FAQs

Begin your application by making an account and or logging in to an existing account in WashU’s application management system here.

No, it is not necessary to contact faculty in advance. Acceptance by a particular mentor is not required to be accepted to the program.

The application deadline for the full-time master’s programs and certificates are Jan. 31. The deadline for the part-time master’s program is July 15.  There is no priority deadline.

I2DB students come from a variety of backgrounds with undergraduate degrees in biology, research and clinical medicine, public health, computer science, data science and analytics, statistics, engineering, and related disciplines.

Yes. As a nondegree-seeking student, you are eligible to enroll in up to six credit hours of I2DB coursework before applying to any I2DB program.
I2DB also offers certificate programs in Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics and
Data Science.

Yes, our programs are STEM-approved.

No, we do not require the GRE.

An unofficial transcript is sufficient for application review, but official transcripts will need to be sent in prior to matriculation.

There is no specific minimum GPA requirement. Admission to any I2DB program is based on the strength of the entire application during the review process.

The minimum TOEFL score is 100 and the minimum IELTS score is 7.

No, only the TOEFL and IELTS tests are accepted.

The best people to write your letters of recommendation are people that you’ve worked under in the field, research mentors, advisors, and professors with whom you have close relationships. Make sure to ask well in advance to give them plenty of time to write the letter of recommendation.

Yes, but the letters of recommendation must be received by the application deadline, or before the end of any grace period provided. Note that it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure we receive all letters of recommendation by the deadlines.

Log into your application account, select the application, and then select “Open Application.” Follow the Recommendations page link, choose your recommender’s name, and select “Send Reminder.”

Log into your application account, select the application, and then select “Open Application” Follow the Recommendations page link, choose the recommender’s name you wish to remove, and select “Exclude” Then you will be able to add your
new recommender.

Submit your application and communicate with program staff that you will not be able to get all three required letters by the deadline. A grace period may be granted.

No. We do not have set formatting requirements for the statement of purpose document. Usually, personal statements are one or two-pages.

This is your opportunity to explain why you are a good candidate for the program. Tell us how the program could help you reach your future career goals or give you more exposure to research that will help you narrow down your interests.Share a little about your background, research or health topics of interest, and why you are passionate about studying them.

Clearly state your future career goals.

Describe how the I2DB program will help you reach your career goals.

Include any relevant experiences that will contribute to your success in this
graduate program.

If necessary, explain any major areas of weakness within your application and how you have (or plan to) overcome any particular obstacles.

If you have not completed the prerequisites at the time you are applying, tell us your plan for completing the prerequisites in your Statement of Purpose and Objectives. This can be a sentence describing where you’ve enrolled (e.g. university, community college, Coursera) and when the course will be complete. 

Admission to I2DB programs is competitive. Depending on the applicant pool, it is in an applicant’s best interest to have completed (or be in the process of completing) prerequisites at the time they submit their application for review to the committee. If an applicant has completed all of the other course prerequisites and only has one course in progress remaining, the committee usually will have an idea how the student will do based on their previous coursework. 

You will receive an email that states your admissions portal has an update.

All applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships for our masters programs. Additionally, part-time employment opportunities like research assistantships are readily available for students. All eligible students (United States citizens and permanent residents) receive financial aid. International scholars are not eligible for federal loan programs. However, alternative loan programs may be available from various sources. For information, eligibility requirements, and to apply, please contact the WashU Medicine Office of Student Financial Planning at MedFinAid@wustl.edu or finaid.med.wustl.edu.

The Graduate Center at WashU maintains a funding database of opportunities that we suggest to get you started: https://gradcenter.wustl.edu/resources/tgc-funding-database/

There is no separate application process. All admitted applicants will be considered for scholarships and notified of any awarded to them in their admission decision letter.

You will find out in mid-March after your admissions decision.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the tuition will be $1,560.

The projected degree tuition for the 36-credit-hour MS program is approximately $54,900.

The projected tuition for the 42 credit hour programs are approximately $65,520.

The full-time tuition charge includes a Metro U-Pass for public transportation around St. Louis and athletic complex access.

All full–time WashU Med I2DB students are required to have WashU Student Health Insurance. The student health fee will be $5,225 (includes FL25 and SP26).  An opt-out option is now available for domestic full-time applicants. This will require students to provide proof of insurance before they are able to submit the opt-out request. By opting out, you will agree to pay a student access fee of $1300 per semester, which will cover all the basic requirements for any student attending classes on the med school campus. International students are not eligible for the opt-out.

We assess fee waiver eligibility upon submission of an application. Waivers are granted for a variety of volunteer service-based organizations, scholar programs, and academic pipeline programs (a full list is provided on the application). Fee waivers are also available for current WashU students, alumni, and employees.

If you think you may qualify for a fee waiver based on one or more of these criteria, please begin an application, and email I2DB-Education@wustl.edu.