Application Requirements

Below is a comprehensive guide to non-academic student requirements for applicants and admitted students at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Please review each section to ensure compliance with university policies, technology standards, and health regulations.

Applicants who completed coursework outside the United States must submit official course-by-course transcript evaluations and diploma information. Evaluations must be sent directly to TTUHSC GSBS from one of the following approved evaluation services:

• World Education Services (WES)
  Phone: 1-800-937-3895 | Web: www.wes.org
  WES Routing Instructions: Select "Texas Tech University" > "Health Sciences Center" > "Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences - Financial".
• Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA)
  Austin, TX | Phone: (512) 459-8428 | Web: www.foreigncredentials.org
• The Evaluation Company (SpanTran)
  Houston, TX | Phone: (713) 266-8805 | Web: SpanTran Custom Portal for TTUHSC
• International Academic Credential Evaluators, Inc. (IACEI)
  Denton, TX | Phone: (940) 383-7498 | Web: www.iacei.net
• Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. (GCE)
  College Station, TX | Phone: (979) 690-8912 | Web: www.gceus.com
• International Education Evaluations, LLC (IEE)
  Charlotte, NC | Web: IEE TTUHSC Portal
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
  Milwaukee, WI | Web: ECE TTUHSC Portal

Note: Transcript evaluations received from unapproved agencies will be rejected and must be re-processed through an approved service at the applicant's expense. Questions regarding foreign credentials should be emailed to graduate.school@ttuhsc.edu.

All students are required to own a personal laptop computer capable of running required academic and testing software. Course lectures, daily schedules, streaming media, and online testing are delivered electronically through Brightspace.

Important Technology & Testing Notes:

• Testing Compatibility: GSBS courses utilize Respondus LockDown Browser (LDB) for online examinations. LDB is fully supported on Windows and Mac laptops, but is NOT supported on Linux, Chromebooks, or mobile OS devices. (Note: Dual-enrollment students taking School of Pharmacy or School of Medicine courses should verify secondary platform needs such as ExamSoft or Proctorio).
• Tablets & Chromebooks: iPads, Android tablets, and Chromebooks are suitable for note-taking and reading, but cannot replace a full Windows or Mac laptop for proctored testing or specialized analysis software (e.g., GraphPad Prism).
• Microsoft Office 365: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are accessible through the TTUHSC ITSC portal. Institutional downloads for Office 365 Suite will be provided during orientation—please do not purchase a separate personal subscription.
• Cloud Storage: All students receive HIPAA-compliant Box cloud storage through TTUHSC. Students are strongly encouraged to sync all academic files to Box to prevent data loss.

Per TTU System Board of Regents policy, all enrolled students must maintain ACA-compliant health insurance coverage throughout the academic year. U.S. medical care can be extremely expensive, and proof of coverage is verified annually.

Coverage Guidelines & Policies

• ACA Compliance: Short-term plans, travel insurance, and cost-sharing programs do NOT satisfy the health insurance requirement.
• International Students: International students are automatically enrolled in the TTUHSC health insurance plan (including medical evacuation and repatriation coverage), with costs billed directly to tuition and fees. Coverage for F-2 dependents is mandatory under DHS regulations and TTUHSC OP 77.03.
• Student Health Insurance Plan: Coverage is available through Academic Health Plans / Unicare. Full details regarding rates and benefit schedules are located on the Student Affairs Insurance Portal.
• Research Assistants (RAs): Graduate Research Assistants are eligible for State of Texas employee group insurance plans. Enrollment costs are calculated using part-time / graduate assistant benefit rates. Review the State of Texas Summary of Benefits.
• Medical Services Fee: All Master's and Certificate students pay a mandatory Medical Services Fee providing access to low-cost physician co-pays. Research Assistants may opt into this fee. Note: This fee provides clinical access but does NOT satisfy the comprehensive health insurance mandate.

Immunization documentation is required only after an applicant accepts an offer of admission. Completed immunization records must be submitted to the Office of Institutional Health at least 10 business days prior to the first day of class.

Required Immunization Checklist

• Varicella (Chicken Pox): Proof of two (2) doses.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Proof of two (2) doses.
• Tuberculosis: 2-step TB skin test or approved blood assay.
• Hepatitis B: Complete 3-dose vaccine series.
• Tetanus / Diphtheria / Pertussis: Tdap adult booster (one-time dose given after 2005) plus Td booster within 10 years.
• Meningococcal (MCV): Adults age 22 and younger must show proof of vaccination within the last 5 years.

Download the official TTUHSC Student Immunization Form (PDF). Questions regarding health records should be directed to Nicole Hines in the Office of Institutional Health.

Graduate Scholarships

Admitted students are automatically considered for competitive academic scholarships awarded by individual GSBS program concentrations. No separate scholarship application or interview is required. Recipients are notified by the GSBS office upon admission or shortly thereafter. 

Learn more on our GSBS Scholarships Page

Required Textbooks

Visit the TTUHSC eCampus Bookstore

Required textbook lists and course materials are updated prior to each semester. Students should consult course lists below and review individual course syllabi published in Brightspace for exact ISBN numbers and edition requirements.