Frequently Asked Questions are divided into the following major categories:
- General Information
- Submitting an Application for Admission Consideration
- NIH-University Partnership Selection
- Unofficial Transcripts
- Standardized Examinations
- Reference & Recommendation Letters
- NIH-University Admission Committees
- Interviews at the NIH – Applicants Invited by the GPP to Interview for Admission
If you do not find the answer to your question contact the GPP at: gpp@nih.gov.
General Information
Am I eligible for admission into the institutional partnerships? Applicants for admission into the institutional partnerships must be USA citizens or USA permanent residents. Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree by the time of admission. Certain partnerships may have additional degree requirements such as the NCI – Molecular Pathology and NINR – Nursing & Biobehavioral Research partnerships; see the partnership descriptions for details.
I recently changed my name but my examination scores & transcripts have my previous name, what should I do? In your application provide all aliases in the Additional Information field.
How will I know that my letters of recommendation have been received? You will receive a confirmation email message when each letter of recommendation is uploaded into your application.
How will I know that my standardized examination scores and transcripts have been received? Each applicant for admission is required to upload an unofficial copy of his/her examination score(s) and transcript(s). Visit the Required Uploads step to confirm a successful upload of these documents.
Submitting an Application for Admission Consideration
When should I submit my GPP application? Applications for admission will be accepted starting in September. All application materials must be received by the application deadline. Early submissions are encouraged to allow time for supplemental material to be uploaded into your application.
Does the GPP have an application fee? There is no application fee for the GPP; however, our partnering universities may have an application fee that must be submitted to the university.
Can I submit an application after the deadline date? No, late applications will not considered for admission.
Do I have to submit an application to the university and to GPP? All NIH-University partnerships require the GPP application to be submitted to the GPP for admission consideration. All partnerships require the university application to be submitted to the university, however, the deadline to submit the university application is dependent upon the specific partnerships being considered for admission. Most NIH-University partnerships require the university application to be submitted simultaneously with the GPP application. A few NIH-University partnerships allow applicants to submit the university application after being admitted. Review the Applicants section website and the Application Deadlines and Key Contacts file to determine which NIH-University partnerships require simultaneous submission of the GPP and university applications for admission consideration.
If I made a mistake or left something out of my application after it has been submitted, can I make changes or do I have to resubmit the application? Do not submit a new application. Instead, use your login/password combination to revisit your application and make any necessary adjustments. Note, once the application deadline expires certain elements of your application may not be edited.
NIH-University Partnership Selection
Which partnerships should I consider for admission? Review the partnership descriptions posted within the Prospective Students section. You should select only those partnerships that best match your graduate education interests. Careful selection of the partnerships indicates you are making an informed decision about your graduate education. If you need any assistance in identifying which of the NIH-University partnerships you should consider for admission please feel free to contact the any of the partnership directors listed within the GPP WebPages or the GPP office.
Can I add/delete a NIH-University partnership after I have already submitted my application? Yes, you are able to modify your partnership selection until the application deadline.
Unofficial Transcripts
When and how do I submit my unofficial transcripts to the GPP? You can upload your unofficial transcripts as PDF file(s) once your account has been approved, giving you access to Part-B of the application. If you matriculate into the GPP you will need to provide official transcript(s).
Does my unofficial transcript need to include my grades from fall semester? No, the admission committee will review your transcript based on the classes completed and those being taken. If you wish to upload a new unofficial transcript with fall or revised grades you are able to do so prior to the application deadline.
Standardized Examinations
What is the ETS code for NIH? The NIH ETS code is 3950. The GPP application only needs an unofficial copy of your scores. Official scores to the GPP should only be submitted if you matriculate into the program.
How can I send my standardized examination scores to the GPP? Upload an unofficial copy of your standardized exam scores in the Required Uploads step in Part-B of the application; PDF format only.
Can I submit my application without knowing my GRE Scores? Yes, please add the date of your examination, actual or estimated, so the admission committee knows you have or will be taking the examination, results pending. Once your scores are known, revisit your application by using your login/password and update your application.
Which standardized examination tests are required for admission consideration? The GRE General Test is required for most Institutional Partnerships. Karolinska Institutet partnership will accept MCAT score in lieu of a GRE score. MCAT exam is required for admission consideration in the NIH Intramural MD/PhD partnership.
Reference & Recommendation Letters
Do my references need to submit two sets of recommendation letters, one to GPP and one to the university partner? Your references need to submit letters of recommendation to the GPP. Follow the university application instructions about required university letters of recommendation required.
My reference lost the email containing the recommendation request; can a new email be sent? Yes, contact the GPP with the name of the reference.
How long does it take to upload letters of recommendation? Letters are automatically uploaded once your reference completes the online form.
Must my letters of recommendation be received by the application deadline? Yes, letters of recommendation must be received by the application deadline because application evaluations begin shortly after the deadline expires.
NIH-University Admission Committees
Does each partnership have its own admission committee? Yes, each NIH-University partnership has its own admission committee to review all applications and select applicants for interviews.
Who are the members of the admission committee? The admission committees are comprised of both NIH investigators and University professors. All members review submitted applications and come to agreement on which applicants will be invited to interview for admission.
Interviews at the NIH – Applicants Invited by the GPP to Interview for Admission
When will I be notified about interviewing? Invitations to interview for admission are usually made 3-4 weeks before the interview date for that partnership. Interviews occur over several weeks in February. Mark your calendars with the NIH-University interview dates. We will not be able to accommodate other dates.
Can I interview for more than one partnership? Yes, because each partnership considers applicants separately. The GPP will only support one visit to the NIH so if you are interviewing with partnerships that have different interview dates you will work with the GPP and university to pick one date to interview with both.
Do I need to make my own travel/accommodation arrangements? The GPP will pay for your travel and accommodation for the interviews at NIH. Do not purchase travel or accommodation on your own. A representative of the GPP will be in touch to explain this process. Please review the “Interviewing at the NIH” section of the GPP website for more detail.
What is the agenda for my visit? Tentative agendas are posted on the “Interviewing at the NIH” section of the GPP website. A final agenda will be sent to you with your invitation to interview.