Department of Biostatistics
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biostatistics

The Ph.D. in Biostatistics is awarded by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences rather than the School of Public Health. The program is overseen by a standing subcommittee of the Graduate Faculty comprised of faculty from both the Department of Biostatistics and Columbia's Morningside Campus.

Only students who hold a master's degree in biostatistics or statistics are admitted into the Ph.D. program, ensuring that our doctoral students enter the program with introductory course work already completed in the theory of probability and the theory of statistical inference, so that they may immediately register for the required two-semester sequence of advanced courses in the theory of statistical inference. We also want to be sure that they have already had introductory courses in regression analysis, experimental design, multivariate methods, and the analysis of categorical data, so they may qualify for advanced courses on these topics.

Other admissions criteria generally include: (i) a score of at least 700 or so on the quantitative aptitude test of the Graduate Record Exam (corresponding to the 80th percentile) and a score of at least 600 or so on the verbal aptitude test. Students with a lower score on the verbal test will be required to attend a course in verbal fluency and/or demonstrate English language proficiency in order to secure continuing support; (ii) a thorough knowledge of calculus (equivalent to 2 years of undergraduate study); (iii) a knowledge of matrix and linear algebra. In addition it is highly recommended that a student have an additional year of mathematical analysis beyond calculus either prior to admission to the Ph.D. program or within the first year of the program.

The Biostatistics faculty of the Doctoral Program Subcommittee must recommend admission before an applicant is admitted into the program.

The Department of Biostatistics offers a limited number of fellowships for students in its two doctoral programs.  Full fellowship support consists of tuition and a stipend.  To ensure full consideration, please submit your completed application by January 1st.

For applications to the Ph.D. program, write to: