Upcoming Webinar:
Tuesday, October 22, 2024, CSB PhD Booth 3-5pm MIT Virtual Graduate Fair Register here!
Past Webinars:
- Friday, November 17, 2023 1:30 -2:30 PM EST CSB Virtual Webinar.
Thank you so much to all who attended the webinars! Please review the recorded video and slides from our Webinar on November 17th HERE
How to Apply to the Computational & Systems Biology PhD Program
Applications are submitted online at Computational & Systems Biology (CSB) PhD Program . October 1 st through December 1 st
MIT Computational and Systems Biology Graduate Admissions Statement
March 26, 2020
In response to the challenges of teaching, learning, and assessing academic performance during the global COVID-19 pandemic, MIT has adopted the following principle: MIT’s admissions committees and offices for graduate and professional schools will take the significant disruptions of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their regular practice of performing individualized, holistic reviews of each applicant.
In particular, as we review applications now and in the future, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/No Record (or Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail) and other grading options during the unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruptions, whether those decisions were made by institutions or by individual students. We also expect that the individual experiences of applicants will richly inform applications and, as such, they will be considered with the entirety of a student’s record.
Ultimately, even in these challenging times, our goal remains to form graduate student cohorts that are collectively excellent and composed of outstanding individuals who will challenge and support one another.
Questions or concerns about this statement should be directed to [email protected]
Please note: You will be asked to attach a scanned (PDF) copy of your transcript(s) and (for international applicants), your IELTS or TOEFL exam document. These scanned documents are considered unofficial , but sufficient for review by the graduate committee. Please have these documents prepared before beginning the application. Email will be the primary method of contacting you, please do not change your email address once you have submitted your application as this will result in a record mismatch.
Application Deadline: December 1st . For fullest consideration, it is in your best interest to complete ALL parts of the application including attaching transcript(s), all evaluation letters, and the application fee, by or before the deadline of December 1st. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed. The scanned and attached unofficial copies of your transcript(s) and IELTS/IELTS scores can be used for review purposes, but official documents will be required before a positive admissions decision can be made. You can check the status of your application (complete or missing materials) online by logging into your application.
2025 Open House Interview Day Dates:
Open House #1 Thursday February 6, 2025
Open House #2 Thursday, February 13, 2025
- Three letters of recommendation (at least two must be academic recommendations if you are still in school). We require that all recommendations be submitted electronically, using this system. Use Evaluations and then Letter Status to ask for electronic recommendations and to check whether recommendations have arrived. You must e-mail your recommenders the instructions shown in Letter Status . You can check the status of your application (complete or missing materials) online by logging into your application. Students may have up to 6 letters of recommendation. Please Note: When a drop-down menu is provided for input fields, please use them as much as possible. Because your information needs to be transmitted to multiple databases, if an item is manually input instead of selected from the drop-down menu and it causes a mismatch, that can prevent the application form from being properly transmitted. For example, when indicating your major, if you do not see your major included in the drop-down menu, choose the closest major from the list provided. You can always provide information specific to your major in your personal statement.
- Academic Transcript : Only one official transcript from each school is required. If you are invited to interview, please have the Registrar’s Office of each college or university you have attended mail your official transcripts to: Computational & Systems Biology (CSB) PhD Program Building 68-120C Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted as official documents.
- The Subjects Taken Page is optional only if you have attached a PDF of your transcript. Attaching your transcript is strongly preferred for the completion of your application. If no transcript has been attached, this page must be filled in to complete your application and you must follow up with an official transcript sent to the address indicated on the Overview/Help page. Please complete the subjects taken in the following order: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Engineering/Other Sciences. All other sections are required. We generally do not review CVs as the information can be included in your online application.
The Computational and Systems Biology PhD program does not use the GRE test in our admission process.
Additional Requirements for International Students Only English language proficiency test scores are required of all applicants whose primary language is not English. Test scores must be from within the past two years. Registration information is available at IELTS , IELTS Indicator or TOEFL . The MIT code is 3514, there is no additional code for our interdepartmental program.
- IELTS or IELTS Indicator – Minimum score required: 7 or higher.
- TOEFL- Minimum score required: PBT: 600, CBT: 250, iBT: 100 or higher
English Proficiency Exam Waivers: Waivers are automatic in the online system for International students for:
- students who have received instruction in English in their primary and secondary schools
- Or students who have been in the United States for four years or longer
- Or those who have or will receive a degree from a US or international English-speaking institution are eligible for an automatic English proficiency exam waiver within the online system.
