All applicants apply through a single program in pharmaceutical and translational sciences. A joint admission committee, with equal faculty representation from each track, reviews every application based on academic excellence and commitment to scientific research.
Admissions decisions continue until the class is filled, usually by mid to late spring. Applications are considered only for fall admission, except in exceptional circumstances.
Application Requirements
All applications will be reviewed holistically, taking into consideration all components of the candidate’s application. Proficiency in the English language is essential.
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The student’s research and professional experience should be well described within the application. A personal statement summarizing career objectives and research interests, published manuscripts and letters of reference should be included. These documents will help the admissions committee in their evaluation of the candidate’s background preparation for success in the PhD program.
For those interested in pursuing PhD training in the clinical and experimental therapeutics track, special emphasis will be given to applicants with an advanced professional degree (e.g. PharmD, MD, DDS).
How to Apply
Please complete the graduate application online. Select Pharmaceutical and Translational Sciences (PhD), a program under the USC School of Pharmacy.
Completely fill out all fields under “My Application,” including personal information, academic history, supporting information and program materials. Please upload the following documents online:
- Personal statement
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Official copies of transcripts from all institutions attended (unofficial copies are not acceptable)
- Publications
- Other required information and documents
Pay the non-refundable application fee. Fee waivers are available to prospective students who meet the eligibility requirements.
To learn more about the application process, please refer to the step-by-step application guide for domestic applicants (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) and international applicants.
Financial Aid
Students accepted into the USC Mann PhD program are typically provided financial aid, including full tuition remission and a stipend to cover living expenses.
Institutional funds are provided for each PhD student during the first two years of their studies. This includes a nationally competitive stipend, all tuition and departmental fees and health insurance premiums. At the end of the first year, students will select a faculty mentor and a track-specific program of PhD study, and will be expected to begin their thesis research program in the laboratory of the faculty mentor.
Beginning July 1 of the third year, the faculty mentor will be financially responsible for the student’s stipend and fees associated with the graduate assistant role. During this time and until graduation, the student will be supported by research grants and/or scholarship funds within the chosen laboratory.
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As a PhD candidate, you will receive healthcare coverage information as part of your financial aid package. If you hold a teaching or research assistantship, your health insurance and your USC student health fee will be paid.
USC Mann’s Graduate Affairs Office will award funds toward travel expenses for those students who are invited to present a paper or poster or to attend a workshop. There is a limit of one to two trips per student per year, depending on the availability of funds.
In addition, USC Mann’s Graduate Affairs Office may fund part of a student’s travel expenses to an international conference, depending on the availability of funds.
The top applicants admitted through the PhD program are eligible for the Dean’s Fellowship (up to five awarded each year), and other university opportunities, including the Joint Provost-School of Pharmacy Fellowships.
These awards cover stipend, health and dental insurance, fees and tuition with teaching as an option, allowing greater effort towards research in early years.