How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine-Related Majors at Rice: Biosciences, Neuroscience, Public Health Sciences and Sports Medicine Sit in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, You Choose a School and Up to Three Areas of Interest When You Apply, and SAT/ACT Scores Are Recommended but Not Required, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Rice University’s life-science and medicine-related undergraduate programs sit mostly in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences: the Department of BioSciences runs BioSciences, Neuroscience (an interdisciplinary major) and Environmental Science (jointly with Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences), while the school also offers Public Health Sciences and Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology (the catalog points to the Department of Kinesiology’s website for the latter). Bioengineering and a few related programs are mentioned in one line only. This guide follows Rice’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Life-science and medicine-related degrees

• Scale: the admission office says Rice offers more than 50 undergraduate majors across seven schools of study — architecture, business, engineering and computing, humanities and arts, music, natural sciences and social sciences.
• BioSciences: B.A. and B.S. degrees with a major in Biosciences and one major concentration — Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Genetics, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Integrative Biology. The department says the B.A. offers a rigorous biology curriculum with flexibility for exploration in other areas, the B.S. offers greater depth in upper-level coursework, and most BioSciences students, regardless of major, take part in undergraduate research. All degree paths prepare students for graduate, medical or other professional schools and a range of life-science careers. There are also minors in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and a Biochemistry and Cell Biology B.S.–M.S.–Ph.D. accelerated track to which qualified students may apply.
• Neuroscience: a B.A. and a B.S. (with two concentrations, Computational Neuroscience and Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience), plus a minor, administered through BioSciences.
• Public Health Sciences: a B.A. whose core covers principles of public and community health, environmental challenges and public health, epidemiology, U.S. health care delivery and policy, health behavior and promotion, and statistics for the health professional.
• Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology (SMEP): a B.A. whose core includes nutrition, human anatomy with lab, human physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, motor learning and exercise physiology.
• Environmental Science: B.A./B.S., jointly managed with Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences; not covered here.
• Bioengineering and related minors: the catalog lists a B.S. in Bioengineering (BSBE) in the engineering school, minors in Global Health Technologies and Digital Health, and a Medical Humanities minor in the humanities; named only.
• Nursing (BSN): not on the pages we read.
• Combined B.S./M.D. programs: none on the pages we read; the catalog lists a Bioengineering Ph.D./M.D., which is a graduate program.

2. Admission and choosing a major: pick a school and up to three areas of interest, then declare

• What you select when applying: the catalog and FAQ say every applicant must name one of the seven schools as the primary area of study and up to three specific academic areas of interest (majors, minors and pre-professional tracks). Each school looks for different strengths, so choose the school that best reflects your interests; applicants are “assessed on their preparedness and alignment to the majors they selected”, and the first supplement essay asks what draws you to the academic areas you selected.
• When to declare: not described on the pages we read; not published there. The catalog says that when you declare Biosciences you also declare a concentration, and because the concentrations share a common core you can change concentration at any time through the Registrar.
• Entry conditions: the catalog pages for the biosciences, neuroscience, public health sciences and SMEP majors state credit requirements and a major GPA of at least 2.00 but no GPA threshold or enrollment cap for entering. The SMEP catalog page adds that no transfer credit is accepted for its core requirements.
• Nursing and other restricted programs: none on the pages we read.
• Pre-med: the United States has no pre-med major. On the Rice pages we read there is the “pre-professional tracks” option on the application, and the BioSciences department’s statement that all its degree paths prepare students for medical or other professional schools. Rice’s health-professions advising office page was not read, so medical-school admission statistics, committee letters and advice for international students are not published here.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school courses (admission office): at least 16 credits — English 4, social studies 2, mathematics 3, laboratory science 2 (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics), one foreign language 2, and 3 more in any of those areas. At a minimum, the natural science and engineering divisions require trigonometry or precalculus and both chemistry and physics (a second year of chemistry or biology may replace physics). Applicants in international curricula that do not offer a foreign language (for example GCE/A-levels) are exempt from that requirement. Students admitted with deficiencies must make them up in the summer before enrollment.
• AP, IB and credit: AP scores of 4 or 5 earn transfer credit; IB credit requires the IB Diploma and a score of 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams; A-Levels, the Abitur, the French Baccalauréat (Science Option) and similar international exams may earn credit with a grade of A or B. Courses used to meet high school graduation requirements, including dual credit, earn no credit, and only students with more than 20 college-preparatory courses can have college courses taken in high school considered. Rice major requirements list “AP/other credit” equivalents such as BIOS 101/102, CHEM 111–114 and MATH 105/106.
• BioSciences (common to all concentrations): non-biology courses — General Chemistry I with lab (CHEM 121, 123), Single Variable Calculus I and II (MATH 101, 102), General Physics with lab (PHYS 125) and Statistics for BioSciences (STAT 305, or STAT 315); core lectures Introductory Biology I and II (BIOS 201, 202); plus one 200-level-or-above lecture from the Wiess or engineering schools. Concentration courses are added. Minimum major credit hours: Biochemistry B.S. 70 (at least 30 at the 300 level or above) and B.A. 62 (at least 22); Cell Biology and Genetics B.S. 68 (at least 32); Ecology and Evolutionary Biology B.S. 69 (at least 39); Integrative Biology B.S. 69 (at least 31); all degrees need 120 credit hours and a major GPA of at least 2.00. The Biochemistry concentration also requires General Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry I, Physics II and BIOS 301, 302 and 352 (physical chemistry). The B.A. is more flexible because it has fewer required independent-research courses.
• Neuroscience B.A.: 23 courses, 62–69 credit hours, including 10 courses (26–30 hours) at the 300 level or above. Foundation courses: Introductory Biology I, General Chemistry I and II with labs, a computational course (CMOR 220 or COMP 140), Calculus I and II, General Physics I and II (PHYS 125, 126), Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 203) and a statistics course. Core: BIOS 385, NEUR 362, NEUR 380 and NEUR 383; project-based labs BIOS 212 plus at least two more; at least four electives (12 or more credit hours). The B.S. concentrations take 27–30 courses (73–77 credit hours) with at least 29 hours at the 300 level or above; at most 2 courses (6 hours) from study abroad or transfer after matriculation may count toward specific requirements.
• Public Health Sciences B.A.: 42 credit hours (14 courses): 6 core courses plus 8 electives (24 hours), at least 5 courses at the 300 level or above; up to 4 courses may come from study abroad or transfer. SMEP B.A.: 43 credit hours (14 courses): 9 core courses plus 5 electives, at least 7 courses at the 300 level or above.
• Placement: Introductory Biology, chemistry and calculus have “AP/other credit” substitutes; mathematics or chemistry placement tests are not described on the pages we read.

