How to Apply to Brown University for Life Sciences and Health-Related Undergraduate Study: Open Curriculum, No Admission by Concentration, Declaration by Mid-Sophomore Year, Biology, Neuroscience, Public Health and the Eight-Year PLME, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Brown University is in Providence, Rhode Island, and has an Open Curriculum: no university-wide core, and majors are called concentrations. There is no pre-med major in the United States, and Brown is no exception; students complete the courses medical schools ask for within any concentration, with Health Careers Advising and an eight-year medical program (PLME) as additional routes. This article follows Brown’s own pages for fall 2027 entry, with sections for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, and then transfer students.

1. Which undergraduate programs are related

• Biology: the A.B. or the Sc.B. Both require courses in three areas (cell/molecular, structure/function, organismal biology) and at least three courses with a laboratory or fieldwork component. The Sc.B. adds a thematic Track; Brown lists Immuno/Pathobiology, Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Physiology and Biotechnology, Neurobiology, Physical Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology and Biomedical Informatics.
• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: Sc.B., twenty courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics, with a year of research with a faculty member.
• Neuroscience: Sc.B. only, affiliated with the Carney Institute for Brain Science. Brown says prospective concentrators should email neuroundergrad@brown.edu to be assigned an advisor.
• Health & Human Biology: biology core courses plus humanities and social science theme courses in one of four themes: Mind, Brain, Behavior; Planetary Health; Global Health; Social Determinants of Health.
• Public Health: courses from the four departments of the School of Public Health. For the Class of 2029 and beyond: five foundational courses, one course in each of four crosscutting areas, electives, a senior seminar and experiential learning (community-based course, independent study or academic internship).
• Others: the list also includes Applied Mathematics-Biology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Biology and Biomedical Engineering (School of Engineering); engineering is only mentioned in passing here.
• The concentration list we read has no undergraduate nursing program. Whether these concentrations are classed as STEM is not stated on the pages we read; ask admissions.

2. How admission works: no major at application, declare by mid-sophomore year

• At application: the Brown section of the Common App asks for your top choices of concentration “as far as you know at the time you apply.” Brown says there are no quotas among concentrations and it does not admit students by academic interest; the answer is used only to understand current preferences.
• Declaring: no later than the middle of the fourth semester (usually spring of sophomore year, before pre-registering for semester five), through ASK with a course plan and short essay approved by a concentration advisor. Transfer students entering with fourth- or fifth-semester standing declare in their first term.
• Entry conditions: the Biology, Neuroscience and Public Health pages we read give no GPA threshold or seat limit; not stated on the pages we read, so ask the director of undergraduate studies.
• Changing and doubling: students can change their primary concentration at any time if they can meet the new requirements by graduation; a second concentration must be declared by the end of the penultimate semester. Brown says a student can have one concentration plus a certificate, or two concentrations without a certificate.
• Graduation: besides a concentration, at least 30 course credits, 8 semesters of full-time enrollment and 2 writing-designated courses.

