Admission to the Biotechnology Master's Program is open to students with appropriate backgrounds in the sciences, including biology, neuroscience, and biochemistry, physics or chemistry. Other majors are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Yes. Please visit the Fifth-Year Master's Degree section of our website. Please note that the Fifth-Year Program is exclusively for current Brown undergraduate students.

No. The GREs are not required.

The 2026-2027 cost of tuition is $9,320 per credit. Refer to the Student Financial Services website for a complete list of 2026-2027 Graduate Student Required Tuition & Fees and the Description of Fees.

The majority of students enrolled in master's programs at Brown are self-supported, meaning they pay for the degree through loans or their personal funds. To learn about University and external grants, scholarships, and financial aid, visit our Admissions and Financial Aid pages.

All accepted students, domestic and international, are automatically considered for an 1/8 tuition scholarship. These merit awards are limited and determined based on application material. No other information is necessary to be considered for the merit scholarship.

Additionally, the Biotechnology Master's Program awards a limited number of 1/8 tuition grants to students with demonstrated financial need. Funds are limited and are awarded toward the end of the admissions cycle. To be considered, students must complete the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile.

Visit our Admissions and Financial Aid pages to learn more.

The institution code for Brown University is 3094. There is no separate department/program code.

Yes, information for international applicants can be found by visiting the Brown University Graduate School website.

All international applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Score. For more information, visit the Brown University Graduate School website. The Biotech MS Program has a minimum TOEFL and IELTS score of 100 and 8, respectively.

No, we do not hold interviews.

The Master of Science in Biotechnology has coursework as well as a thesis requirement. The Master of Arts in Biotechnology is a non-thesis, coursework-only degree program.

The Biotechnology Master's degree, whether AM or ScM, is an eight-credit degree that students typically complete over two years. At Brown, one credit is equivalent to one course.

The AM degree can be accelerated to be completed in two semesters. The ScM degree can be completed in two semesters, but this represents a significant time commitment from students as it requires both course work and a thesis. Most ScM students looking to accelerate their degree complete the program in 12-15 months.

Yes. Please visit the Degree Program page for more information about our part-time track.

No. Most faculty will want to see that you are accepted into the program prior to discussing thesis research.

Each student is assigned to either the Director or an Associate Director as an academic advisor. In addition, ScM students find a research advisor who serves as their thesis advisor. The process of finding a thesis is a combination of students reaching out to faculty and faculty reaching out to students for interviews. Both a student and a research advisor have to agree to work together. Completing a thesis is contingent on finding a research advisor, however, almost every student wishing to pursue a thesis has been able to.

Our graduates go to work for pharma companies, biotech companies, device companies, universities, and consulting firms, as well as continuing education (PhD, MD, etc.). Please visit our Alumni Outcomes page for more information.