4. Deadlines, materials and fees

• Rounds (the pages show no year while the essay prompts are labeled 2026–2027; check the dates are for fall 2027): Early Decision I is due November 1 with decisions in mid-December and the enrollment deposit due January 4; Early Decision II is due January 4, with a deposit due mid-February on the domestic page and March 1 on the international page; Regular Decision is due January 4 with decisions by April 1 and a May 1 deposit. For Early Decision II decisions, the admission pages say late January while the catalog says mid-February; both are given. Early Decision is binding (you must withdraw other applications if admitted); Regular Decision is non-binding. QuestBridge National College Match is also offered.
• Materials: the Common App and the Rice supplement; a $75 fee; the official high school transcript (grades 9–11 plus current senior courses, with mid-year grades for Regular Decision); a counselor letter and two teacher letters (ideally one related to your intended area of study); architecture applicants add a portfolio. The supplement asks what draws you to the academic areas you selected (150 words), what appeals to you about Rice (150 words), one 500-word prompt (residential college or background), and “The Box” image.
• Testing: the SAT or ACT is recommended but not required, and applicants who do not submit scores receive full consideration. Rice has no preference between the tests, superscores, does not consider the essay sections and treats the ACT Science section as optional; applicants from U.S. high schools may self-report, and enrolling students then submit official scores. Once you opt into score consideration you cannot opt out. ACT scores are accepted through September and SAT through October for Early Decision I; both through December for Early Decision II and Regular Decision.
• Interviews: recommended but optional and not guaranteed; all 2026–2027 interviews are virtual, with alumni volunteers or current students, and an alumni interview must be requested after you apply. Domestic students may also submit a Glimpse video.
• Fee waivers: domestic applicants use the Common App prompts; QuestBridge applicants automatically qualify.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Cost (2026–27, General Announcements): undergraduate tuition for those who entered in 2024 or later is $71,140 a year ($35,570 a semester; $2,964 per credit hour). Required fees: student activity $120, student recreation center $144 and health and wellness support services $720, and the student health insurance premium is listed as “TBA”. Room is $13,930 and meal plan option A $6,600, a residential-college room-and-board charge of $20,530 a year. The page has no in-state or out-of-state split and no major-specific surcharge.
• Aid: admission is need-blind for domestic applicants, and through the Rice Investment the university meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans. Those who show need and submit materials on time receive a package at admission. Amounts and thresholds are on the financial aid site, which we did not read.
• Merit scholarships: the Office of Admission awards merit scholarships to admitted first-year students; there is no separate application, financial need is not considered, about 20% of admitted students receive one, and recipients are told at admission.
• Testing and in-state preference: testing is as above; no in-state preference is described on the pages we read.

