On December 16, 2025 President Trump issued an expanded travel ban, restricting entry of nationals from 20 additional countries, including the Palestinian Authority, and limiting exceptions included in the prior ban.
Due to these new restrictions, prospective students who are citizens of one of the listed countries and who are currently residing outside of the U.S., are now barred from entering the U.S. to study and attend classes. As a result, KU Medical Center is no longer able to offer admission to these individuals, and they should not apply at this time.
If a prospective student from one of the listed countries is currently residing in the U.S., they may apply for admission.
Any questions related to this travel entry ban can be directed to kconnelly@kumc.edu.
The IGPBS provides the first-year core curriculum for Ph.D. graduate students interested in becoming biomedical researchers. The core curriculum consists of courses in Proteins and Metabolism, Molecular Genetics, Cell Structure, and Cell Communication and focuses heavily on critical evaluation of published literature. Two additional courses - Introduction to Research Ethics and Biographics - and basic science department interaction days, complete the fall semester. The students are introduced to potential mentors looking for students through the Faculty Research Series in the first quarter (August - October) after which they complete three, eight-week rotations. At the beginning of year two, students select a thesis and research adviser. Depending upon the faculty member chosen, a student will receive a PhD in one of eight doctoral degree-granting programs. Students admitted to the IGPBS program receive an annual stipend of $38,885, plus a tuition waiver, with similar financial support throughout their PhD program. Students may also apply for fellowships (Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship, Kansas University Training Program in Neurological and Rehabilitation Sciences).
Students admitted to the IGPBS may choose among the following Ph.D. programs in which to receive their degrees.
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Department of Cancer Biology
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics & Immunology
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Therapeutics
- Neuroscience Graduate Program