How to Apply to Life Sciences and Pre-Health Study at Lehigh University: Biology, Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry in Arts & Sciences, Population Health in the College of Health, No Nursing Major Listed, and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Its life-science and health-related majors sit in several colleges: the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences offers B.A. and B.S. degrees in Biology, Neuroscience, and Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry is a B.S. in Arts & Sciences; the College of Health offers Population Health, Community and Global Health, Biostatistics & Health Data Science and more; Bioengineering is in the engineering college and is only mentioned here. There is no pre-med major in the United States, and Lehigh’s College of Health says Lehigh has no defined “pre-med” or “pre-dental” track, so pre-health students can choose any major. This guide summarises Lehigh’s published information for fall 2027 entry for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students.

1. Relevant undergraduate majors

• Catalog list of majors relevant here: Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biology, Biostatistics & Health Data Science, Cognitive Science, Community and Global Health, Health, Medicine, and Society, Integrated Business and Health (IBH), Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Population Health. The admissions page says Lehigh has four undergraduate colleges; the catalog’s college list also shows a College of Education.
• Biological Sciences (Arts & Sciences) offers four routes: Biology (B.A., B.S.), Neuroscience (B.A., B.S.), Molecular and Cellular Biology (B.A., B.S.), with Biochemistry and Bioengineering in their own sections. Catalog total credits for the major: Biology B.A. 53–54 and B.S. 69–74; Neuroscience B.A. 56–59 and B.S. 80–83; Molecular and Cellular Biology B.A. 66–69 and B.S. 79–82. The B.S. pages say early commitment makes it easier to finish the program.
• Biochemistry (B.S., Arts & Sciences): an interdepartmental degree advised by faculty in Biological Sciences and Chemistry; the catalog lists 75–78 total credits.
• College of Health: Population Health (B.S.), Community & Global Health, Biostatistics & Health Data Science, Health, Medicine & Society (B.A., jointly run with Arts & Sciences, and it requires a second major) and Integrated Business & Health (B.S., with the College of Business). The college says about 25% of major requirements are experiential. We read only the Population Health, IBH and Health, Medicine & Society catalog sections; requirements of the other health majors were not read, so see the catalog.
• Others: Pharmaceutical Chemistry (B.S., Arts & Sciences); Bioengineering is in the engineering college and is not covered here. The catalog lists no nursing, kinesiology or nutrition undergraduate major.
• Whether these majors are STEM-designated is not stated on the pages we read; ask admissions.

2. Admission: choose a college, declare the major later

• Choosing a college: the Common App has an “Intended College or Program” menu (mentioned in Lehigh’s note on the seven-year program), and majors are offered by college. The admissions pages we read give no separate admission standard or capacity for each college or major; not published.
• Declaring in Arts & Sciences: after the end of the first semester, and no later than the end of the fourth; a major advisor from the department is assigned. Rules: 120 credits to graduate, a 2.0 GPA in the major and overall, and at least 30 credits for a major.
• College of Health: the pages we read do not say when College of Health students declare or whether entry carries a grade requirement; not published; contact the college’s advising office (cohadvising@lehigh.edu, listed in the catalog).
• Cohort programs: Integrated Business & Health is cohort-based and the catalog says students cannot transfer in from other Lehigh programs or other institutions; you must indicate the program when you apply to Lehigh.
• Switching colleges (“college switching”): you must have sophomore status and 12 credits in your college; the receiving college may require up to three introductory courses without prerequisites (C- or better); the petition is due at least three weeks before registration for the target term; switching may take more than eight semesters.
• Honors and five-year options: Biological Sciences departmental honors needs a 3.25 major GPA, at least two semesters of 300-level research (at least 6 credits), a thesis and a symposium presentation. Population Health has a thesis honors path (3.80 GPA at application) and a course-based honors path (3.60). The College of Health 4+1 M.P.H.: current students with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher are automatically accepted once they reach junior standing (54 credits); others may apply.

