General Information

• Only students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. degree full-time are accepted into the program. Admission into the MCB program is based on appraisal of each applicant's prior academic record, letters of recommendation, involvement in research or other activities which indicate a strong commitment to graduate study.

• It is typical that entering graduate students will have had at least one year each of physics, and mathematics (calculus) and two years of biology and chemistry (general and organic) although relevant material will be covered in the MCB core course during the first year of graduate study.

• It is the long-standing policy of Dartmouth College to actively support equality of opportunity for all persons regardless of race or ethnic background, and no student will be denied admission or be otherwise discriminated against because of race, color, gender, religion, age, national or ethnic origin.

• The MCB program receives more than 500 applications each year and enrolls between 30 and 35 students each August.

• We do not release information about our current students such as GPA or research interests (average or actual).

• The MCB academic year is arranged by terms - Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer - and requires attendance on campus for all four terms.

An overview of required materials and a link to our online application is listed in the Deadlines and Required Materials. Applications for students wishing to start in Fall 2024 will become available in Summer 2023.

To be in competitive range, we recommend the following:

• GPA: 3.0 or above.
• TOEFL (for International applicants): Paper exam 550>, Internet exam 100> or IELTS: 7.0 or above (in place of TOEFL)
  • Program code for TOEFL: MCB code is 74

The MCB Program is enriched and strengthened by students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Prospective MCB students attending SACNAS, ABRCMS, and other minority-focused and scientific conferences are encouraged to stop by the Dartmouth booths to meet representatives and find out more about us.

Applicants are welcome to directly contact the MCB Program (MCB@dartmouth.edu) or visit the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies Diversity Page for more information regarding opportunities at Dartmouth. Dartmouth is a long-standing member of the Leadership Alliance and we are proud to continue providing educational opportunities that welcome and are enhanced by diversity.

The Admissions Committee will review each application and then contact those applicants to be interviewed.  Our in-person interview weekends are January 25-28 and February 8-11, 2024. Applicants residing outside of the US may be contacted in January or February for virtual interviews.

All MCB students receive a stipend of $35,196.00 ($35,696.00 for students who have passed their qualifying exams), a Dartmouth Fellowship that provides a full tuition scholarship, and a prepaid health insurance plan. The 2023-24 stipend will be $40,000. Stipends for future years will be adjusted for inflation and are contingent upon satisfactory performance in studies.

We do not require certification of your financial situation. If admitted to the program you must bring sufficient funds to come to Dartmouth and then support yourself for one month including expenses such as two months of rent, parking decals if you have a vehicle, College fees, etc. Your first stipend check will arrive on September 1. Starting in Fall 2023, all incoming MCB students will receive $1,500 in relocation assistance from the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. The Guarini School has also announced a childcare supplement of $3,000 per eligible child under 6 years old, capped at 3 children, starting in 2023.

Students are strongly encouraged to contact either the MCB Program or the Office for Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS) at Dartmouth for advice.

International students can find assistance in obtaining proper documentation through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

A very helpful site, with information on applying to graduate schools as well as traveling to the U.S., is EducationUSA. There, you will also find locations of the EducationUSA advising centers near you.

Up-to-date information can also be found at the following locations:

U.S. Visa information

U.S. State Department Travel information