Submitting Adjunct Application Materials Scanned PDF transcripts and IELTS and TOEFL scores are considered unofficial documents but are sufficient for review purposes. Official documents are required before an admissions decision can be made. Please have your scores electronically transmitted to MIT Admissions and mail official copies of your transcript(s) to:
Computational & Systems Biology (CSB) PhD Program Building 68-120C Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
Please address questions about Computational & Systems Biology (CSB) and the application process to [email protected] . Please send technical questions about the application web site to [email protected] . You can find more general information about MIT graduate admissions here .
Admissions The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews all completed applications, and invitations to interview are generally sent early to mid-January. Two Open House/Interview Days are scheduled, usually mid-February to early March. Offers of admission are generally sent after the second Open House/Interview Day.
Financial Support Students admitted to the program are considered for full support for their graduate studies, independent of personal resources or citizenship. Financial support may take the form of a research assistantship, fellowship, or training grant. An appointment of this type includes full tuition, full health insurance, and a generous stipend/salary for living in the Cambridge area.
Students with Special Needs
The CSB Program encourages individuals with disabilities to apply to our program. Interested students may contact the MIT Student Disabilities Services office to learn about the many resources available on the MIT campus to support students with disabilities.
Privacy Policy MIT is committed to protecting the individual privacy of applicants and students by restricting the use of all collected information as specified by Institute policies. In accordance with these policies, the information in your application may be used by MIT officials only for appropriate administrative and research purposes.
This site uses cookies to maintain a session identifier while you are actively using the site, but does not use cookies for any other purpose.
The software we use to process credit card payments uses secure encryption technology (SSL) to reduce the possibility of theft, manipulation, and other alteration of information that you provide to us.
Any changes to our policy will be posted on this page. If you have questions or concerns about this policy, please send email to [email protected] .
MIT and the Computational and Systems Biology PhD Program are committed to the principle of equal opportunity for students with disabilities. Our objective is to ensure that qualified students with disabilities receive equal access to all of the Institute’s programs, activities, and services.
Q: When will applicants be notified of the status of their application?
A: All applications will be notified in mid-January on the status of their application.
Q: Can I obtain a Master’s Degree in your program?
A: No, the CSB Ph.D. program is strictly a Ph.D. program
Q. Can I take classes online?
A. No, all required courses must be taken in person.
Q. Do I need to contact MIT Faculty before applying?
A. No, it is not necessary to contact MIT faculty before applying to the CSB PhD Program
Q. Can I apply to multiple MIT departments/programs?
A. Yes, you may apply to more than one MIT Department or program. A fee is required for each application submitted
Q. Are students financially supported in the program?
A. Yes, all admitted students are fully supported ( stipend/ full tuition/full single health insurance). Students are fully supported as long as they continue to make satisfactory progress in the program.
Please also see our FAQ page
Do you have a question? Email [email protected]
Computational and Systems Biology
77 Massachusetts Avenue Building 68-230A Cambridge MA, 02139
617-324-4144 [email protected]
Website: Computational and Systems Biology
Application Opens: October 1
Deadline: December 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Fee: $90.00
Terms of Enrollment
Fall Term (September)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Standardized Tests
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Minimum score required: 7
- Electronic scores send to: MIT Graduate Admissions
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Minimum score required: 100 (iBT) 600 (PBT)
- Institute code: 3514
- Department code: 99
Waivers of IELTS/TOEFL may be available.
*IELTS Indicator Test also accepted.
Areas of Research
- Behavioral Genetics and Genomics
- Bioengineering and Neuroengineering
- Quantitative Imaging
- Biological Networks and Machine Learning
- Cancer Systems Biology
- Cellular Biophysics
- Chemical Biology and Metabolomics
- Epigenomics
- Evolutionary and Computational Biology
- Microbiology and Systems Ecology
- Single Cell Manipulations and Measurement
- Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology
- Precision Medicine and Medical Genomics
- Regulatory Genomics and Proteomics
- Stem Cell and Developmental Systems Biology
- Synthetic Biology and Biological Design
Financial Support
All CSB students are fully supported until they complete all the requirements of the PhD program. This support may come from sources such as a NIH T32 Training Grant; federally-sponsored fellowships from the NSF, DOD, DOD NDSEG, and DOE CSGF; and fellowships and awards from international organizations. Please see the CSB website for more information.
Application Requirements
- Online application
- Statement of objectives
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts
- English proficiency exam scores
Special Instructions
Applicants are not required to complete the Subjects Taken page. All other sections are required. We generally do not review CVs, as information can be included in your online application.
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