How to Apply to Life Sciences and Health Study at Texas A&M University: Freshmen List a First and Second Choice Major, Majors in Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition and Public Health, Nursing Requires Prerequisites Before You Apply, Testing Is Optional, and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Texas A&M University (TAMU) has its main campus in College Station, a Galveston branch campus and a Higher Education Center at McAllen. Life-science and health-related majors are spread across several colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Psychological and Brain Sciences and others), the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the College of Nursing and the School of Public Health. There is no pre-med major in the United States. This guide summarises Texas A&M’s published information for fall 2027 entry for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. A note on sources: the undergraduate admissions site (admissions.tamu.edu), the international student services, student financial and financial-aid sites, and the science.tamu.edu and aglifesciences.tamu.edu sites could not be accessed or sit behind blocks, and were not read for this guide, so we cover only what the main site (www.tamu.edu), the Department of Biology page and the undergraduate catalog state; check the admissions site for the rest.

1. Relevant undergraduate programs

• College of Arts and Sciences (Department of Biology): the department page says it offers seven undergraduate degree programs; the catalog lists BA in Biology, BS in Biology, BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, BS in Microbiology, BS in Neuroscience (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience track; the catalog page is titled Neurobiology) and BS in Zoology, plus minors in Bioinformatics and Neuroscience. The BS in Biology is described as recommended for students preparing for graduate programs in the biological sciences or professional programs in health and medical sciences; the BA has a minor requirement, many electives and flexibility, and is described as suiting students who intend allied health professions, professional schools or teaching certification. The catalog lists the BA and BS in Biology and the BS in Neurobiology at 120 hours.
• Other related programs in Arts and Sciences: Chemistry (BA, Pre-Health Professions Track, which uses free electives for the prerequisites of medical, dental and pharmacy schools); Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (BS, Psychological and Brain Sciences); Bioinformatics (BS, Statistics).
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Biochemistry (BS, 120 hours), Genetics (BS) and Nutrition (BS, Human Health track and Didactic Dietetics track). The Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited by ACEND; with a dietetic internship, graduates are eligible for the Registration Examination for dietitians.
• College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Biomedical Sciences (BS, 120 hours). A catalog footnote says pre-veterinary medicine is not offered at Texas A&M; students planning the DVM may choose any major.
• College of Nursing: BSN, with Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN (for those with a prior bachelor’s degree, in Round Rock), RN to BSN and Honors tracks; teaching locations include Bryan/College Station, Round Rock and McAllen.
• School of Public Health: BS in Public Health (internship track, non-internship track and an allied health option) and five-year BS/MPH programs.
• Others: Kinesiology in the College of Education and Human Development (applied exercise physiology, basic exercise physiology and motor behavior concentrations) and Marine Biology (BS) at Galveston. Biomedical engineering and similar programs are in the engineering college and not covered here.
• Whether these programs are STEM-designated, and whether any combined bachelor’s/medical-degree program exists, is not stated on the pages we read; ask admissions.

2. Admission: you apply to a major, and some are capped

• Freshmen choose a major when applying: the catalog says that if a competitive applicant cannot be admitted to a major because of restricted enrollment, they are offered their second-choice major; if that is full too, they pick an alternate major after admission. Which life-science majors are capped, and their seat numbers, are not stated on the pages we read.
• Biology department: the first two years of all Biology degrees are similar. Students must complete a Common Body of Knowledge (37–38 hours: BIOL 111, 112, 213, 214, CHEM 119 and 120, two semesters of organic chemistry, calculus, statistics and others) before the 5th full semester to enter upper-level biology courses. A C or better is required in BIOL 111 and BIOL 112, and no more than one D may be used in major courses that satisfy required or directed electives.
• Nursing (BSN): a catalog footnote says choosing Nursing as a major is available for transfer applicants only, and Nursing and Dental Hygiene applicants must have completed or be enrolled in prerequisite courses at the time of application. The Traditional BSN needs at least 59 credit hours of prerequisites before the two-year professional phase. The two entry routes are internal applicants (current Texas A&M students in non-nursing majors) and external transfer applicants; admission is competitive. Taken together, this suggests high school freshmen generally cannot apply directly to Nursing; confirm with admissions and the College of Nursing.
• Nursing admission criteria: a C in each prerequisite; the catalog differs on GPA—the admission page says a prerequisite and nursing-science GPA of 3.3, while the BSN program page says 3.0 prerequisite and 3.0 nursing-science GPA; a HESI A2 entrance exam with at least 75% in each section; timed verbal and written assessments (community service, leadership, work and health-care experience); a limit on course repeats, withdrawals and failures; one NursingCAS application by the published deadline (late documents are not accepted). Admission offers are contingent on a clear criminal background check and a negative drug screen.
• Changing majors internally: entry conditions for biology-type majors are not stated on the pages we read; ask the department advisors.

