Veterinary Biomedical Sciences Program

Admission requirements include a cumulative grade point average of a minimum of 3.0 out of 4.0 in the baccalaureate degree or DVM/VMD degree. In special circumstances, students with a 2.8 or 2.9/4.0 will be considered on a probationary basis. The General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not a requirement for admission, but applicants are encouraged to take the examination and submit the scores with the application. International students must demonstrate proficiency in English by earning a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A majority of the admitted students have a degree in Veterinary Medicine, but a DVM is not a requirement. The most important considerations for admission are that applicants have documented academic achievement and an interest in advanced study and research in the fields of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences.

A master's degree requires a minimum of 30 hours.
Students seeking the MS degree in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences can choose one of three options:

1. Course work-base - Students completing a coursework-based degree are required to take 30 credits of courses.
2. Report-based - Students completing a master's report are required to complete a maximum of two hours of report or research credit.
3. Thesis-based - Students completing a master's thesis are required to complete a minimum of six to a maximum of 12 research credit hours.

Applicants should contact individual graduate faculty in the program to identify research interests and research program. A willingness to accept the applicant as a graduate student by a faculty is a requirement for approval of the application for admission by the Executive Committee of the Graduate Program. The major professor will provide guidance and mentorship, and for thesis-based MS degree, offer a research project, laboratory space, and in most cases, a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA). If the professor does not have funding available to offer a GRA, the applicant could still choose to work under that professor if the student has alternate funding sources available (scholarships, fellowships, personal funds, etc.). An applicant with no major professor can still apply, but admission approval will not be made until a major professor is identified
Students seeking admission to the VBS program are encouraged to have the completed application submitted before the preceding semester. Generally, students seeking admission for summer (June) or fall semester (August) should submit the application before January 1 and for admission to spring (January) semester, before the previous August 1.
Applications are submitted online through the Graduate School Website.

1. Application fee
   The fee for U.S. citizens and permanent residents is $65. The fee for international applicants is $75. Fees are payable with a credit card.
2. Transcripts
   Transcripts, official or unofficial, for each university where baccalaureate degree was awarded and/or any completed advanced coursework should be uploaded in application. This should include a copy of the 'Transcript Explanation' that is usually on the reverse side of the transcript. Students whose transcripts are not in English must furnish a translation by an appropriate authority. Failure to list any colleges or universities attended may result in dismissal from the University.
3. Statement of objectives
   The applicant will need to upload a statement of objectives describing the academic background, any relevant research, job and life experiences, academic objectives giving specific reasons for the selection of the field of study, contemplated research areas, and professional plans, career goals, etc. The statement of objectives serves to communicate to the Graduate Program Executive Committee the applicant’s commitment and desire to meet the personal and professional demands of a MS degree.
4. Three letters of recommendation
   The applicant should provide names and email addresses of the three individuals willing to write and submit letters of recommendation in the online application. The referees are electronically contacted, and recommendations are added to the application as they are completed.
5. Graduate record exam
   The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission, but applicants are encouraged to take the examination and submit the scores. The applicant can upload an unofficial copy of the GRE scores in the online application and may also request the Educational Testing Service to send scores to Kansas State University (school code 6334). There are no minimum scores required for admission.

English language
An official report of score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be uploaded or sent to Kansas State University (school code 6334) for all applicants whose primary language is not English. Applicants with a degree in the last two years from a United States college or university are not required to submit a TOEFL score but must take an English proficiency test upon arrival.

iBT TOEFL (internet based) scores must have a minimum total score of 79 with no individual score below 20 on the reading, listening, and writing sections.

Applicants who are submitting an IELTS score must have a minimum total score of 6.5 with individual scores of 6.5 or higher on the reading, listening, and writing sections.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum proficiency standard will be required to complete specified courses offered by the English Language Program (ELP) at Kansas State University.
The Executive Committee and the Director of the Graduate Program, in consultation with the relevant Department Head, and the potential major professor make the final admission decision.

Graduate Research Assistantships may be offered and funded by the major professor from research grants. Prospective students are also encouraged to apply for federally sponsored fellowships and traineeships for agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), National Institute of Health (NIH), and National Science Foundation (NSF).

An MS in VBS prepares students for a number of varied academic, industry, state and federal government agencies and veterinary practice careers. Students who have completed the VBS program typically enter doctoral programs or pursue careers in academia, industry, and private or specialty veterinary practices.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is comprised of three major buildings: Coles Hall, Trotter Hall, and Mosier Hall. These buildings encompass approximately 468,838 total square feet and provide space for outstanding instructional, research, clinical, and diagnostic activities. Three departments, Anatomy and Physiology, Clinical Sciences, and Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, the Veterinary Health Center and the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory are in the college. In addition to numerous research laboratories within the departments, the college has several Core Laboratories, including the Flow Cytometry Core, Electron Microscopy Facility, Confocal Core, Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Core and Next-Gen Sequencing.