3. The pre-med route

• Health Careers Advising describes the path as three phases (getting started, progressing, applying to professional school) and says each school sets its own requirements, so check them at the schools you plan to apply to. It points to the AAMC’s annual list of premedical coursework.
• Typical prerequisites (MD/DO, from the prerequisite-courses page): two semesters of biology with lab; two of general chemistry with lab; two of organic chemistry with lab; biochemistry (required by some, strongly encouraged by the office); two of physics with lab; two of mathematics (one calculus and one statistics encouraged); two of English; psychology and sociology are not universally required but the entrance exam covers them.
• Brown course notes: without AP Biology credit, start with BIOL 0200. With AP Chemistry 4 or higher, or IB Chemistry 5 or higher, you can start in CHEM 0330. Many medical schools accept CHEM 0330 as two semesters of general chemistry, but some medical and veterinary schools and about two-thirds of dental schools want two, and the office suggests CHEM 0400 or CHEM 0500 as the second. Organic chemistry is CHEM 0350 and 0360, plus CHEM 0370 (the stand-alone lab) if taken after spring 2026. Biochemistry is BIOL 0280.
• AP credit: even with AP credit you should still take two biology courses with labs, because many medical schools will not accept AP credit for prerequisites; policies vary by school.
• Other conditions: labs should be in person; prerequisites cannot be taken during study abroad or at an international institution; summer courses are generally not recommended; prerequisites should be graded rather than S/NC (unless a course is only offered S/NC).
• Statistics: the office’s table shows Brown applicants’ admission rate to medical school (fall 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026: 82%, 80%, 80%, 80%) beside the national rate (43.7%, 44.6%, 42.9%, 2026 to be announced), and average MCAT and science GPA for admitted Brown applicants.
• International students: the office defines them as people who finished a U.S. undergraduate degree without U.S. citizenship, and says admission to U.S. medical schools is very difficult for them: not all schools accept international applicants, those that do enroll few, and most students must secure private loans. That is about applying to medical school after graduation, not Brown’s undergraduate admission.
• PLME (eight-year program): Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education leads from a four-year undergraduate program directly to the Warren Alpert Medical School. PLME students can choose any of the nearly 100 concentrations. Only first-year applicants may apply, by indicating interest on the Common App and answering extra essays; students cannot transfer into the program. About 50 students enroll each year. The PLME site says it has no course requirements beyond the College’s recommendations but encourages honors, AP or other advanced work. An Early Decision applicant may be admitted to Brown but not to the PLME and is still bound by the ED agreement; that student may be considered for the PLME in Regular Decision.
• PLME and international students: the PLME site says that financial aid will not be available to students who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents during the medical school years; students with a green card or U.S. dual citizenship remain eligible. Undergraduate aid is handled by Brown’s Office of Financial Aid.

4. High school preparation

• The admission pages we read do not list required high school math, biology, chemistry or physics for these concentrations; not stated, so ask admissions.
• The checklist says that if you are considering a Bachelor of Science degree or the PLME, at least one recommendation should come from a math or science teacher.
• Course requirements after enrolling: the Biology A.B. prerequisites are CHEM 0330, CHEM 0350, MATH 0090 (or placement; MATH 0050/0060 may substitute) and MATH 0100/0170 or an approved statistics course. The Sc.B. prerequisites are MATH 0090, MATH 0100/0170 or statistics, CHEM 0330, 0350, 0360 (BIOL 0280 can replace it with advisor approval), and PHYS 0030 and 0040 or equivalents. The page says AP scores of 4 or 5 may substitute for math courses.
• AP / IB credit: for Biology, the required BIOL 0200 (The Foundation of Living Systems) can be met with AP credit or similar IB or A-level results, and a placement test is available; the CHEM 0330 line notes IB credit. Other AP rules are not stated on the pages we read.
• Neuroscience: background MATH 0100, two physics courses, BIOL 0200, CHEM 0330 and 0350; core courses NEUR 0010, 1020 and 1030; a critical reading course, a statistics course, a lab methods course, upper-level electives; total 16 credits, and one semester of research.
• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: three math courses, two physics, four physical and organic chemistry courses (CHEM 0330, 0350, 0370, 0360), one biophysical chemistry, three biochemistry courses and two semesters of research.
• Health & Human Biology: four background courses (calculus, CHEM 0330, BIOL 0200, statistics or methods), five biology courses, four theme courses and a senior capstone; total 14.
• Public Health: foundation courses PHP 0320, HSP 0310, EPI 0850, STAT 1501 or 1510 and BIOL 0200 (placement notation can satisfy it); total 12.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Early Decision (binding): November 1 (11:59 p.m. local time), decision by mid-December. ED applicants may not apply to another binding or single-choice/restrictive early plan.
• Regular Decision: January 5; the Regular Decision page says decisions by early April and the checklist says late March; reply date May 1.
• Year reminder: these pages print no year; we read them as the fall 2027 entry cycle, so please check with Brown.
• Platform and fee: Common Application; $80 non-refundable fee or a fee waiver. PLME and the five-year Brown|RISD dual degree need extra essays.
• Materials: transcript sent by a school official, School Report and counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations from major academic subjects, midyear report (February 27 or as soon as possible) and final report (June 30); ED applicants also submit the ED agreement and first-quarter grades. Brown lists four required essays for the 2026-27 cycle (two of 150–250 words and two of 100–150 words); PLME applicants add three essays of 250 words each.
• Testing: since the 2024-25 cycle the SAT or ACT is required; scores are superscored; the SAT Essay and ACT Writing are optional; there is no minimum score. For ED, testing must be done by the last October test date; for RD, by the last December test date.
• Interview: the pages we read do not mention interviews; not stated.

6. U.S. applicants

• Cost: Brown is private, and the cost page lists a single tuition with no in-state/out-of-state difference. 2026-27: tuition $74,568, fees $3,084 (including a $100 academic record fee for first-time students), housing $10,710, food $8,754, direct charges $97,116; miscellaneous personal $2,878; direct and indirect total $99,994. Travel depends on the home address; health insurance and other individual costs are extra. The pages we read give no surcharge for these programs; not stated.
• Aid: Brown says financial aid is need-based only and there are no merit awards. For international applicants it says Brown meets full demonstrated need for admitted students who apply for aid when they apply. Aid deadlines for U.S. citizens and residents are not stated on the pages we read; see Brown’s financial aid site.
• Testing: SAT or ACT required.
• In-state preference: not mentioned on the pages we read.
• Research: the Biology page says broad research opportunities are available across several departments in the basic sciences; the Sc.B. requires two semesters of research (BIOL 1950/1960 or approved alternatives such as a summer research experience), and honors requires a thesis. Placement numbers are not stated.

7. International applicants

• How you are evaluated: international applicants are expected to complete secondary school (12 to 13 years of primary and secondary schooling) and are read in context, with “no preference for or advantage given to any particular system or country.” Plan to sit national and international exams (A-levels, Abitur, Baccalauréat, IB) and submit predicted or actual scores; actual scores are expected before matriculation. If you are in a national curriculum but will not take the external exams, you and your school should say so in writing at the time of application.
• English: Brown “highly recommends” a test for applicants whose first language, main home language and main language of secondary instruction are not English. It accepts TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Pearson and Cambridge English. Minimums “expected in most cases”: TOEFL iBT 105 (taken before January 2026) or 5.5 (taken January 2026 and later); IELTS 8.0; Duolingo 130; Pearson 75; Cambridge C1/C2 191. MyBest scores are not accepted. For fall 2027 enrollment, official scores are due in May 2027, and expired scores are not accepted. Brown has no ESL courses for undergraduates and does not admit students provisionally for English.
• Documents: in English, or with official translations alongside originals. Brown does not endorse or work with agents or third parties, with the exception of governments, EducationUSA and community-based organizations.
• Financial aid: international students may apply for Brown aid. Brown is need-blind for international students beginning with the Class of 2029, meets full demonstrated need and requires you to apply for aid when you apply; aid is need-based and there are no merit awards. The CSS Profile (Brown’s code is 3189) opened October 1, 2026, with no fee waivers; deadlines are November 2, 2026 for Early Decision and February 1, 2027 for Regular Decision; the ISFAA form and paper CSS Profile are not accepted. Aid does not cover vacation and summer expenses.
• Credit after arrival: international students with 13 years of schooling and exceptional national exam results may be eligible for one semester of advanced standing (four enrollment units) after reaching sophomore standing, to graduate in seven semesters; IB or A-levels are the most common; no credit for AS or O-levels.
• Limits for international students in these concentrations or in clinical or lab work: not stated on the concentration pages we read. The aid page warns that U.S. immigration rules restrict off-campus summer employment.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages we read do not say how Brown uses the Gaokao; contact the admission office or check its international pages.
• Transcripts and national exams: school documents are submitted by a school official through the Common App or Brown’s Slate portal; applicants may not email or fax official documents themselves. How Chinese school-leaving exams (huikao) are treated is not stated.
• Translations: documents must be in English or accompanied by official translations.
• English: see section 7; most Chinese applicants will need an English test unless English was the main language of instruction.
• Testing: the SAT or ACT is required, as for everyone.
• Brown has no country-specific page for Chinese applicants on what we read; check with admissions and the international pages.

