Faculty:

Approved by the UPSOM Executive Committee – 12/8/2009; Revised: August 29, 2018.

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL STUDENT APPLICATION PROCESS

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine programs welcome applications from

all qualified individuals, regardless of citizenship status for the MD degree. As a school

with a strong emphasis on diversity of the student body and faculty, as well as provision

of rigorous training in the most up-to-date scientific advances in medicine, we believe

that international students will contribute to the school through their prior experiences

and cultural backgrounds. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has an

international scope with a collaborative clinical, educational and research presence

around the world. Therefore, it is an integral component of our mission to train

outstanding physician leaders for the international community.

International applicants must meet all requirements of applicants who are United States

citizens, permanent residents or asylees. These requirements mandate at least one year of

higher education within the United States or Canada and completion of all pre-requisite

courses as listed on the web site. Proficiency in written and spoken English must be

documented as outlined below.

Individuals who already received the degree of Doctor of Medicine are not eligible to

apply as a candidate for a medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of

Medicine. Transfer students are only accepted from LCME accredited allopathic medical

schools.

Official Transcripts:

The applicant must arrange for an official transcript/academic documents to be sent to the

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine from each college or university attended

outside of the United States. Official documents are defined as original academic records

that are issued by the institution attended and bear the seal of the issuing institution and

the original signature of the registrar or appropriate official. If the academic institution

issues the academic documents in a language other than English, the applicant must

submit the official transcript/academic documents in the original language along with a

certified English translation of the original documents.

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants to The

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Applicants must take the Medical College

Admissions Test (MCAT) within three years of the date of application.

In addition, all applicants who are citizens of a country in which English is not the

official language or if the applicant is a citizen of the province of Quebec in Canada are

required to show evidence of English language proficiency by submitting the official

results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International

English Language Testing System (IELTS). Students taking a version of the TOEFL

must score a minimum of 600 on the TOEFL pBT or a minimum of 100 on the TOEFL

iBT. Students taking the IELTS must score a minimum of 7.00. If the applicant has

Approved by the UPSOM Executive Committee – 12/8/2009; Revised: August 29, 2018.

earned a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in the

United States, the applicant will be exempt from submitting English language proficiency

test results.

Application:

Individuals must apply on-line through AMCAS at www.aamc.org. To complete an

application for admission, the applicant must submit the secondary application and have

three letters of recommendation.

Application Fee:

All applicants are required to pay the secondary application fee. This fee is non-

refundable and must be submitted to complete the applicant’s application for admissions.

The application fee will be waived for applicants who have received an AMCAS fee

waiver. Applications are not reviewed without payment of the fee or a fee waiver.

Interviews:

Once the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine receives a completed application,

it will be reviewed for consideration for interview. No student is accepted to the School

of Medicine without an on-site interview. Interviews are held from mid-August through

mid-December. Applicants are responsible for the costs of interviewing and arranging

for required travel documentation. Early applications are encouraged.

Criminal Background Checks:

All students undergo a criminal background check prior to matriculation.

International Student Escrow Deposit:

International students accepted for admission will be required to deposit with the

University of Pittsburgh’s Student Payment Center a sum equal to the total cost of

education for their first two years of their medical education with documented support of

the ability to pay their final two years. The current escrow account for two years of

medical education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is approximately

$167,600 USD. Any scholarships awarded to the applicant from the University of

Pittsburgh School of Medicine will be subtracted from the total amount required in

escrow for the two years. No interest will be paid to the student on the funds that are in

escrow.

Tuition and Fees assessed by the School of Medicine will be applied against the student’s

escrow account twice a year (fall and spring) by the due date set by the University of

Pittsburgh. After current tuition and fees are satisfied with the University of Pittsburgh,

the student will receive a refund of 1/4 of the escrow balance each semester for living

expenses for their first two years of their medical education.

Approved by the UPSOM Executive Committee – 12/8/2009; Revised: August 29, 2018.

Should an international student transfer to another school under approved Immigration

and Naturalization Service procedures or return to their home country with no intentions

of returning or do not have the ability to complete their medical education with the

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the balance of the escrow account may be

refunded after all institutional charges have been satisfied. This refund must be requested

in writing. Documentation of withdrawal from the University of Pittsburgh or transfer to

another school must be provided by the Office of Student Affairs at the University of

Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Financial Aid and Scholarship:

It is estimated that four years of a medical education at the University of Pittsburgh

School of Medicine will cost approximately $335,200 USD (the estimate is the

equivalent to four years of the 2018-2019 out-of-state medical school budget.)

Applicants who do not hold a permanent visa or an immigrant visa are not eligible for

educational loan programs supported by the US government. Because of these

limitations and the high cost of pursuing a medical education within the US, qualified

international students will be issued conditional acceptance into the University of

Pittsburgh School of Medicine under the following conditions. On or before June 1 of

the year of matriculation, the accepted applicant must deposit in a University owned and

administered escrow account funds sufficient to meet all tuition, mandatory fees, and

living expenses for the first two years of medical education minus any scholarship

amounts awarded. The amount to be placed in escrow will be determined based on the

cost of attendance of the incoming year multiplied by two years. Each year tuition may

increase. However, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine will provide

scholarship dollars to cover the increased cost due to any tuition increase in the ensuing

year that is held in escrow. The current escrow account for two year of medical

education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is approximately $167,600

USD.

International students may be considered for our UPSOM Dean’s Scholarship ranging

from $5,000 to $40,000 per year. International students are eligible to apply for other

programmatic funding such as the Physician Scientist Training Program and the Clinical

Scientist Training Program. Applicants should only pursue these programs if they have a

genuine interest in research as a primary activity in their future.

Acceptance:

Once the applicant is admitted and has accepted the offer of admissions, their file will be

forwarded to the Office of International Services (OIS) where an Immigration Specialist

will review and issue the Form I-20 for F-1 international students. If there are any

additional immigration-related issues that need to be addressed, the staff in OIS will

communicate with the student regarding their specific situation as the need arises.

Additional information in regards to the Immigration –related services available at the

University of Pittsburgh can be found on-line at http://www.ois.pitt.edu/new-here/.

Approved by the UPSOM Executive Committee – 12/8/2009; Revised: August 29, 2018.

Matriculation:

All accepted applicants must secure their visa to travel to the US by July 1 of the year of

matriculation. Applicants must inform the Office of Admissions of the date of their

consulate interview along with notification of the consulate’s decision. Upon arrival in

the United States, accepted applicants must check in with The University of Pittsburgh’s

Office of International Services (OIS) located in Room 708 of the William Pitt Union. At

this time, accepted applicants must bring their passports and Form I-94 Arrival/Departure

Record to OIS.

Housing:

International students may apply to live in the University housing for medical students

which is on campus. This is convenient and affordable. It is not required that student

live in the University owned housing; there are many safe neighborhoods with affordable

apartments that are close to the University on direct bus lines. Free public transportation

via bus is available to all University of Pittsburgh medical students through their official

University of Pittsburgh identification card.

Questions:

Call 412 648 9891 (country code 001) with any questions.