3. Pre-med: what Lehigh says

• No pre-med major: the Arts & Sciences catalog says medical, dental, optometry, podiatry and veterinary schools stress liberal arts and prescribed science courses; most pre-health students choose a pure or applied science major, but with the essential biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics courses they may major in any of the four undergraduate colleges. The College of Health says the same: no defined pre-med or pre-dental tracks.
• Advising: pre-health advising is run by the Center for Career & Professional Development (careercenter@lehigh.edu); students can ask to be enrolled in the Pre-Health Advising Course Site and should discuss a plan of study with their advisor.
• Pre-health coursework in the catalog: Biology BIOS 041/042, 044/045, 115/116 (Genetics and lab); Chemistry CHM 030 or 040, 031 or 041, Organic Chemistry I and II with labs, BIOS/CHM 371 and 372 (biochemistry); Physics PHY 010 or 011 with lab and PHY 013 or 021 with lab; Mathematics MATH 012 or BIOS 130 (statistics), MATH 051 or 021 and 052 or 022; Social Sciences PSYC 001 and SOC 001 or HMS 160. Two semesters of first-year writing are also listed.
• Medical-school admission statistics and any separate advice for international students are not stated on the pages we read; contact the Center for Career & Professional Development.
• Combined programs: the catalog says students may apply to accelerated B.A.-M.D. and B.A.-D.M.D. programs: a seven-year B.A./M.D. with Drexel University College of Medicine and a seven-year B.A./D.M.D. with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine; students receive a Lehigh B.A. and a graduate degree from the professional school within seven years. B.A./D.M.D.: apply through Lehigh admissions with a Penn supplement and choose the 7-Year Combined-Degree Program in Dentistry in the Intended College or Program menu; the deadline is January 1 with decisions in early April; Lehigh says students applying to any accelerated program cannot also apply Early Decision; if not accepted you may be considered for another college. The catalog says students must reach specified GPAs and DAT scores and Penn Dental may withdraw an acceptance; the numbers were not read. For the B.A./M.D., the catalog only says “see Health Professions”, and we did not find application details in the pages we read.
• Whether these combined programs accept international students is not stated on the pages we read; contact admissions (admissions@lehigh.edu).

4. High school and first-year course preparation

• Minimum high school units (admissions FAQ, all colleges): English 4, foreign language 2, social science 2, laboratory science 2, college-preparatory mathematics 3, electives 3, 16 in total; Lehigh says most admitted students exceed the minimums and the language requirement is waived only in exceptional cases. The pages we read do not add biology, chemistry or physics requirements for these majors.
• Biology B.A. (catalog): BIOS 041/042 (or 043 Phage Hunting Laboratory), 044/045, 115/116 (or 118), biology electives including one from List A and one from List B; one calculus course (MATH 051 or 021) plus MATH 052, 012 or BIOS 130; chemistry CHM 030/031 or 040/041 (8 credits). Biology B.S.: the same three core pairs plus BIOS 317 Evolution, electives with two from each list and at least 4 lab credits; MATH 021/022 or 051/052 plus BIOS 130; a year of general chemistry plus Organic Chemistry I and II with labs; and PHY 010 or 011, 012, 013 or 021, 022.
• Neuroscience B.A./B.S.: both need the biology core (BIOS 041/042, 044/045, 115/116) plus BIOS 130 and BIOS 276; the B.A. adds two advanced neuroscience courses, PSYC 001 and two semesters of organic chemistry; the B.S. adds BIOS 371/372 (biochemistry), a neuroscience laboratory course, and chemistry, organic chemistry and a year of physics.
• Molecular and Cellular Biology B.A.: the biology core plus BIOS 345/346 Molecular Genetics (or BIOS 218), BIOS 367 Cell Biology, BIOS 371, an advanced laboratory, two semesters of calculus (MATH 021/022 or 051/052), a year of general chemistry plus two semesters of organic chemistry, and a year of physics; the B.S. asks for more, see the catalog. Biochemistry B.S.: PHY 010/012 and 013/022 (or the 011/021 series), a calculus sequence (MATH 051/052/043 or 021/022/023), a statistics course, a programming course, CHM 040/041 Honors General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry I and II, CHM 194 Physical Chemistry for Biological Sciences and more.
• Phage Hunting: the catalog says BIOS 043 is part of the HHMI SEA-PHAGES program; application and acceptance are required, and the course is for spring-semester first-year students or with instructor permission.
• AP / IB / A-Level credit: the admissions FAQ only says college-level credit is reviewed by the Registrar after admission. The international page says IB (scores of 5 or better) and A-Level (grades A or B) may receive credit; the transfer page says most AP scores of 4 and 5 (Calculus AB, Chemistry and both English exams need a 5) and most IB Higher Level scores of 6 and 7 count for credit and placement. The two pages differ on IB; rely on the Registrar’s evaluation. How AP Biology, Chemistry or Calculus map to BIOS, CHM or MATH courses is not listed on the pages we read.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Early Decision I (binding): November 1; decisions in mid-December.
• Early Decision II (binding): January 1; decisions in mid-February.
• Regular Decision: January 1; decisions in late March.
• No Early Action. Both Early Decision rounds are considered for admission and merit scholarships in the same holistic way.
• Seven-year B.A./D.M.D.: January 1; decisions in early April.
• The deadline pages print no year; confirm they apply to fall 2027.
• Platforms and fee: Common App or Coalition with Scoir, with Lehigh questions and a writing supplement; $75 application fee.
• Materials: school report (with counselor recommendation) and official transcript, one teacher recommendation, mid-year report, and the final transcript (with school seal or official signature, from a school with a CEEB code). Interviews are not required.
• Testing: test-optional indefinitely; submitted scores are superscored, official scores must arrive from College Board or ACT before the first day of classes, and any discrepancy can lead to admission being reversed; the ACT science section is not required.

