Is there an application fee and when is the application deadline?

Are there required forms or formats for the online recommendation letters?

Yes, online recommendation forms are automatically e-mailed to recommenders once a student has submitted the application.

What should be included in the three online recommendation letters?

The three letters of recommendation should be written by professional or academic references. Recommenders should know you relatively well and be able to evaluate the quality of your previous work. At least two should be from faculty or recent employers.

What information should be included in my statement of purpose?

How should my statement of purpose be formatted?

This document should be a well-written, 1-2 page essay describing primary areas of interest, motives for a M.S. in Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics and reasons for considering the Department of Biological Sciences.

Are TOEFL scores required for international students who are studying at US colleges or universities?

English proficiency test scores are required for all non-native English-speaking applicants unless the applicant has completed a university-level degree in the U.S. or another majority-native English-speaking country in the last four years, such as: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (excluding Quebec), Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom.

We accept TOEFL, IELTS, and DuoLingo scores.

University codes for all three:

• TOEFL code: CMU 2074 and Biology 35
• IELTS code: Select “Carnegie Mellon University, Mellon College of Science”
• Duolingo English code: Select “Carnegie Mellon University – Mellon College of Science”

Photocopies of English proficiency test scores will be accepted for admission only, and scores must be no more than two years old.

Do I need to have any previous coursework in Biology, Bioinformatics, or Computer Science?

Admitted students will have clear biology background (equivalent to at least a minor or multiple courses in biology).

Past coursework in Bioinformatics or Computer Science is not required. If you have strong background in Bioinformatics and/or Computer Science, you may want to apply to the M.S. in Computational Biology and/or M.S. in Automated Science programs instead.

Do you admit students in the spring or summer semesters?

No, the MSQBB and MSQBBAS programs only admit students for the fall semester.

Is the Masters in Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics a good alternative for students primarily interested in [Computer Science, Machine Learning, Software Engineering, or Data Sciences, etc]?

No. Our curriculum is designed to train Bioinformaticians. The M.S. in Computational Biology and M.S. in Automated Science programs (discussed below) provide more training in computing and machine learning. Our program provides very little or no course opportunities in these areas as they fall outside our mission.

Students interested in non-biology aspects of computing should not apply to this program or the two closely related programs (discussed belwo). Instead, they should apply directly to those programs.

What other programs offer related educational experiences?

• The M.S. in Computational Biology program is designed for students with more quantitative background than the M.S. in Quantitative Biology & Bioinformatics. Students in that program will gain broader training in advanced biological and computer science concepts encompassing genomics, biological modeling and simulation, and machine learning.
• CMU also offers an M.S. in Automated Science degree program. Its intellectual content is distinct. The MSAS curriculum is tailored to automation of experimental design and data acquisition through the hands-on use of automated instruments. This program also has a higher degree of quantitative background expectation than the M.S. in Quantitative Biology & Bioinformatics.
• Students interested in either of those programs are encouraged to apply directly to them (you may apply to them and also to our program in Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics). Both of those programs use the same application portal. NOTE: application deadlines are earlier than MSQBB. Also note: MS in Computational Biology is administratively housed in the Mellon College of Science even though it shares and application with School of Computer Science.

Can I transfer to another Masters program at CMU after I start?

There is no direct transfer option. Generally, we recommend that students who are interested in another MS program (including those related programs discussed above) apply directly to their program of interest rather than applying for transfers. Transfer students are accepted at a lower rate than external applicants in most situations because a transfer student has the added burden of demonstrating that their current CMU Masters program is unable to meet their educational goals.

Once a student has matriculated, they may apply to other programs. The MSQBB program will support applications for PhD programs (including the PhD program in Biological Sciences) to begin after completion of the MSQBB degree. Transfer to other programs while still in the MSQBB program is discouraged, but students are permitted to apply to other programs using the same application system as external applicants (refer to the other programs for details). Most programs require students who are already in an MS program at CMU to not only meet admission criteria, but also to demonstrate that they are unable to achieve their goals in their current CMU Masters program (which can make it harder for transfer students than external applicants in many cases). Credit transfers depend on policies for the other program.

Can I transfer to a PhD program at CMU after I start?

There is no direct transfer option. You can apply for admission to a PhD program and should discuss with the MSQBB advisors and also the PhD program of interest about what options exist for credit transfer.

Students in MSQBB can apply for accelerated consideration for the PhD program in Biological Sciences in the summer after their first year in the program (after graduating in the 2-semester option, before the third semester in the 3-semester option). If you are interested, ask us for more information.

Is the MS-QBB (or MS-QBB-AS) program a good option for studying Machine Learning? Can I take a course in Machine Learning?

Machine Learning is not part of our curriculum or our core mission. Some students, however, may be able to take 1 introductory course in Machine Learning while here, although it is very difficult and typically fewer than 1/3 of students are able to do so.

In order to be eligible to take 02-620 (Machine Learning for Scientists, 12 units, Spring semester), students need a minimum grade of a B- in 02-680 (Essential Math and Statistics for Scientists, 12 units, Fall semester) and also a B- or better in 02-601 (Programming for Scientists, 12 units, Fall semester). Those two are both very difficult courses and 02-620 is also very difficult. Typically, fewer than a third of students in the MSQBB or MSQBBAS program are able to get the required grades in 02-680 and 02-601 to be eligible to take 02-620. Even if you aren't able to take 02-620, we will still be able to help you successfully complete the MSQBB or MSQBBAS degree and gain valuable skills while doing so.