6. International applicants

• Admission and funding: Rice considers international applicants on a need-aware basis and offers need-based aid to a limited number of international first-year applicants. To be considered, state it on the International Student Financial Statement and submit the CSS Profile; international students admitted without requesting aid cannot apply for aid in later years. The FAQ says international students must submit bank statements or affidavits supporting the total funds available for the full cost of attendance; tax documents, stock portfolios and proof of income are accepted but not sufficient on their own. International applicants cannot request an application-fee waiver, and incoming international students pay a $395 undergraduate international orientation fee.
• English proficiency: if English is not your first language, either complete at least two years of full-time study in an English-language curriculum, or submit an official score: TOEFL iBT 100 (5.0 on the updated scale for tests on or after January 21, 2026), IELTS Academic 7.0 (General Training is not accepted), Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 185, or Duolingo English Test 130. Scores must come from a single test administration; TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted.
• Transcripts and credentials: transcripts must be in English or accompanied by an official translation. Applicants in international exam-based curricula submit all high school transcripts, final exam results (for example IGCSE/GCSE) and predicted results if available. A school official must send transcripts through the Common App, an electronic delivery service, Slate.org or postal mail, not as an email attachment.
• Interview: international students may submit an optional InitialView interview, completed by November 10 for Early Decision and January 12 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision.
• Scholarships: the admission committee automatically considers all admitted students, domestic and international, for merit scholarships.
• Restrictions in restricted majors or clinical placements for international students: not described on the pages we read.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admission pages we read do not mention the Gaokao and have no China-specific page. Ask Rice’s admission office, or find your regional counselor through the admission site.
• Transcripts and exam records: follow the international rules in Section 6: Chinese-language records need an official translation and are sent by a school official. The pages mention only final and predicted results for international exam-based curricula, with no country-by-country guidance on high school exit exams.
• English and interview: see Section 6 (TOEFL 100/5.0, IELTS 7.0 and so on); the InitialView interview is optional.
• Funds: as in Section 6, submit the International Student Financial Statement and bank statements.

8. Research and special programs

• Research: the admission office says students have the chance to do research alongside experts from the first year regardless of major, and the BioSciences department says most of its students take part in undergraduate research. The department’s site has an undergraduate research information page that we did not read.
• Special programs (General Announcements): the Century Scholars Program (a two-year faculty-mentored research project from the first year, with a two-year merit scholarship and research stipend for some students); the Rice Undergraduate Scholars Program (a year-long research project in junior or senior year); the Rice–UTHealth Houston Public Health Scholars Program (up to five graduate courses, 16 credit hours, at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in senior year, with an MPH completed within one year after the Rice degree); and the Rice–UTMB Physical Therapy Scholars Program (SMEP students who identify physical therapy as a career get preference in admission to UTMB’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program). The pages do not say whether these programs are open to international students.
• Clinical placements: not described on the pages we read.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: if you have earned 12 or more semester hours of college credit since high school you must apply as a transfer. You need a GPA of at least 3.2 in your most recent college work to be considered (admitted transfers typically have 3.5 or higher), and transfers must complete at least four semesters (60 semester hours) as full-time students at Rice to earn a bachelor’s degree.
• Deadlines: fall entry March 15, with rolling decisions in June; spring entry October 15, with decisions by December 1 (the pages show no year; check that they are for fall 2027).
• Materials: the Common App and Rice supplement; $75; all college transcripts; a high school transcript (or GED); a College Report; two college instructor recommendations; SAT/ACT recommended but not required; international transfers add English transcripts or translations, proof of English proficiency and the International Student Financial Statement.
• Prerequisites: transfer applicants have no coursework requirements based on their intended area of study, but the committee considers the pursuit of and performance in relevant coursework.
• Money: transfers are not eligible for merit scholarships; domestic transfers can apply for need-based aid; international transfer applicants are offered no financial aid or merit scholarships, a policy that applies at review and throughout their years at Rice.
• SMEP: no transfer credit is accepted for the core requirements of that major.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Submit the Common App, Rice supplement, transcript, a counselor letter and two teacher letters by November 1 (ED I) or January 4 (ED II or Regular); the SAT or ACT is recommended, not required
• Have at least three years of math (including trigonometry or precalculus) and both chemistry and physics (or a second year of chemistry or biology) to meet the natural science minimum
• Choose a school and up to three areas of interest; aid is need-blind for domestic applicants

International applicants (including China):

• Two years of English-medium study, or TOEFL 100/5.0, IELTS Academic 7.0, Cambridge 185 or Duolingo 130; transcripts in English or officially translated
• For aid, submit the International Student Financial Statement and CSS Profile; admission is need-aware and aid is limited; aid cannot be requested later if you did not ask at admission; ask the admission office how the Gaokao may be used

Transfer students:

• At least 12 credit hours and a 3.2 GPA in recent college work; apply by March 15 for fall entry; spend four full-time semesters at Rice

Sources: Rice University, Admission: first-year domestic applicants; Admission: first-year international applicants; Admission: transfer applicants; Admission: FAQ; Admission: academics; General Announcements: admission; General Announcements: BioSciences; Catalog: Biochemistry B.S.; Catalog: Biochemistry B.A.; Catalog: Cell Biology and Genetics B.S.; Catalog: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology B.S.; Catalog: Integrative Biology B.S.; Catalog: Neuroscience B.A.; Catalog: Computational Neuroscience B.S.; Catalog: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience B.S.; Catalog: Public Health Sciences B.A.; Catalog: Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology B.A.; General Announcements: unique programs; General Announcements: tuition, fees and expenses; BioSciences: undergraduate programs; BioSciences: undergraduate advising. The deadline pages show no year; check that the dates are for fall 2027 entry (the essay prompts on the pages are labeled 2026–2027).