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Biomedical Engineering, PhD
Biomedical Engineering
Doctoral Programs
In-Person
The Ph.D. program in Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University offers a rigorous, research-intensive education that combines advanced coursework with cutting-edge research at the forefront.
Doctoral candidates engage closely with world-renowned faculty and clinicians to cultivate interdisciplinary expertise essential for impactful careers in academia, industry, and clinical research. The program provides exceptional access to premier research hospitals and clinical collaborators through Columbia University Irving Medical Center, while also offering the distinctive advantage of pursuing graduate studies in the dynamic and resource-rich environment of New York City.
Applicants who have an MS or equivalent are welcome to apply directly to a doctoral degree program.
Additionally, the department offers an MS-leading-to-PhD track for applicants who have not yet completed their master’s degree, and a combined MD/PhD program in conjunction with Columbia University School of Physicians and Surgeons.
All applicants are expected to have earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering or other science. Students who earned their bachelor’s degree in a country where English is not the dominant language will be required to take the TOFEL. Please refer to the School of Engineering and Applied Science's Graduate Admissions website for full application details.
PhD Info Session
*Prior registration is required to join this info session
Financial Aid
Students admitted to the graduate program are eligible for merit-based financial aid. Research assistantships are provided to all students admitted into the doctoral program, and they provide a yearly stipend of approximately $41,520 (as of 2020) along with tuition waiver. However, all graduate students (and applicants) are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding and fellowships. Contact our graduate chair, Professor Lance Kam, for information.
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Doctoral Admissions
Applicants who already have a Master of Science degree or equivalent may apply directly to the doctoral degree program. All applicants are expected to have earned the bachelor’s degree in engineering or in a cognate scientific program.
Applications for admission with financial aid are due in December for the fall semester in the next academic year. All applications must be submitted by mid-February for the fall semester and by the beginning of October for the spring semester. Final decisions for fall admissions will be sent out the week of April 15.
Requirements
Please refer to the School of Engineering and Applied Science's Graduate Admissions website for full application details.
The Engineering School does not admit students holding the BS degree directly to doctoral studies; admission is offered either to the MS program or to the MS program/doctoral track. Admissions standards for the latter category are generally higher than for the former.
Applicants holding an appropriate MS degree from another institution may apply directly to the doctoral program. The Department of Biomedical Engineering also admits students into the 4-2 program, which provides the opportunity for students holding a bachelor’s degree from certain physical sciences to receive the MS degree after two years of study at Columbia.
Graduate Fellowships
All graduate students are strongly encouraged to apply for individual fellowships, such as those awarded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense. Students in our department have been highly successful in obtaining these awards and some (but not all) opportunities are listed below. Once admitted, our graduate fellowship advisor, Professor Lance Kam can provide more information on applying for external fellowships.
Do not hesitate to contact individual faculty advisors to discuss application support.- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans (For recent recipients of U.S. permanent residency status of citizenship)
- Fulbright Programs for Foreign Students
- Fulbright Programs for U.S. Students
- Further resources
Eligible master’s students from underrepresented minorities can apply for GEM Fellowships.
Every year, we elect several of our most outstanding new applicants to receive a Presidential Fellowship from the Office of the Dean of Engineering. This prestigious award covers stipend and full tuition for graduate studies within the Department for a minimum of four years. -
MS leading to PhD Program
The MS leading to PhD program provides an opportunity for bright students who have not yet received a Master's degree to apply to PhD studies at Columbia Biomedical Engineering. Once accepted, students will complete their MS degree requirements in conjunction with their PhD research with a faculty advisor in the lab.
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Doctoral Committee and Thesis
Each student is expected to submit a research proposal and present it to a thesis committee that consists of at least three faculty members.
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Doctoral Qualifying Examination
The Biomedical Engineering doctoral qualifying exam is an important evaluation of a student’s mastery of broad, coursework-based knowledge and their ability to analyze, synthesize, present, and discuss contemporary concepts in a specific area of research.