3. Pre-med: what Texas A&M says

• The catalog has no pre-med major. The Department of Biology says its degrees prepare students for professional schools of medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry and for allied health schools such as physical and occupational therapy, physician assistant, optometry, pharmacy and nursing, and says information on entering professional schools is available from the Office of Professional School Advising.
• Pre-Medicine minor: for students intending to apply to medical or dental school whose major does not already include the prerequisites. You need BIOL 112 and CHEM 120 with a C or better, must request the minor before 90 credit hours, and need a Biology advisor’s approval. Students majoring in Biomedical Sciences or in any Biology degree are not eligible. It is 17 hours: BICH 409, BIOL 213, PHYS 202 (or 207), a statistics course, and one of human anatomy and physiology, microbiology or animal physiology.
• The Biomedical Sciences page says an individualized counseling program helps students plan courses for entry into medical, allied health or graduate programs.
• Committee letters, medical-school admission statistics and any guidance for international students: not stated on the pages we read; contact the Office of Professional School Advising.
• Combined bachelor’s/medical programs (such as BS/MD): not stated on the pages we read.

4. High school preparation

• Texas high school students: the catalog says graduates of accredited Texas high schools should complete the State Foundation High School Program, preferably at the Distinguished Level of Achievement with at least one endorsement, and must meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy (SAT 480 evidence-based reading and writing and 530 math; or ACT 18 English, 22 reading, 22 math and 23 science; or completion of the state program).
• Out-of-state and international schools: the catalog says applicants from out-of-state, out-of-country or home schools are exempt from the Uniform Admission Policy; the full description of coursework sits on the admissions site (not read), so it is not published in the pages we read. For international applicants the requirement is “appropriate college preparatory coursework”.
• First two years (BS in Biology): BIOL 111 and 112, CHEM 119 and 120, calculus (MATH 147, 151 or 171; MATH 142 may not be used), a second calculus or statistics course (MATH 148/152/172 or STAT 201), BIOL 213 and 214, PHYS 201 and 202, and two semesters of organic chemistry; junior year adds biochemistry, genetics and STAT 312.
• AP credit (catalog table, listed by minimum score; the catalog advises seeing your advisor before accepting credit): AP Biology 3, BIOL 113 (3 hours), 4, BIOL 111 and 112 (8 hours); AP Chemistry 3, CHEM 119 (4 hours), 4, CHEM 119 and 120 (8 hours); AP Calculus AB 3, MATH 142 (3 hours), 4, MATH 151 (4 hours) — and MATH 142 cannot satisfy the Biology calculus requirement; AP Calculus BC 3, MATH 151 (a footnote on this row advises consulting your advisor), 4, MATH 151 and 152 (8 hours); AP Physics 1 and 2 at 3 or above, PHYS 201 and 202 (4 hours each); AP Statistics 3, STAT 201. Texas A&M does not give credit for AP sub-scores.
• IB: for entering freshmen with an IB diploma, at least 24 semester hours of course-specific credit on scores of 4 or above. Higher Level Biology 4, BIOL 111, 5, BIOL 111 and 112; HL Chemistry 4, CHEM 119, 5, CHEM 119 and 120; Standard Level Biology 4, BIOL 113.
• A-Level is not in the freshman pre-matriculation credit tables we read; the transfer section says A-Level grades of C or better earn transfer credit (see section 9).

