Step 1: Online Application and Fee

• • Application Deadlines:
    • Summer: February 1
    • Fall: April 1
    • Spring: September 1
  • The Clinical and Translational Science application process is predominantly online.  Apply Online Now.
  • The application fee of $6 is paid when you click SUBMIT from the online application. Applicants can pay by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or by Electronic Check. U.S. banks only. Application fees are non-refundable. Electronic checks will be held for approximately six business days while the check clears.

Step 2: Additional Materials

• • Transcripts – Arrange to have one official copy of each transcript from every post-secondary college and university you have attended sent directly to: stats_education@kumc.edu or mailed to:

Department of Biostatistics & Data Science
University of Kansas Medical Center
Attn: Admissions
3901 Rainbow Blvd., Mail Stop 1026
Kansas City, KS 66160

• • A CV or resume. Applicants must upload a current curriculum vitae. Demonstration of one or more years of responsible work experience in the health field or a degree in a recognized health profession or other evidence of training or experience that indicates adequate preparation for the Ph.D. in Clinical and Translational Science curriculum is preferred.
  • Letters of recommendation. Applicants must provide the names and e-mail addresses of two (2) references who are qualified to assess the applicant’s academic and professional potential and experience (employers, instructors, or other persons). Please notify your references that they will receive an email from “KU Medical Center” requesting them to complete an online reference form and letter of reference.
  • Mentor recommendation. A letter of recommendation and commitment from the proposed research mentor is required. Your mentor’s letter of support should include the following:
    • Describe the qualities and potential of the applicant for the research training. This should include your evaluation with special considerations for:
      • Research ability and potential to become an independent researcher
      • Adequacy of scientific and technical background
      • Written and verbal communication abilities including ability to organize scientific data
      • Quality of research endeavors or publications to date, if applicable
      • Perseverance in pursuing goals
      • Evidence of originality
      • Need for further research experience and training
      • Familiarity with research literature
    • Mentor's commitment to:
      • Assure adequate and sustainable time and commitment;
      • Confirm that adequate space, facilities, and resources will be made available for the successful completion of research projects;
      • Confirm that you reviewed the mentee's research plan;
      • Participate in mentor training activities.
  • Personal statement. Your personal statement should reflect your writing style and your experiences. While the use of AI may be useful for editing writing (e.g., grammar, spell check), the personal statement primarily reflects the voice of the applicant. Any use of AI must be cited clearly.
  •  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or other professional test scores (such as the Graduate Management Admission Test, Medical College Admission Test, Law School Aptitude Test) that are not more than five years old. Submission of official scores to the university directly by Educational Testing Service using KUMC School Code of 6895. Applicants who have earned a doctoral degree in the United States are exempt from this requirement.
  •  International applicants. Students submitting international applications have additional requirements as follows:
    • All international applicants are required to submit an evaluation of their academic credentials, as performed by one the many companies selling this service, such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). For more transcript evaluation services, please visit the NACES website. Transcript evaluations should be mailed by the service to the above address.
    • Applicants whose native language is not English or who graduated from a foreign institution are required to submit official TOEFL® or IELTS™ scores less than two years old. Use institution code 6895 to have an official copy of your scores mailed to KU Medical Center. The complete minimum English proficiency requirements for KU Medical Center students can be found on the Office of International Programs
  • Applicants who are employed by KU Medical Center, The University of Kansas Health System, or any affiliates should also submit:
    • Letter from your Division Director/Department Head. A letter of recommendation and commitment from the applicant's department head and/or division director should acknowledge the following:
      • Explicitly state the amount of protected time and the department/division’s commitment to ensure the applicant meets that protected time to conduct research, coursework, and other programmatic activities;
      • Describe the division/department/school's resources (financial and other) that will be provided to the applicant, as a reflection of the department's long-term commitment to the applicant's career development;
      • Address plans for further career development after the program, and the applicant's motivation and likelihood to become an independent investigator;
      • Confirm assurance that the listed Primary Mentor supports the applicant's career development and training.

Step 3: Interview

• • • Qualified applicants with completed applications will be invited for an interview.

The University of Kansas Medical Center requires a criminal background check prior to admitting students to graduate programs. Prior to final acceptance and initial enrollment in classes, applicants will be directed to have a background check completed by Validity Screening Solutions. The applicant must pay a one-time fee for the background check directly to Validity Screening Solutions. The department will review the information obtained through the background check and make a final decision on the applicant's eligibility for the program. The department will then notify the applicant regarding final acceptance or denial of admission. 

For more information regarding individual program or graduate certificate admissions criteria, please visit the Academic Catalog. For more information regarding the admissions process, visit the Office of Admissions. 

Because the Ph.D. in Clinical and Translational Science degrees signify that the holder is prepared for entry into the practice of biostatistics research, it follows that graduates must have the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a broad range of academic and research situations. The Technical Standards include those physical, cognitive, and behavioral standards that are required for the satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum and the development of professional attributes required by all students at graduation. Therefore, the following abilities and expectations must be met by all students with or without accommodations admitted to the Ph.D. programs:

1. Observation. A student must be able to observe and evaluate class demonstrations and field experiences relevant to the field of statistics. He or she must be able to read and comprehend text, numbers, tables and graphs, both in print and displayed electronically. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing.
2. Communication. A student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in English in oral, written, and electronic form with other students, faculty, staff, researchers, and the public. Effective communication includes: the ability to understand assigned readings, lectures, and technical and professional materials; the ability to analyze information; the ability to present results of such analyses verbally and in writing; the ability to independently prepare papers and presentations; and the ability to follow verbal and written instructions. Use of computers and other technology is imperative to this communication.
3. Motor. A student must have sufficient motor function to attend classes, prepare assignments, use electronic media, deliver lectures and make public presentations. Class requirements may also include field work in a variety of collaborative environments.
4. Intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities. A student must possess the ability to understand and read and understand documents written in English, to understand and work with measurements and calculations, and to engage in reasoning, analysis, synthesis and critical thinking. A student must be able to exercise sufficient judgment to recognize and correct performance deviations, and be able to draw on all the above mentioned abilities to be an effective problem solver, researcher, and communicator.
5. Behavioral and social attributes. A student must have the emotional health required for the full use of his or her intellectual ability. A student must be able to exercise sound judgment, and to act ethically and with integrity. He or she must develop mature, sensitive, and effective professional relationships with others. A student must be self-motivated, reliable and responsible to complete assigned tasks in a timely manner with no supervision. Students must be able to give attention to detail and have the flexibility to function in a research setting, including adapting to changes in time, place and structure of academic and research settings. The student must have the ability to work with diverse groups.

NOTE:  Reasonable accommodations will be considered and may be made to qualified students who disclose a disability, so long as such accommodation does not significantly alter the essential requirements of the curriculum and the training program, or significantly affect the safety of patient care. Students who disclose that they have a disability are considered for the program if they are otherwise qualified. Qualified students with a disability who wish to request accommodations should provide the appropriate documentation of disability and submit a request for accommodation to the University’s Office of Academic Accommodations.