section empty, your application will be left as incomplete.
• International students must also submit an OFFICIAL WES Evaluation of coursework, sent directly from the evaluation agency.
• We accept both unofficial and official transcripts. Generally, your application will be processed sooner if you upload unofficial transcripts; this is also our preference. However, please note that
  • If you decide to matriculate, you will be required to provide a final official transcript from the institution which awarded you your bachelor's degree, with a date of undergraduate degree conferral. Students without a final official transcript on file by the end of business on orientation day will not be allowed to enroll in the program.

If you’re uploading an unofficial transcript to your application:

• Copy/scan/screenshot your transcripts for each college/university attended.
• Upload all pages of your transcript(s) and one example of the back page to provide us with your university’s transcript key. This can be found on the back of your official transcript or on your registrar’s website.
• PDF files are preferred but additional formats are accepted (e.g., .doc, .jpg,.tiff).
• Scanned documents must be clearly legible and on standard US 8.5” x 11” paper. Be sure no text is cut off when scanned

If you are sending official transcripts from your college or university:

• Don’t upload anything in the transcripts section if you’re sending an official transcript. The system will inaccurately count this as your transcript, and review of your application will be delayed.
• Official transcripts may be mailed via the US Mail to our address at the bottom of this page, or electronically to med-phpd@tufts.edu.
• Transcripts are only considered official if they are sent directly from the registrar's office of your institution to our office in a sealed envelope. If you scan your official transcript to your application it becomes unofficial.

Tufts University School of Medicine uses computer-based testing for many of its courses. Exams are conducted using Examplify. Therefore, each student is required to have a laptop. Please note that Examplify cannot be used on virtual operating systems such as Microsoft's Virtual Machine, Parallels, VMware, VMware Fusion or any other virtual environments, unless approved by the institution.

View Examplify requirements

International applicants are eligible to apply to Tufts University School of Medicine, but should be advised that we admit very few and give strong preference to US citizens and permanent residents. We also give strong preference to applicants who have (or will have by the time of matriculation) completed their undergraduate work at a US college or university. The international students admitted to Tufts School of Medicine are usually students who have earned Bachelor's degrees in the United States.

“International applicants” are citizens of any foreign country (including Canada) who do not hold a United States permanent resident visa (green card). Permanent resident visa status is equivalent to US citizenship for the purposes of our admission process and US federal student loan programs.

Please note the following:

1. Given the current US shortage of physicians and the uneven advanced training opportunities for non-citizen/non-green card holders, Tufts School of Medicine and the applicant must have a compelling reason for the applicant to study here. This might include a student’s interest in a program offered here that may not be offered elsewhere.
2. Accepted international students must be prepared to absorb the high cost of US medical education, and have a full understanding that international students are not qualified for traditional US educational funding including loans and scholarships.
3. Accepted international students should have a full understanding that they may have limited options in terms of post-graduate training, both geographically and in within specialties. Because of this, students who are not likely to be able to compete for a full range of career training opportunities and programs beyond medical school will only be considered for admission under unique or compelling circumstances.

• The MBS Application opens in September and the Admissions Committee begins reviewing in mid-January and makes decisions on a rolling basis thereafter.
• You can submit your application before your recommendations, test scores, and transcripts have been received.
• After you have submitted your application, you will be able to login to our application management portal to view your checklist of required items.
• You are responsible for monitoring the status of your application and ensuring that all required materials are received by the deadline.
• Our office will send you an email when your application is complete; until you receive this email, you should assume your application is not complete.
• Some of our document processing is manual and delays can occur around holidays and very busy processing times. It can take several days for credentials to be uploaded to an application, and we appreciate your patience. If a document you submitted has not been added to your application portal after 5-7 business days, we welcome your inquiry about its status at mbs.admissions@tufts.edu.
• Beginning in January, students will receive an admissions decision approximately four to eight weeks from the date that the application is complete. When a decision has been rendered, you will receive an email to notify you to check your application management portal. Note that we do not mail any physical admissions decisions.

Admitted students will have three weeks to reply to our offer. To accept the seat, students must complete the Candidate Reply Form and pay the non-refundable $500 deposit. Extensions are not available.

All supporting application credentials noted above should be sent to:

Tufts University School of Medicine
Public Health & Professional Degree Programs
Attn: Director of Admissions, Emily C. Keily
136 Harrison Avenue Suite 142
Boston, MA 02111

or emailed to med-phpd@tufts.edu.

Students enrolled in the MBS program will be billed by the Public Health and Professional Degree (PHPD) programs for two semesters (fall and spring) at the tuition rate listed above for their first year in the program. Most students remain enrolled in the second year working on their thesis, and are billed the continuation fee only for each semester they remain in the program until their thesis is completed. At current year tuition rates, this means the total tuition cost of the MBS program is $54,554.*

The Public Health and Professional Degree Programs primarily provide financial assistance in the form of federal loans and work-study awards. There are a very limited number of merit-need based scholarships available each year to meritorious students.

We strongly encourage you to submit a financial aid application as early in the application process as possible to allow adequate time for the Office of Financial Aid to process your application. Do not wait until you have submitted your application or receive an admissions decision to apply for aid, as this will delay your personal financial aid information.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information