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• College Station, fall 2027 (freshmen): application period 1 August to 1 December 2026, with other required documents due 15 December 2026; spring 2027 closes 15 October 2026. The pages we read describe no early-decision or other separate rounds.
• Other campuses: Galveston fall 2027 freshmen apply through 1 May 2027; the McAllen center through 1 March 2027.
• Decisions: begin 1 September (catalog) or “late September” (freshman page) and roll on; a final decision for summer or fall may not come until late March.
• Platforms: Common App or ApplyTexas; the choice does not affect the decision. Application fee $75 domestic and $90 international; fee waivers are not available to international students.
• Materials: a required essay (Topic A: “Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?”); the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record (STARS), which usually replaces the high school transcript during the initial review; an official final transcript by 15 August if admitted. Letters of recommendation are optional (only the first two received are considered), and a résumé is optional.
• Testing: optional. The catalog says Texas A&M is test optional for freshmen but strongly encourages scores, and that submitting them creates no unfair advantage or disadvantage. Send scores from the testing agency (SAT code 6003, ACT code 4198); tests must be within five years of planned enrollment; the highest score from one test date is used and scores are not combined across dates.
• Texas Top 10%: Texas high school students in the top 10% of their class who meet the policy are admitted automatically, but choice of major is not guaranteed; everyone else is reviewed holistically.

6. U.S. applicants

• Cost: tuition depends on residency (Texas residents versus non-residents) and on the student’s classification and program. The catalog’s tuition page estimates nine months’ cost (tuition and fees, housing and food, books, transportation and miscellaneous) at about $33,180 for in-state residents and $62,272 for non-resident or international students; the page does not print which year this applies to, so verify. Specific tuition and program surcharges are not stated on the pages we read; use the Student Business Services tuition calculator (not read).
• Aid: the website says state and federal aid helped more than 72% of main-campus students in fiscal year 2023, and university scholarships are awarded on academic merit, leadership and financial need, or a combination. Apply with the FAFSA or TASFA.
• Research and internships: the Biology page links to an honors program and the BioFirst learning community; Biology majors can use research and internship courses (BIOL 484, 485, 491, up to 7 hours combined) as electives. Numbers of placements are not stated.

7. International applicants

• Who counts as international: someone who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (or applicant for permanent residency) and does not qualify for Texas residency (the website adds: and has not graduated and will not graduate from a Texas high school after three years of residing in Texas). International freshmen use the same period as U.S. freshmen: 1 August to 1 December 2026 for fall 2027.
• How applications are judged: completion of an educational program that would allow admission to a university in your home country (for example Grade 13, Form 6 or A-levels, with predicted results due by the closing date); successful applicants rank near the top of their country’s educational system (B average or better) and score well above average on national exams; appropriate college-preparatory coursework; SAT or ACT scores are considered for international freshmen; and individual achievements such as leadership and honors.
• Transcripts: official records for all secondary and university study, with an original school seal or official’s signature, sent by the school directly to Texas A&M; non-English documents need official English translations (from the school or a recognized translator). A word-for-word evaluation from a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member is strongly recommended and speeds processing. International applicants studying outside the U.S. also fill in STARS and provide official academic records.
• English: non-native speakers must meet one of these to be eligible for review: TOEFL iBT 80 or higher (within two years); TOEFL Essentials 8.5 or higher; IELTS overall 6.0 (within two years); SAT EBRW 560 or higher; ACT English 21 or higher; four years of U.S. high school; or transfer from an accredited U.S. institution with at least 30 credit hours including ENGL 103 or 104 with a C or better. The catalog also tells applicants to see the admissions site for acceptable English tests for 2026; TOEFL MyBest is not accepted. Equivalents on the new 1–6 TOEFL scale are not stated on the pages we read.
• Aid: the catalog says a limited number of scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans are available to international students; those with financial need are encouraged to file the TASFA each year. International applicants cannot receive application-fee waivers. Mexican citizens can apply for the Texas/Mexico Education Waiver.
• College of Nursing: international applicants submit official TOEFL scores (within two years) and a course-by-course NACES-member evaluation sent to NursingCAS, and present a declaration of finances and F-1 documents after acceptance; foreign transcripts need an official English translation.
• Limits on international students in clinical or lab placements: not stated on the pages we read.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages we read do not mention China or how the Gaokao is used. Contact admissions.
• Follow section 7 for transcripts, translations and credential evaluation; a NACES-member evaluation and translation is strongly recommended.
• The criteria say applicants should rank near the top of their country’s system and score well above average on national exams, but the pages we read list no China-specific requirements.
• Texas A&M gives no separate math and science expectations for the Chinese curriculum; follow section 4 and confirm with admissions.

9. Transfer

• Deadline: for College Station and McAllen the summer/fall 2027 transfer application period is 1 January to 1 March 2027; a complete application is needed by 1 March to qualify for spring-grade review (spring transcripts by 1 June). Galveston fall 2027 runs 1 January to 1 July 2027. International transfers use the same dates. Fee $75 domestic, $90 international.
• Eligibility: the catalog says competitive transfer applicants should have at least a 2.5 GPA on at least 24 graded transferable semester hours; the Arts and Sciences section says GPA requirements vary by major, with the majority requiring at least 3.0. Preference goes to the highest GPA and the most courses completed for the major; frequent drops and withdrawals are a disadvantage.
• Transfer prerequisites for Biology (catalog): BIOL 111 and 112, CHEM 119 and 120, and two semesters of Engineering Math (state course numbers MATH 2413 and 2414).
• Materials: Common App or ApplyTexas, the fee, Essay Topic A (also required for transfers) and official transcripts from every institution attended, including dual-credit coursework taken in high school.
• Credit: evaluated course by course; courses from accredited institutions that are similar to Texas A&M courses and at or above beginning level can transfer; STEM courses are often referred to departments; cooperative education credit does not transfer. For foreign institutions, work is assessed individually, A-Level grades of C or better earn credit, Baccalaureate II exams earn none, and English composition, American history and American government courses do not transfer from foreign institutions. At least 25% of degree credit must be completed at Texas A&M, including at least 36 hours of 300/400-level work, 12 of them in the major.
• Transferring into Nursing: see section 2; external transfer applicants must complete the prerequisites and apply through NursingCAS.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• College Station fall: 1 August to 1 December 2026; list a first and second choice major; testing optional; Essay Topic A and STARS required
• For Nursing, finish the prerequisites first and use the internal or transfer route; for pre-med coursework see the Biology Pre-Medicine minor

International applicants (including China):

• English reference points: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, SAT EBRW 560, ACT English 21 (confirm on the admissions site); $90 fee, no waiver
• Official transcripts with English translation, ideally a NACES evaluation; confirm how the Gaokao is used

Transfer students:

• Complete the application by 1 March 2027; a 2.5 GPA on 24 graded hours is the competitive baseline and most Arts and Sciences majors want 3.0 or higher

Sources: Texas A&M University website and undergraduate catalog, Apply as a freshman; Apply as an international student; Apply as a transfer student; Costs and tuition; Financial aid; Catalog: Admission; Catalog: Tuition and fees; Department of Biology; Catalog: Biology; BS in Biology; BA in Biology; BS in Neurobiology; Pre-Medicine minor; BA in Chemistry, Pre-Health Professions Track; BS in Biochemistry; BS in Nutrition; BS in Biomedical Sciences; College of Nursing; BSN; School of Public Health. Information is for fall 2027 entry; check Texas A&M’s website for the latest.