9. Costs and aid in brief

• 2026-27: direct charges $97,116, with personal expenses $99,994 (section 6). Books: if a student is not in the Book/Course Materials Support Program, the standard allowance is $1,300; most students who receive Brown scholarship are in the program, in which Brown covers books and required materials.
• International students: see section 7 (need-blind, need-based aid).
• PLME: aid is administered separately for the undergraduate and medical school phases; the medical school aid model applies a base loan first, and international students have no aid in the medical years (section 3).

10. Transfer

• Deadline: fall 2027 entry applications are due March 1, 2027; video introduction March 9; mid-term report April 1; decisions in mid-May; reply in late May. Apply through the Transfer Common App, once per calendar year of entry.
• Entry term: fall entry is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international students; spring entry is for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.
• Eligibility: for fall 2027 entry, you must have completed two or four semesters (or three, four or six quarters) of full-time college enrollment by September 2027; applicants with three semesters or five quarters are eligible only for spring entry. Transfers must spend at least four full-time semesters at Brown, so applicants with more than four semesters of college work are not considered. College credit earned while in high school does not transfer, and students in dual-degree or early college programs apply as first-years.
• Credit: most liberal arts courses are transferable if they resemble Brown courses; no credit for AP scores or internships; none for correspondence, self-paced, courses of 4 weeks or less, summer programs or dual enrollment; Pass/Fail needs official documentation of C or higher; the college must be regionally accredited (or the international equivalent). Whether courses count toward a concentration is decided by the department after you arrive; the admission letter carries a preliminary credit estimate and entry level (first-semester sophomore, second-semester sophomore or first-semester junior).
• Testing: SAT or ACT is optional for transfers; English proficiency evidence works as for first-year applicants.
• Specific GPA and chemistry, biology or calculus requirements for transferring into Biology, Neuroscience and similar concentrations are not stated on the pages we read. Brown advises checking the Bulletin to see whether you can finish the requirements in the semesters left.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common App, $80 fee; ED November 1, RD January 5 (confirm the year); SAT or ACT is required
• List interests only; declare by mid-sophomore year in ASK; PLME is for first-years only

International applicants (including China):

• An English test is highly recommended if English is not your main language (TOEFL 5.5 new format, IELTS 8.0, Duolingo 130 and so on); documents in English or officially translated
• Apply for aid with your application (need-blind, CSS Profile code 3189, ED November 2, RD February 1); ask admissions how the Gaokao is used

Transfer students:

• March 1, 2027; fall entry is open to international students; complete 2 or 4 semesters first; concentration credit is decided by departments

Sources: Brown University, Undergraduate concentrations; Biology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience; Health and Human Biology; Public Health; Declaring a concentration; Selecting academic interests; Health Careers Advising: prerequisite courses; Health Careers Advising: international students; Health Careers Advising: admission statistics; Health Careers Advising: how it works; PLME (eight-year program); PLME admission; PLME application; PLME tuition and aid; How to apply; Eligibility guidelines; Early Decision; Regular Decision; Application checklist; Standardized tests; International admission criteria; International application process; English proficiency; Advanced standing; International financial aid; First-year international aid application; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Transfer eligibility; Transfer credit; Transfer calendar; Transfer testing. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Several dates on Brown’s pages carry no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry.