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FAQs

FAQ - GRADUATE APPLICANTS

Students apply directly to SSoE via the SSoE ( ApplyYourself ) application. Please refer to the following SSoE page for more information on Graduate Admissions.

Yes.

Please have your official GRE scores sent to the institutional code 2927 (for the University of Pittsburgh) and to the departmental code 1603 (for Biomedical/Medical Engineering). Please refer to the following SSoE page for more information on GREs .

Please note that the PDF version of your Examinee Score Report page from the ETS website can serve as your 'unofficial' GRE scores for review purposes. The official scores may take some time to be received and posted by the SSoE administration. So, be sure to include/send your 'unofficial' scores with your application to prevent any delays in reviewing your application that may arise from the processing of your official scores.

No.

The program utilizes a modified rolling admissions process. In order to allow adequate time for administrative processing, all applications for international students applying from outside the USA should be received by no later than March 15, and all applications for students applying from within the USA should be received by no later than May 15.

Currently, MS-MPE is the only Professional (Non-Thesis) Master's program track available. However, if you are interested in studying a secondary program track, all you need to do is to indicate that on your application.

Although you can apply to more than one program (i.e., outside of Bioengineering), other than the MBA/MS Joint Degree program, application materials are not transferable from one program to another. So, you must submit all required documents for each program application submitted. For example, if you request the same person to write your letter of recommendations for each program you are applying for, they must submit a different letter for each program.

Minimum two letters of recommendation is required for applications. Recommendations should be provided from professors, employers, supervisors or others who are able to comment on your professional and educational goals and potential (no friends or relatives please).

A third letter of recommendation may be accepted but is not necessary.

Yes. We need to have official transcripts from the University of Pittsburgh Registrar's Office as well as transcripts from all universities attended.

If you are a Pitt student, you can request a copy of these official transcripts from the Registrar's Office in Thackeray Hall. They can be mailed or hand delivered to 151 Benedum Hall, 3700 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 but must be received in a sealed envelope to be considered official.

If you have taken any classes at a community college or other university, copies of these transcripts are required. As a Pitt student, you are able to secure copies of these transcripts from the Office of Student Records in 140 Thackeray Hall. These copies can be mailed or hand delivered to 151 Benedum Hall, 3700 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.

The BioE Admissions Office is happy to help you! For further information, contact MSMPE@pitt.edu.

FAQ - INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Please refer to the following SSoE page for more information on International Graduate Admissions . TOEFL or IELTS may not be applicable, only if

the applicant is a citizen of a country whose official language is English.
the applicant has completed a degree at a regionally accredited institution in the US.
the applicant is not a citizen of a country whose official language is English but has completed a degree program at an institution outside of the US where the language of instruction is English and where the official national language of the country in which the institution is located is English.
Please note that if you are a US Citizen but have received a degree from a country where English is not the official language you will be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores - even if the program curriculum was taught in English.

A minimum score on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 80 on the iBT (internet-based test) or 550 on the PBT (paper-based test) is required. Scores must be submitted electronically via ETS to institution code 2927. Visit www.ets.org for more information.

A minimum of Band 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required. Score reports must be mailed directly by the test provider to SSoE Office of Admissions, 151 Benedum Hall, 3700 O'Hara St, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.Visit www.ielts.org for more information.

Please note that the PDF version of your Examinee Score Report page from the ETS website can serve as your 'unofficial' TOEFL scores for review purposes. The official scores may take some time to be received and posted by the SSoE administration. So, be sure to include/send your 'unofficial' scores with your application to prevent any delays in reviewing your application that may arise from the processing of your official scores.

If you have earned a degree from a college or university outside of the United States you might be required to have your academic credentials evaluated by an approved agency and submit a course by course academic credential evaluation. A final transcript or diploma showing completion of the undergraduate degree must be submitted prior to starting the program.

International applicants are not required to submit an evaluation for degrees earned in the United States.

Visit and Tours

By car ... from the East: Cars traveling from the east via the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) should take Exit 57 to I-376 West. From I-376 (the "Parkway East") take the "University of Pittsburgh/Oakland/Route 885 North" exit (Exit 3B) onto Bates Street. Stay on Bates until you reach Mckee Pl., approximately four-tenths of a mile. Turn left onto Mckee Place and continue until Mckee meets Forbes Ave. Take a right on Forbes Ave. and travel until Forbes Ave. meets Oakland Ave. Turn left onto Oakland Ave. and continue though the next stop light onto De Soto St. At the first stop light on De Soto St., take a right onto O'Hara St. Benedum Hall will be on your right.

... from the West: Cars traveling from the west via the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) should take Exit 28 (Cranberry) and follow I-79 South to I-279 South. Follow I-279 to the "Veteran's Bridge" exit, then exit onto I-579 South. Proceed on I-579 to the "Oakland/Monroeville" exit, and then exit onto the Boulevard of the Allies. Continue on the Boulevard of the Allies for about 1 mile until to see the "Forbes Avenue" exit on your right. Take the "Forbes Avenue" exit and travel until Forbes Ave. meets Oakland Ave. Turn left onto Oakland Ave. and continue though the next stop light onto De Soto St. At the first stop light on De Soto St., take a right onto O'Hara St. Benedum Hall will be on your right.

... from the North: Take I-79 South to I-279 South. (You exit to the left off I-79.) Follow I-279 until the "Veteran's Bridge" exit onto I-579 South. Proceed on I-579 to the "Oakland/Monroeville" exit onto the Boulevard of the Allies. Continue on the Boulevard of the Allies for about 1 mile until to see the "Forbes Avenue" exit on your right. Take the "Forbes Avenue" exit and travel until Forbes Ave. meets Oakland Ave. Turn left onto Oakland Ave. and continue though the next stop light onto De Soto St. At the first stop light on De Soto St., take a right onto O'Hara St. Benedum Hall will be on your right.

... from the South, including Pittsburgh International Airport: Follow I-79 North to the exit for I-279 North. Take I-279 through the Fort Pitt Tunnels and across the bridge to the I-376 Monroeville Exit (first exit on the right). Follow I-376 to the "Forbes Avenue-Oakland" exit. Take the "Forbes Avenue-Oakland" exit and travel until Forbes Ave. meets Oakland Ave. Turn left onto Oakland Ave. and continue though the next stop light onto De Soto St. At the first stop light on De Soto St., take a right onto O'Hara St. Benedum Hall will be on your right.

The following information is available at Pitt's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Prospective undergraduate students can take a campus walking tour guided by one of our Pitt Pathfinders (currently enrolled students). The tour will show you campus, a residence hall room, a dining facility, give you a student’s view of campus life, and so much more. Tours are typically offered Monday-Friday every hour on the hour from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Your tour will leave from the lobby of Alumni Hall and will last between 60-90 minutes. 

Tours depart despite the weather conditions so please be prepared. Your Pathfinder will stay indoors as much as possible in extreme conditions, but the Heart of Campus tour requires walking between buildings. If there is a lightning strike within 3 miles of campus, tours will not depart. Should a storm begin while you are on tour, your Pathfinder will guide you to the safest location which may include quickly returning to Alumni Hall. Don’t forget your comfortable walking shoes!

Make your reservation today!

Prospective graduate students may tour campus with the Trailblazers, graduate student tour guides. If you are a graduate student interested in a tour, please contact gradtours@pitt.edu.