6. U.S. applicants

• Cost: Lehigh is private and its cost page lists one tuition with no in-state rate. 2026-27: tuition $69,420, typical first-year housing $11,470, full meal plan $7,760, technology fee $630, activity fee $290, wellness fee $250, total $89,820; for need-based aid it also counts about $1,000 for books and $1,500 for personal expenses. Lehigh adds that students in certain programs and majors pay an additional $910 (Engineering and Science fee, Arts and Sciences fee or Health fee). Which fee a biology-type major pays is not stated on the page we read; ask the Office of Financial Aid.
• The Lehigh Commitment: undergraduates from families with total income under $75,000 are eligible for a full tuition grant.
• Merit and aid: 26% of students admitted for 2025-26 received a merit scholarship of $15,000 or more a year; more than half of current students receive some aid; about $175 million is available in grants and scholarships.
• In-state preference: the pages we read do not describe any Pennsylvania preference; not published.
• Research and placements: Biological Sciences offers undergraduate research courses and honors (section 2), and about a quarter of College of Health major requirements are experiential. Numbers of placements and clinical arrangements are not published on the pages we read.

7. International applicants

• Who counts: non-U.S. citizens wherever they attend school; eligible non-citizens for federal aid (such as permanent residents or refugees) are treated as domestic; U.S. citizens abroad apply as domestic.
• Curriculum: applicants must be completing or have completed the equivalent of 12 years of primary and secondary education, or the program that makes them eligible for university study in their system; students who have only done O-Level or GCSE/IGCSE are not eligible and should apply in the final year of A-Level study or equivalent.
• English: required of non-citizens unless English is the first language or the last two full years (not counting the current year) of formal instruction were in English. TOEFL and IELTS are preferred; TOEFL Home Edition and the Duolingo English Test are considered if those are unavailable. The most competitive candidates score above 90 on the TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS or 120 on Duolingo. Lehigh’s guidance: TOEFL 95+ (tests before 21 January 2026) or 5.5+ (new scale), IELTS 7.5+ and Duolingo 120+ indicate strong readiness; TOEFL 86–94 (4.0–5.0 new), IELTS 6.5–7.0 and Duolingo 110–119 may suggest a need for extra support. SAT and ACT cannot meet the English requirement.
• Aid: Lehigh has limited aid for international students and its review of non-citizens is need-aware. If the family cannot pay in full, submit the CSS Profile ($25; if that is a hardship, the ISAFA, though places are limited and the CSS Profile is strongly preferred) by the application deadline: November 1 for ED I, January 15 for ED II or Regular Decision. Aid offers at admission are final and do not increase, apart from rises in cost of attendance, and are not adjusted for currency changes. Merit scholarships range from $5,000 to full tuition with no separate application, and aid packages range from full tuition, room and board to a few thousand dollars with no minimum family contribution.
• Contradiction on cost: the international page says tuition, room and board can total over $98,900 a year, while the requirements page and the international FAQ say upwards of $93,400. Proof of funds does not have to be submitted with the application; it is requested if you are admitted and decide to enroll.
• Fee waiver: non-citizens whose family cannot contribute more than $10,000 a year and for whom the fee is a hardship can request a waiver in the Common App or Coalition application with the code published by Lehigh (INTLwaiver2027).
• Credential evaluation: the first-year pages we read do not require a credential evaluation; transfer applicants from non-English institutions need WES (section 9).
• Any limits on international students in lab or clinical placements: not stated on the pages we read.

