Admissions Requirements

View admissions requirements.

Applicants to this program must have an advanced health professional degree (MD, DDS, DVM, DO, DNP, DC, PharmD, PhD etc.) or any other advanced doctoral degree in a clinical biomedical field from an accredited college or university. Applicants with advanced nursing degrees (MS or MSN) will also be considered.

Applicants must have completed or be at an advanced stage of their clinical practice training and be affiliated with someone at the University of Minnesota who can provide advising and access to a clinical project. The admissions committee considers exceptions on an individual basis.

Admissions committees in each program review applicants according to their personal statements, background and experience, record of academic achievement, demonstrated academic potential, letters of recommendation, compatibility of interests with program faculty, and other factors.

All applicants are required to have an identified faculty mentor at the University of Minnesota who will provide them with a research project and guide their research prior to applying for admission. Applicants who are part of a University of Minnesota fellowship or residency program, should in addition, discuss their application with their fellowship or residency director. One of the three required recommendation letters must be from the mentor at the University of Minnesota willing to provide mentorship and access to a research project. Applicants who do not have mentorship may be better served applying for the online Clinical Research Certificate program which does not require a pre-arranged mentor.

Fellows and residents: one of the three required recommendation letters should be from the clinical director of training supporting the applicant’s potential as a clinical researcher.