Admissions Criteria
The following qualifications are required:
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (equal to a letter grade of B)
- An established relationship with a research mentor at UCSF, defined as a faculty member in either of the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy or Dentistry. Scholars already at UCSF should have this established by the time of application. Those who are applying from outside UCSF should have this established by the beginning of the program. Applicants applying from outside UCSF are encouraged to identify and contact UCSF research mentors on their own or, after acceptance into the program, may request assistance from the Training in Clinical Research Program to help them identify a research mentor
- For scholars who are primarily based in other training programs at UCSF, supervisor's assurance that at least 70% of time will be available August through May to divide between the activities of this program and the conduct of the trainee's clinical research projects
- Affirmation of the Professional Conduct Statement (signed during orientation)
Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated knowledge or experience in some aspect of a health-related field (e.g., clinical practice, public health, health promotion) by virtue of a graduate or professional doctoral degree (MD, DDS, PharmD, PhD or international equivalent), being currently enrolled in such a program or relevant work experience. Although not required, this prior knowledge or experience is preferred because program scholars will be required to perform original research in an area of their choosing to fulfill graduation requirements. Prior substantive knowledge or experience in a health-related field can be very helpful in identifying a research area of interest and in maintaining motivation for the work.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and admission decisions are typically made within six weeks. Early application is particularly encouraged for applicants originating outside of the San Francisco Bay Area who may require housing or travel visas.
UCSF Graduate Division online application
- Applicants will need to provide transcript copies for review purposes and three referees.
- Upon completion of the Graduate Division Application, official transcripts from all institutions attended after high school should be submitted directly to the Program. We do not accept transcripts submitted by the student. The Program prefers official electronic transcripts (e-transcripts). Official e-transcripts can be sent directly to [email protected]. If only hardcopies are available, official transcripts should be mailed to:
Admissions
Training in Clinical Research (TICR) Program
University of California, San Francisco
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Mission Hall (UCSF Box 0560)
550 16th Street, 2nd floor
San Francisco, CA 94143
(For FedEx only, use 94158)
ATCR Scholars
Scholars who are enrolled in or have graduated from the Advanced Training in Clinical Research Credit-bearing Certificate Program may submit updated versions of their original ATCR Program applications. Such scholars must still provide one new or updated letter of recommendation for the Master's Degree Program application. Scholars who graduated from the ATCR Credit-bearing Certificate Program more than two years before applying to the Master’s Degree Program should talk to program officials about which courses might have to be re-taken (because they have evolved substantially since the scholar took them). Such scholars will also be subject to a $500 re-entry fee.
International Applicants
The Master's in Clinical Research program welcomes applications from international scholars who meet the prerequisites, but the program does not directly provide any financial aid. In addition to meeting the admission requirements above, applicants from non-English-speaking countries must also demonstrate proficiency in English by completing one year of study with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at an accredited college or university in the United States, by earning a degree from a university outside of the U.S. with instruction fully in English, of by obtaining the following minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS - International English Language Testing System. (TOEFL code: 4840)
- Paper-based TOEFL – 550
- Computer-based TOEFL – 213
- Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) – 80
- IELTS – 7
Transcripts
The UCSF Graduate Division will evaluate foreign transcripts. Students are required to have their transcripts verified by a third-party company, such as Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., or World Education Services, if the Graduate Division is unable to verify your degree. The Program prefers World Education Services as students are able to request electronic reports that we can access via the WES portal, streamliningg the application process for both the students and the Program.
Once an international applicant has been accepted into the master's program, the scholar is expected to work with UCSF's International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to obtain the appropriate visa. Note that the program begins on July 15, 2024 so travel arrangements should be made to arrive in San Francisco by July 14, 2024.
Interviews
Selected applicants will be interviewed by the admissions committee or its designate.