Application Instructions Biomedical Sciences PhD

Most Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. students receive a Research Assistantship in the amount of $25,000 per year. Students awarded an RA must complete a job application and successfully pass a criminal background check. Research Assistants are 50% employees of TTUHSC and are paid monthly on the first of each month. The monthly salary amount is $2,083.33 BEFORE taxes and other deductions are subtracted by payroll. It is imperative that admitted students who are awarded a Research Assistantship follow instructions provided regarding the job application and criminal background check. Delays in completing the job application, accepting the job offer, and completing the criminal background check will impact the RA start date.                

Applicants are required to upload a resume/CV as a required supplemental item. Since we conduct many admissions interviews via Skype, please include a picture of yourself on the document for identity verification purposes for an interview. There is no standard format for the Resume/CV, however applicants should include paid research positions, research presentations, and publications.                

After an admission offer is made, accepted by the applicant and the placement guarantee fee paid, applicants may be required to provide proof of ability to pay tuition/fees and living expenses before the I-20 and official admission letter can be processed. Applicants should be prepared to supply these documents within 2 weeks of an offer acceptance. These documents include:

• Bank Statement from an account belonging to the applicant showing a minimum of $33,561 (no Research Assistantship awarded) OR $8,561 (Research Assistantship awarded). The document must be in English. Amounts must be in USD or equivalent available balance.

• If the applicant has a financial sponsor, we also require a bank statement from an account belonging to the sponsor as well as a letter or Financial Affidavit from the sponsor stating their intent to financially support the applicant. The sponsor's bank statement must be in English and show an available balance in USD or equivalent at the same minimum amounts as stated above. The sponsor letter accepting financial responsibility must be signed and an electronic signature is not valid.

• Applicants with a spouse and/or children must provide proof of an additional $7,500 USD for the spouse and for each child.

• Applicants with scholarships awarded by their home countries, such as Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission, must still submit the required financial documents. We are unable to accept the SACM or other provisional financial guarantee as proof of funding. In order to meet the admission requirement you will need to show proof of personal funding.

• Delays in providing the required documents may impact an applicant's ability to begin the degree program for the term selected. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences reserves the right to withdraw an admission offer if the required documents are not provided within 30 days of the offer acceptance.

Most Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. students receive a Research Assistantship in the amount of $25,000 per year. Students awarded an RA must complete a job application and successfully pass a criminal background check. Research Assistants are 50% employees of TTUHSC and are paid monthly on the first of each month. The monthly salary amount is $2,083.33 BEFORE taxes and other deductions are subtracted by payroll. It is imperative that admitted students who are awarded a Research Assistantship follow instructions provided regarding the job application and criminal background check. Delays in completing the job application, accepting the job offer, and completing the criminal background check will impact the RA start date.                

At the current time, tuition and fees (except for opt-in fees such as medical services and recreational center) are covered by GSBS for students in the Biomedical Sciences PhD program. However, future payment of tuition and fees will depend on funding and may not be available through the entirety of a student's time in the degree program.Applicants should consult the Student Business Services website to determine exact tuition/fees cost.

• TTUHSC Student Business Services Main Site
• TTUHSC Student Business Services Tuition Estimates

The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents requires all students to have health insurance, and are required to provide proof of health insurance each year. Students who have failed to carry insurance and have suffered illness or injury resulting in high medical bills have often been financially unable to continue their education. Unlike free medical care in some countries, medical care in the U.S. is very expensive.

• A student health insurance plan is available through Academic Health Plans/Unicare. Information regarding cost and coverage is available here: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/student-services/health.aspx

• A mandatory medical services fee is required of all master's and certificate students. This fee is available as an opt-in for those with a research assistantship. While this fee does not meet the health insurance requirement, physician visits are available at a low cost co-pay. For more information regarding services provided by this fee, please visit this website: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/student-services/documents/health/StudentHealthBrochure_2017.pdf
• Research Assistants are eligible for group insurance plans offered by the State of Texas for employees. See this page for a summary of benefits http://www.ttuhsc.edu/human-resources/documents/RateSheet-PY18.pdf

To calculate benefit enrollment costs, Research Assistants should look at the information listed under part-time employees, graduate students/teaching assistants, post-doctoral and adjunct faculty.

• More information is available on the Student Health Services website: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/studenthealth/faqs.aspx