Applying to the Bioengineering MSE Program

If you want to pursue an advanced bioengineering degree, the MSE program will prepare you for careers in industry, research and development, government and academia.  Some students also apply to medical school. The program requires 10 course units, and students may choose a thesis or non-thesis path to the degree.

How to Apply

All applications for the MSE program must be completed online. Visit our ApplyYourself page to create a login and account to begin the application process. You will receive a PIN and Password so that you can return to work on your application over several sessions before submission and check the status of your application at any time. Your confidential information is transmitted through a secure server.

When To Apply

Applications must be submitted by June 1 for Fall admission in the same year. Please note that the bioengineering department only matriculates students to the master's program in the Fall.

Prerequisite Requirements

Academic requirements for the degree are an undergraduate degree (BSE) in an engineering subject, or an undergraduate degree from an accredited natural science major, with completion of the following minimum coursework:

• One year of physics with calculus and laboratory.
• One course each in engineering mechanics, electrical circuits and electronics, and fluid mechanics or transport phenomena.
• One year each in biology and chemistry.  Organic chemistry is also recommended.
  

Standardized Test Requirements

The GRE: The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required for admission to both the master's and PhD graduate programs in bioengineering. Reporting codes for the GRE are:                

• University of Pennsylvania institution code: #2926
• Bioengineering department code: #1603

The TOEFL: If your native language is not English, you must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a score above 600 unless you have spent three years attending a college or university in the United States of America. The reporting code for the TOEFL is:

• SEAS institution code: #2926

You will find additional information on these tests from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Test score reporting should be completed only through ETS, as only official scores received from ETS will be considered.

Submatriculation for Current BE Undergraduates

To apply for submatriculation, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and must submit the master's Course Planning Guide (CPG) form and an informal transcript to the Bioengineering Graduate Group Chair preferably at the end of the sophomore year, but by no later than June 1 of the junior year.  Learn more...