Apply to Biomedical Visualization
How to apply and what to expect once you've applied to the MS in Biomedical Visualization degree program
Early preparation is the key to a smooth and successful application and admission process. In the last few years, the number of applicants to our program has grown dramatically. We’re limited by space and resources.
Give yourself the best chance of acceptance by doing your research and putting your best application forward.
Before you apply, don’t hesitate to contact us to review your experience and discuss your career interests. We’re happy to meet to review your portfolio no later than October of the year that you apply.
Contacting medical illustrators in your location through the Association of Medical Illustrators Directory can also help you research the profession and prepare your application and portfolio.
Applications—including your portfolio—are due December 15 in the year before your intended enrollment.
Take the next step
What to know before you apply
Don’t wait until the last minute to apply! Start early and give yourself plenty of time to collect all your materials and prepare your portfolio.
MS in Biomedical Visualization admissions requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any field of study
- Minimum GPA of 3.0Â (on a 4.0 scale) for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study and for all cumulative graduate work previously taken
- GRE General Test is required. Preference will be given to applicants with a combined Quantitative and Verbal score above 300 and a Writing score of 3 or above
- Portfolio of original artwork, including all requirements (listed at Applying)
- Prerequisite courses (listed below)
*Prerequisite courses must be taken for a grade at an accredited institution. Certificate programs will not count towards prerequisites
Prerequiste courses
- General Chemistry or Introductory Chemistry
- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Human Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab.
Two or more of the following science courses:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Developmental anatomy (Vertebrate Embryology)
- Genetics
- Histology
- Immunology
- Molecular biology
- Neuroanatomy
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
- Physical/biological anthropology
- Pathology
One or more of the following technology courses:
- 2D vector
- 2D raster
- 3D modeling
- 2D/3D animation
- Interactive or motion media
- Computer programming
MS in Biomedical Visualiation admissions application checklist
- Complete application
Submit your application online via the UIC Website—just follow the instructions listed there. There is a non-refundable application fee of $70 for all applicants.You don’t have to enter and submit all application information in one sitting. You can return to the system as many times as you need to. You can also return to the system checklist as often as you like to see what materials have been uploaded and verified as received. - Unofficial transcripts
Submit unofficial copies of registrar-issued official transcripts from institutions where you earned degrees and transcripts from all colleges and universities you attended within the last eight years. - GRE scores
GRE scores are required for all applicants. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores should be sent directly from Education Testing Service to UIC. If you have taken the GRE within the past five years, you must request that scores be sent from ETS to UIC. Our ETS Institutional Code is 1851. Preference will be given to applicants with a combined Quantitative and Verbal score above 300 (revised General Test) and a Writing score of a 3 or above. - Personal statement
Upload a personal statement with your application. This should be concise (1-2 pages) and clearly state your goals for graduate study and a career in our field. It can include anything else you’d like to include, such as what’s special, distinctive or impressive about you and your life story. What unique skills might you possess that would allow you to succeed in our profession? What are your goals for the medical visualization field, and how can attending our program help you to achieve your goals? - Three letters of recommendation
Submit three letters of recommendation in support of your application. These letters should be from instructors or employers. Letters must be on letterhead, signed, and uploaded with your application. - Art portfolio
Submit a portfolio of 20 original images meeting the following minimum requirements. These images should be created from direct observation, not photographic references. Images of medical subject matter are discouraged.- 6 full-figure drawings (not painting) from the nude model that include gestures, short poses, and long poses
- 1 drawing of the human hand
- 1 portrait drawing
- 1 black and white tone composition from observation using all five basic forms: sphere, cube, cylinder, cone, and pyramid (please draw only basic shapes, NOT everyday objects that represent basic shapes). The arrangement of the shapes and the composition is your choice.
- 1 still life drawing or painting in color that includes both organic and geometric forms. Should demonstrate good form, volume, texture, and convincing spatial relationships.