8. Applicants from China

• The admissions pages we read have no China-specific section and do not mention the Gaokao, the Huikao or the Chinese curriculum; not published. For how the Gaokao is used, the format of Chinese transcripts and diploma or exam documents, contact international admissions (luinternational@lehigh.edu) or your regional admissions counselor.
• General rules that apply: the 12-years-of-education requirement and the English rules in section 7; the final transcript must carry the school seal or official signature and come from a school with a CEEB code. Whether Chinese schools meet these conditions is not addressed; not published.
• If you need aid, the CSS Profile is due with your application round (November 1 or January 15).

9. Transfer

• Deadlines: fall entry April 1 (decisions in mid-May); spring entry November 1 (decisions in late December); financial aid deadlines are the same dates. Apply through the Common App or Coalition for Transfer; $75 fee.
• Standards: there is no minimum GPA, though competitive applicants typically have 3.25 or above; SAT/ACT are not required. Send transcripts from every post-secondary school, the final high school transcript and the Conduct Report Form (sent by the school); you must be in good standing. There are no transfer interviews.
• Credit: only grades of C or better transfer (C- never); pass/fail and non-credit courses do not; transfer grades are not counted in the Lehigh GPA; credit cannot exceed the credit on the other transcript; quarter credits convert at 3:2. Credit is evaluated only after admission, by Registration & Academic Services with the departments, which can take weeks, and course descriptions and syllabi help. The requirements page says course descriptions are not required while the transfer page asks for as much course detail as possible; prepare them anyway.
• International transfer applicants: a WES evaluation is required if you attended an institution outside the U.S. where English is not the primary language of instruction; the English rules are the same as in section 7.
• Course requirements for transferring into Biology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry or the health majors are not stated on the pages we read; compare the catalog sequences in section 4 and contact the departments. Applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree may apply but do not receive Lehigh need-based aid.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Pick a college; ED I by 1 November, ED II or Regular Decision by 1 January; testing optional
• Check the Lehigh Commitment if family income is under $75,000; plan pre-health courses from the catalog’s biology, chemistry, physics and math list

International applicants (including China):

• Typical English targets: TOEFL 90+, IELTS 7.0, Duolingo 120; submit the CSS Profile with the application if you need aid (1 November or 15 January)
• The Gaokao and Chinese school documents are not addressed on the pages we read; confirm with international admissions, and ask whether the B.A./M.D. and B.A./D.M.D. accept international students

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline April 1; C or better for credit; WES for non-English institutions

Sources: Lehigh University, Majors and programs; Catalog: programs and majors; Catalog: Biological Sciences; Catalog: Biochemistry; Catalog: College of Arts & Sciences (incl. pre-health programs); Catalog: College of Health; Catalog: Population Health; Catalog: college switching; How to apply and deadlines; Admissions requirements; International students; Transfer students; Tuition and aid. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures; the deadline pages carry no year, so confirm they apply to fall 2027). Check Lehigh’s website for the latest.