Policy on Admission to the Ph.D. Program with Advanced Standing

Issue Date: September 30, 2024
Supersedes: Not applicable
Last Review: September 30, 2024

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish eligibility criteria for Master of Science (MS) students in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBMS) to apply to the GSBMS Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program with advanced standing.

II. POLICY

GSBMS students who graduated from a GSBMS MS program, or those who are on track to complete all MS degree requirements by deadlines established for May graduation of the year they are planning to begin the PhD program, may apply to the PhD program with advanced standing, provided they have a secured commitment from a Principal Investigator (PI) at New York Medical College (NYMC) to supervise their doctoral research and provide financial support during the student’s enrollment in the doctoral program.

III. SCOPE

This policy applies to students in GSBMS MS degree programs who intend to pursue a PhD degree in the GSBMS with advanced standing.

IV. DEFINITIONS

GSBMS: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
MS: Master of Science Degree
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy Degree
PI: Principal Investigator
NYMC: New York Medical College

V. PROCEDURES

A. NYMC students may be eligible to enter a PhD program with advanced standing following graduation from a GSBMS MS program or the completion of one of the GSBMS MS programs by May of the year they are planning to begin the PhD program in accordance with the Policy on Graduation Requirements and Deadlines. Extensions to this deadline may be granted by the Dean for good cause on a case-by-case basis.

B. Applicants must submit a new electronic Advanced Standing PhD application via the TouroOne Online Application System by a deadline established by the GSBMS Office of Admissions.

C. In addition to a completed application, an applicant must also provide:

1. Two Personal Statements

2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume

3. Three academic and/or professional reference letters including:

a) one letter from a PI at NYMC indicating their intent to provide supervision of and financial support for the student’s doctoral research at the GSBMS. The PI must be a member of the NYMC Graduate Faculty with mentor status;

one letter from the student’s current MS program director; if the MS program director is also the prospective PI of the student, the letter should be provided by another faculty member who serves as a course director for one of the courses the student completed; and

b) one letter from an individual outside of NYMC (preferable) or from an individual at NYMC outside of the laboratory the applicant intends to join for doctoral research.

c) Official transcript(s) will be obtained by the Office of Admissions from the NYMC Registrar

5. Scores for standardized exam (i.e., GRE) are optional

D. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee admission to the PhD program. The decision is made by the PhD Admissions Committee following review of the application materials and the outcome of an interview with the applicant.

E. Credits earned in a GSBMS MS program may be used to meet PhD degree requirements, provided the ten-year limit on individual courses is not exceeded as indicated in the GSBMS Ten-Year Limit on Courses Policy. The requirements for the PhD degree must be completed within the timeframe specified in the GSBMS Ph.D. Program Timeframe to Completion Policy.

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE

This policy is effective immediately.

VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT

Executive Stakeholder: Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Oversight Office: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dean’s Office