PhD in Biostatistics
The PhD program in biostatistics (BIOS) is offered through Emory’s Laney Graduate School. The program is designed for people with strong quantitative skills and a background or interest in the biological, medical, or health sciences. The program is ideal for students seeking to deepen their knowledge of biostatistics through advanced course work, research, analysis, and collaboration. To the extent possible, the curriculum can be tailored to each student’s individual background and interests.
View a list of BIOS graduate faculty and their research interests.
View a list of current BIOS PhD students.
For data and demographics of the Biostatistics PhD program, please click here.
Emory Biostatistics PhD Interest Session
The department will host an interest session October 14 at 9:00 am EST. Join us to learn about the program from current students faculty and staff. Register in advance to receive the Zoom link.
Application Deadline
Dec 1, 2022
Apply Early through Laney Graduate School
Applications are accepted each fall starting in September with a December 1 deadline. Admissions are offered for the following fall only.
BIOS PhD Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- Required prerequisite coursework in:
- Multivariate calculus (typically Calculus III)
- Linear algebra
- GRE scores taken within the last five years. Scores in the 50th percentile or higher are recommended* Please select the Emory Laney Graduate School code 5187.
- Application + $75 application fee
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Optional diversity statement
- Transcripts from each post-secondary institution you have attended. Please upload through the online application
- Resume/CV
View the full list of the Laney Graduate School admission requirements here. You can also review Biostatistics admissions data on the school’s website.
*GRE scores can be waived if the applicant has a doctoral degree from a U.S. institution in a relevant field
International Applicants
If you are an international applicant, please review additional requirements to support the application through the Laney Graduate School. Biostatistics requires international applicants to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
TOEFL scores should be at least 96 on the Internet-based test, 243 on the computer-based test, and 590 on the paper-based test. Students who earned a degree from an institution within the United States may be eligible to waive the TOEFL requirement.
GRE and TOEFL Scores
The Graduate School code for both test is 5187. Please note: do not use the code for the Rollins School of Public Health. Visit the Educational Testing Service site for additional information.
Finalist Interviews
A small number of finalist are required to interview with faculty. We anticipate notifying finalist mid- January for interviews via Zoom beginning late January and early February.
Paying for your PhD
All full-time Emory PhD students receive a generous financial support package from the Laney Graduate School consisting of a tuition scholarship and stipend. Additionally, a 100% student health insurance subsidy is provided.
This support is for the first five years of the program, conditional upon being in good academic standing. Exceptionally qualified applicants will be considered for special admissions fellowships, which offers additional financial support up to five years contingent upon satisfactory academic performance.
Special Admissions Fellowships
In addition to the tuition scholarship, stipend and health insurance subsidy, Laney Graduate School offers special fellowships designed to address specific admission priorities. Please review these opportunities in the LGS Admissions financial support overview.
Degree Requirements
The appropriate class schedule is determined on a case-by-case basis through a review and a discussion of the student's academic record, academic interests, and previous experience in the biological and health sciences.
Students are required to enroll for a minimum of 9 credit hours each semester and term. It typically takes students two-to-three years to complete PhD coursework, depending on the number of 500-level courses needed, and two years to complete their dissertation. Students who have a master's degree in biostatistics or statistics are exempt from 500-level courses.
Handbooks
Please review the Biostatistics PhD and the Laney Graduate School Handbooks for additional information regarding degree requirements.
PhD Curriculum
The curriculum for each student is personalized according to a student’s educational background and research interest.
TATTO
All PhD students must participate in the Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunities (TATTO) program. This includes a three-day summer teacher training workshop (normally taken in the summer before the second year in the PhD program), serving as a teaching assistant during the second and third years in the program and practical experience in statistical consulting. Click here for more information.
Electives
All students are required to complete 12 credits of elective courses in biostatistics; at least 6 of these credits must be in 700-level courses. Enrollment in the invited speakers seminar series (BIOS 790R) is required for the first two years of coursework in which only 2 credit hours will count toward elective hours. In addition, students are required to complete 6 credits of elective courses (at the 300-level or above) outside of biostatistics; at least 2 of these credit hours must be in epidemiology for students who lack prior training in epidemiology. Students must maintain an average GPA of at least B- and a minimum of 51 credits must be taken as graded.
BIOS 701
All students are required to have training in public health. The primary means of obtaining this knowledge is through BIOS 701: Translational Public Health Research (1 credit hour) which is taken the fall semester of your second year.
Dissertation
All PhD students are required to complete and defend a dissertation. Students are encouraged to begin exploring potential research topics as soon as they enter the program by meeting with faculty advisors.
The doctoral dissertation must meet the requirements of both the department and Laney Graduate School. In particular, the dissertation must make a new contribution to the student’s field of study, or present a unique new interpretation on existing knowledge. Students are required to pass an oral defense of the dissertation proposal.