Applications are submitted through Vanderbilt University’s Graduate School admission portal. The application can be found under the “Biomedical and Biological Sciences” area of study:  The program is listed as “Epidemiology".

The Epidemiology PhD program application deadline is December 15. Apply today!

We do not require GRE scores. You may choose to include it if it helps demonstrate a skill that isn’t captured elsewhere in your application, but it is optional and will not be used when evaluating candidates.

Our program will accept scores from TOEFL, IELTS, and the Duolingo English exams.

Minimum Acceptable Score 
We use a holistic approach to reviewing applications for admission. The desired minimum English language proficiency exam scores are provided below. However, we consider the score in conjunction with an applicant's writing and communication skills as assessed through the interview process, should an applicant receive an invitation.

• TOEFL iBT (internet- based test) 89
•  IELTS 7.0
• Tuolingo English Exam 130

TOEFL and IELTS
The official TOEFL or IELTS scores should be submitted to Vanderbilt University at this address:

Center for Data Management
Vanderbilt University (Institution Code 1871)
PMB 407833
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN
37240-7833

Contact ETS with questions about the TOEFL here. To contact IELTS email ielts@ieltsintl.org.

School Code for TOEFL and IELTS: 1871

Duolingo English Test
Once you receive certified test results, you can send your results to Vanderbilt University by following these steps:

• Log in to englishtest.duolingo.com with the email address you used to take the test.
• Click on "My Tests" in the menu on the left side of the screen.
• Scroll down to your certified test result and click "Share Score."
• Select whether you are applying to a university, a secondary school, or another type of institution.
• Start typing "Vanderbilt University" to search for it, and select  using the checkbox.

More information about the Duolingo English Test can be found here.

No school code is required. You will be asked to provide our school’s name: “Vanderbilt University” in the request. If Vanderbilt is indicated as a recipient of the Duolingo English Test, the results are received and posted to your application two days after taking the test.

The Epidemiology PhD program follows the English language proficiency waiver policy of the Graduate School shared below.

English Proficiency Waiver Policy

International applicants are exempt from submitting English-proficiency scores under the following circumstances:

• You hold a degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate) from Vanderbilt University or are currently enrolled in a Vanderbilt degree program.

• You hold a bachelor’s degree completed in its entirety in the United States or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in a qualifying Anglophone country (as defined below). The bachelor’s degree should be earned at a regionally accredited university located in the United States, or at an officially recognized university in another country where English is both the language of instruction and the only officially recognized language of the country. The entire program needs to have been completed in the qualifying country. Dual-degree holders who completed just part of their degree in the U.S. or other qualifying country, and students who have transferred credits from a non-Anglophone country, do not qualify for this waiver.

• You have completed a master’s or doctoral degree from a country in which English is both the language of instruction and the only official language. The degree needs to have already been completed at the time you submit your Vanderbilt application. Applicants who have not yet completed a qualifying master’s or doctoral program at the time they apply will still need to submit English-proficiency scores.

• Your native language is English. This applies to native English speakers from countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec), where English is both the only official language of the country and the language of instruction.

• The language of instruction for the entirety of your bachelor’s degree was English in country that has multiple official languages, including English. You will be required to submit proof that English is the official language of instruction at your institution.

  • Acceptable documentation must be one of the following:

    • Official or attested letter from the undergraduate college, university Registrar, or Controller of Examinations office.

    • Unofficial transcripts, attested mark sheets or degree statements, are also accepted if English is stated as the medium of instruction.

• Your academic program may not override these policies, but they may choose to require an exam if you are not required to by the Graduate School.

The Graduate School at Vanderbilt does not waive the English-proficiency requirement based on any other consideration such as work experience, ESL enrollment, amount of time spent in the U.S., etc. It also cannot be waived based on programs taught in English in non-Anglophone countries.

Any waivers will be reviewed only once the application is submitted and all supported documents are completed, including the application fee if required.

To be considered for an application fee waiver, an applicant must have a complete application submitted. A completed application includes the submission of required English language proficiency exams or waiver. You can submit a completed application without payment of the application fee while waiting for a fee waiver decision. Only those applications with an application fee waiver or payment will be considered for admission.

Once your application is complete, the Graduate School automatically applies a fee waiver for candidates meeting their qualifications. In addition, the program offers a limited amount of fee waivers annually. Applicants must have a completed application submitted by December 1 to be considered.

Those who qualify to request a program fee waiver should send a justification (1-2 paragraphs) for the fee waiver by email to epi.phd@vanderbilt.edu by December 1. Fee waivers will not be considered for requests and completed applications submitted after December 1.

Our program is fully funded. All accepted students receive full support – including tuition, insurance, and fees – in addition to an annual stipend (2024-2025 rate is $38,000). There is not a separate application process for funding. Funding is granted to all accepted students, both domestic and international.

Applicants are encouraged to identify 1-3 faculty members as potential mentors in their statement of purpose. However, contacting individual faculty members is not required prior to the application deadline. Those interested can explore our faculty database to discover potential mentors with a similar research interest and reach out to explore potential mentoring opportunities.

No, you can submit your application with unofficial transcripts and self-reported test scores, if applicable. You will need to provide an official version before registering for courses if made an offfer or admission.

The program typically invites 8-12 candidates to a virtual interview visit in mid to late February.

Unfortunately, we are not able to meet the volume of these requests. If you’ve read about the program and meet the admission requirements, please apply.

Yes, we are a STEM designated program. International students are eligible to apply for he OPT visa extension upon graduation.

We typically receive 100-150 completed applications and accept 5-7 students each year.