Information for Graduate Students

Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant entrepreneur-friendly city that is a hub for the medical device industry, is a great place to pursue biomedical engineering graduate studies. Memphis is home to over 50 medical device and biotech companies including Medtronic, Smith & Nephew, Stryker-Wright Medical Technologies Inc, Microport Orthopedics, Olympus Surgical Technologies, Bionova and SweetBio as well as premier medical institutions such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Memphis Veterans Administration Hospital, and Lebonhuer Children’s Hospital. 

Graduate studies leading to the MS (thesis and non-thesis) and PhD degrees are offered through The University of Memphis (UofM) – University of Tennessee Health Science (UTHSC) Joint Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering.  Both campuses are located within a 15-20 minute drive of each and close to the downtown heart of the City of Memphis. The Joint program was created to take advantage of the resources of the engineering and basic science programs at UofM and the medical and clinical programs at UTHSC.  All students entering the graduate biomedical program are matriculated in the Joint Program with their degree awarded from both institutions.

We have 16 nationally and internationally recognized faculty with their primary appointments in biomedical engineering; 10 on the UofM campus and 6 on the UTHSC campus. Our faculty are known for both their contributions to science and engineering and their shared passion for teaching and inspiring students to explore and discover new ways to keep people healthy. Our faculty are currently conducting highly regarded and innovative research in the major areas of

• Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering/Regenerative Medicine and Drug Delivery
• Biomechanics, Movement Science/Rehabilitation and Biomedical Devices
• Neuro and cardiac electrophysiology
• MRI and ultra-sound imaging
• Chemical & Bio- sensors and Diagnostic Devices

Our faculty collaborate extensively with other engineering departments in the Herff College of Engineering, across other UofM colleges and departments (e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Math and Physics) and with many units at UTHSC (e.g. School of Dentistry, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Neurology, and Microbiology Immunology & Biochemistry). 

How to Apply to the BME Graduate Program

Applicants for Fall semester admission to the Joint Graduate Program must apply via the application portal hosted on UTHSC website. All applications are shared with faculty on both campuses. Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty on both campuses to learn about areas of research that are of interest to them and their career goals. When admitted, students are aligned with a faculty advisor on either the UofM or UTHSC campus.

Our admissions committee is composed of members from both UofM and UTHSC campuses Your admission is to the Joint Graduate Program regardless of which campus your faculty advisor is located.  Transfer of application materials to both campuses is handled by  internal systems that the universities have developed.

Detailed admissions and degree requirements for the MS and PhD programs can be found in our Graduate Catalog:

MS in Biomedical Engineering
PhD in Biomedical Engineering

For applications to be considered, all applications must be complete. Applications are complete when the following materials have been uploaded to the application site: 

• 3 letters of recommendation;
• Personal statement;
• Resume;

For international applicants: Academic transcripts with WES evaluation (the WES evaluation requirement may be waived on a case-by case basis).

For international applicants: official TOEFL/IELTS test scores for English language proficiency, may be waived on a case-by-case basis. Please find Additional Admissions Requirements for International Students. Deadlines for submitting applications for Fall semester admissions is May 15.  

Applications for admission to the Joint Graduate program for Spring or Summer terms are handled on a case-by-case basis. Please contact graduate coordinators for additional information and instruction.

John Williams, PhD
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Herff College of Engineering 
jlwllm17@memphis.edu
901.678.5485
ET119B

Dr. Richard Smith 
Program Director, UTHSC
956 Court Avenue, Suite E228
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901.448.5254
Email: rsmith@uthsc.edu

BME Grad Student Course Registration (incl. cross-site)

*Before you begin registering for ANY courses, meet and discuss with your advisor to identify appropriate course options and begin to complete an Advising Worksheet--as you fill this out, note the following:

*Courses listed as BIOM xxxx are cross-listed at UofM and UTHSC (regardless of instructor or which campus class meets, you can register for these directly through your home institution's system--once your Advising Worksheet is completed, signed, and submitted).

***For non-BIOM courses offered only through the other institution (not at your home institution)***: They won't be cross-listed and DON'T try to register directly! (doing so means you'll be personally charged tuition costs!) Instead, (1) gather all relevant info below* and (2) include it in the notes space toward the bottom of the Advising Worksheet (the department will handle the task of registering you for non-BIOM courses at the other institution).

*(non-BIOM courses will only have a course # & CRN at one institution, so you won't supply these for both institutions--just be sure you clearly indicate the institution that is offering the course)

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