- The additional 10 images may include:
- General drawing (pages from sketchbooks are encouraged)
- Figure drawing
- Color media
- Digital media
- Graphic design
There are no format specifications for the art portfolio, but we suggest submitting individual .jpgs or .pdfs for each portfolio image in the application.
Requirements for international students
If English is not your native language, you might need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the exam of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the PTE-Academic. Check out the International Requirements to see if this applies to you.
Scores must be submitted to UIC directly using the institutional code 1851.
We require a minimum score of 585 to 600 for the paper-based TOEFL. You must also take the Test of Written English and submit scores in the range of 5 to 6. The minimum score for the internet-based TOEFL is 95, with subscores of Reading 24, Listening 22, Speaking 24, and Writing 24.
Minimum scores for IELTS are 7.0 for the total score, 6.5 for each of the four subsections.
The minimum score for the PTE Academic is 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
Declaration and Certification of Finances
The Declaration and Certification of Finances form must be signed by both you and your sponsor.
UIC application process overview
Portfolio examples
Tuition and aid
Visit our college tuition and aid page for the most up-to-date information.Â
Take this time before you apply to review the funding options available to you. The Graduate College has some great information on financial resources and funding opportunities. Also, check out our department-specific scholarships and awards.
External program scholarships:
Access to Excellence Fellowship: The goal of the Access to Excellence Fellowship at the University of Illinois Chicago is to increase the number of students from historically underrepresented groups in graduate education who enter careers as researchers and college faculty.
The Vesalius Trust: The Vesalius Trust for Visual Communication in the Health Sciences strives to develop and support education and research programs in health science communications. BVIS students apply in the fall of their second year for competitive research scholarships and are judged on background, education, project concept, design, and production plan.
What to expect after you apply
You can check the status of your admissions application online at any time and view whether all your items are correct and complete. Once you’ve successfully submitted your completed admissions application, here’s what comes next.
Personal interview
Personal interviews are a requirement for admission to our program. We’ll contact you by email if you’ve been selected for an interview. Interviews are scheduled in mid-February.
If selected, you’ll have the option to choose between a virtual interview session and an in-person session on UIC’s campus. Both sessions will begin with a complete program overview by Dr. Leah Lebowicz, program director, who will discuss our curriculum alongside 2-3 additional interviewees. Following this session, each interviewee will meet independently with the BVIS faculty to present selected work from their portfolio.
After completing your portfolio review, you’ll have time to meet and talk with current BVIS students, as well as some of our BVIS faculty one-on-one. Applicants who elect for an in-person interview session will be able to tour the department and facilities, including our lab, library, and galleries of medical artwork.
International applicants: Since we know it can be hard to arrange travel for this, the faculty will conduct your interview virtually.
Departmental review
The time it takes for an application to go through the review process varies. After we complete our review of your application, we communicate acceptances and denials to the UIC Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences Academic Affairs Committee, which forwards our recommendations to the UIC Graduate College.
Graduate college review
In rare cases, applications we recommend for admission may need to be reviewed by the UIC Graduate College, which may uphold our recommendation or deny the application.
After a decision has been made
Once the UIC Graduate College approves our admissions recommendations, the application portal updates and an official decision letter is mailed. UIC Graduate College decisions are made twice monthly, so there may be a delay of several weeks between your interview and your decision letter.
If you’ve been admitted…
Congratulations! Access our Admitted Student page for your next steps. You’ll also receive information from the BVIS program shortly after you’ve been accepted.
International students: If you need a student visa, you should submit OIS financial documents through the application checklist for the Office of International Services. Contact the OIS concerning document requests and visa processing.
If you’ve been waitlisted…
You will be notified by the program.
If you’ve been denied…
You may contact us directly to inquire about our decision. In some cases, we’re able to advise you on how to strengthen your portfolio or improve your application in order to apply in the future.
Questions?
Questions?
Contact our administrative aide, Alyssa Nelson, with any post-application questions.
You can contact Alyssa at:
Email alyssan@uic.edu
Phone 312.413.4732
Address 1919 W. Taylor St.
250 AHSB, MC 530
Chicago, IL 60612-7249