Application Information

Important Dates

Interested candidates should obtain a formal application.

Spring Admission:

  • December 15: Application available for Spring admission cycle
  • April 15: Final application deadline for Spring admission cycle

Fall Admission:

  • September 1: Application available for Fall admission cycle
  • October 31: Final application deadline for Fall admission cycle

July 1: Classes begin

Application Requirements

The application must include:

  1. A one-page Personal Statement of your research interests and how the program will benefit your clinical research career.
  2. A Curriculum Vitae
  3. Four program-supplied Forms and Letters of Support: one Guaranteed Protection of Time Form (guaranteeing protected time of 50-75% to participate in the program); one Mentor Agreement Form (stating that the Mentor is willing to meet with Trainee weekly and attend presentations given by the Trainee); and, two Evaluation Forms (one for each reference). Evaluation Forms and Letters of Support will be accepted from the following: Department Chairs, Division Chiefs, Program Directors, Employers, Supervisors and Mentors.
  4. Required Academic Documents - Applicants are required to have the equivalent of the United States bachelor's degree. Academic documents must be official and submitted to the Institute for Clinical Research Education by traditional mail. Documents submitted to the University of Pittsburgh become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant under any circumstances. Click here for the Transcript request form that you can submit to your prior institution. Please note that they may require additional paperwork to be completed by you in order to have your transcript sent to us.
    • Domestic Applicants - Official academic records from all institutions attended are required.
    • Foreign Applicants - All academic documents from foreign institutions must be official. Official documents are defined as original academic records issued by the institution attended that bear the actual - not photocopied - signature of the registrar or appropriate official and the seal of the issuing institution. These documents must be provided for each year of university-level study. If your university or college issues the academic documents in a language other than English, you must submit the certified copy of the original documents in the ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, PLUS A CERTIFIED ENGLISH TRANSLATION. Do not submit a translation only. All translations must be complete and literal translations of the original records. Records issued only once by institutions should be photocopied and certified as official copies either by the school officials or legal authorities. Do not send the original of an academic document that cannot be replaced. You must obtain a properly certified photocopy. A certified photocopy of the original diploma/certificate of graduation must be submitted.
  5. Graduate Scores - Applicants not holding a Doctorate degree are required to provide scores on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT). Applicants Holding MD are required to provide scores on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The scores must not be more than five years old and must be mailed directly to the ICRE Office from the Educational Testing Service
  6. English Language Scores - Applicants who are citizens of countries where English is not the official language (and the Province of Quebec in Canada) are required to submit evidence of English language proficiency by submitting the official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper) or 250 (computer), IELTS score of at least 7.00 or iBT score of at least 100 is required for admission to the Program. Applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution in the United States are exempt from submitting English language proficiency test results.
  7. For International Students currently holding a visa please complete the Office of International Services International Graduate Student Supplemental Application form.

An Admissions Committee consisting of the directors of the Institute for Clinical Research Education, the directors of the core curriculum and the director of the specialty tracks, will conduct an initial review and screening of all applicants. Candidates determined to be of high quality with high interest and potential in the conduct of clinical research will be selected. Applicants may be selected for interviews with the Admissions Committee if more information is required. Materials submitted in support of an application will not be released for other purposes and cannot be returned to the applicant. The minimum requirements of participant selection include the following:

  • Candidates who are U.S. Citizens, non-citizen nationals, or lawfully admitted permanent residents of the U.S.
  • Candidates who possess a high level of interest and potential for the pursuit of innovative clinical research as a major focus of career plan.
  • Candidates with long-term goals of entering a clinical research career.

Along with the candidate’s individual qualifications, preference will be given to the following:

  • Candidates with departments that provide the staff, research support, and facilities to create a high quality environment for the conduct of clinical research after the candidate completes his or her training.
  • Candidates with distinguished personal qualifications of past academic and research efforts, publications, and references.
  • Candidates with departments or program directors assuring that the candidate will be able to engage in 50-75% protected time for at least two years in order to participate in their program.
  • Candidates with an advanced clinical degree (MD, DMD, PharmD, etc.) or who are enrolled in a clinical professional doctoral degree program.

Admission requirements are based on the total record of academic accomplishments of the applicant. Evaluation of prior research experience, coursework, standardized scores, and letters of recommendation are components of the admission process.

Online Application

The deadline to apply to our Certificate and Masters degree-granting programs has passed. We will be accepting application again beginning September 1. Students who are interested in taking courses as a non-degree student should contact the Program Coordinator.

Click here to fill out your application online.