Applying to the School of Pharmacy
The Application Process
Applying for admission to the Regulatory Science Master’s degree graduate program at USC is a two-part process. It is important that you familiarize yourself first with the Graduate School Admissions webpage at http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/. After reviewing this information, you will want to proceed below, with the two-part process.
*Graduate Record Examinations (GRE website link)
You may find more information regarding the GRE exam at this link provided. We encourage applicants to take the GRE general exam and aim for a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1000 or higher. Also, your GRE scores are good for five years from your testing date. The testing ETS code for USC is 4852.
Application Deadlines
You have a choice of three deadlines for submitting applications for the MS or certificates. You are responsible for making sure that the application, with all supporting materials, reaches us by the deadline. We recommend that you apply when you feel your application is the strongest and most competitive. You may wish to contact us with a follow-up email to ensure we receive your application information. Deadlines include :
- Fall term application materials are due June 15th
- Spring term application materials are due October 15th
- Summer term application materials are due February 15th
*The fall term is the preferred term for international students to apply due to the availability of University orientation services offered for incoming international students at this time.
Our Selection Criteria
The MS Regulatory Science program will consider all application materials and carefully read each application thoroughly. The admissions committee relies on a wide range of indicators from your application to determine your fit and aptitude for success in the program.
Information for International Applicants
If you’re an international applicant, we highly recommend that you submit your application for the fall semester with the deadline of June 15th since the University has the most support for orienting new incoming international students for this term. It is important that international students apply before or by the application deadline to ensure that an admissions decision is made in time for you to apply for an international student visa, which is required for study in the U.S. Allow at least two weeks for airmail to reach us. General questions about visas, academic documentation, or legal issues related to studying in the U.S. should be directed to the Office of International Services at (213) 740-2666. Please contact us directly for admission committee review dates to ensure your application is reviewed in time.
In order to remain competitive for admissions to our program, international applicants should have:
- GRE Scores (combined score over 1000, with a verbal score over 400)
- GPA range is between 3.0-3.7 (competitive is 3.3 and above)
- USC requires a TOEFL score that meets one of the following conditions:
~an internet based TOEFL (iBT) score of 100 or higher with no less than 20 on each individual section of
the test; or
~a paper based (pBT) TOEFL score of 600 or higher; or
~a computer based (cBT) TOEFL score of 250 or higher
TOEFL
If you’re an international applicant and your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and receive a score of 600+ on the PBT / 250+ on the CBT / or 100+ on the iBT to demonstrate proficiency in English and your ability to handle the demands of the MS Regulatory Science Program. If you apply to the program and are accepted with a score below these requirements you will be required to enroll in at least 6 units (which require tuition payment) of coursework offered through the American Language Institute at USC.
We require the TOEFL, even if you earned your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the United States. The test is administered monthly in the United States and abroad. For information and a TOEFL registration packet, please contact:
TOEFL Services
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA
Telephone: (609) 771-7100
Web: www.toefl.org
E-mail: toefl@ets.org
Financial Support Documentation
International applicants (those who are or will be in the United States on non-immigrant visas) are required to provide documented evidence of financial support. The United States government requires all international applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before a formal letter of admission and the form needed for obtaining a visa will be issued. To this end, each applicant relying on personal or family support must furnish a financial guarantee letter - preferably a bank letter - indicating the sponsor’s name, address and source of income. This document must be verified by bank stamp or a United States Consul. Applicants whose financial support will come from their home governments or other official agencies (e.g. Fulbright, AMIDEAST) must submit similarly appropriate documentation from their sponsors. The Office of Admission will provide admitted students with either I-20 or IAP-66 Eligibility Certificates. After receiving the I-20 or IAP-66, each student must apply through a United States Embassy or Consulate for a visa to enter the United States. Any student entering the United States by means of the documents issued by USC must register for the semester to which admission is granted. You may forward this information to the USC Graduate and International Admissions Office directly. For specifics questions, you can email them at gradadm@usc.edu
Important Note: MSRS Internship Options
Also, if you’re an international applicant and your native language is not English you will want to click on this link regarding the MSRS intermship options. It is important to know this information upfront while you are applying to the program:
