Accelerated Master of Biomedical Informatics Program
The Accelerated Master of Biomedical Informatics program will be superseded by the new Master of Medical Sciences in Biomedical Informatics beginning in Fall 2024.
The following reflects the eligibility and prerequisite guidelines for students admitted to the Accelerated Master of Biomedical Informatics program in Fall 2023. Information and requirements for our Master's programs for the Fall 2024 admission cycle will be available at dbmi.hms.harvard.edu/mbi in late summer 2023.
Program Eligibility and Prerequisites
To apply to the Accelerated Master of Biomedical Informatics program, applicants must have received a PhD, MD, or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to, the following: DDS, DMD, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, PharmD, DSW, and PsyD. Medical students who are enrolled in a clinically based doctoral degree and hold a Bachelor's degree who are looking to take a research year are also eligible to apply.
At the time of application, applicants must demonstrate, either through coursework, practical training, or other relevant experience, the following:
- Understanding of statistical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.
- Knowledge of computer science concepts.
Our most competitive applicants typically demonstrate working knowledge of R or Python, or another programming language. However, this is not a requirement at the time of application.
By the time of program start, applicants must be equipped with:
- A basic working knowledge of Python and/or R programming.
- This includes, but is not limited to, familiarity with data structures and types, designing algorithms to solve problems, and the ability to write functions, read and write data, and create plots with limited consultation of reference material.
A mandatory self-assessment will be sent to admitted students in April 2023 to identify areas in which they need to improve their programming skills before the start of the program in September 2023. A list of recommended online courses and other resources will be shared as well.
International Student Requirements
International student applicants for whom English is not their native language must demonstrate English Language Proficiency by meeting one of the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree from an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction.
- Obtain a score of 103 or higher on the TOEFL exam.
- Obtain a score of 7.5 or higher on the IELTS exam
- Obtain a score of 125 or higher on the Duolingo English Test
These are the minimum language proficiency requirements that must be demonstrated at the time of application. Applicants who submit an application without meeting these requirements will not have their application reviewed and will be denied admission.