Overview

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) has been a respected global leader in healthcare education since 1823. It is fully committed to helping international students channel their talents and passions into rewarding healthcare careers, both in the United States and throughout the world.

　　International students at MCPHS are supported and prepared for entering the world of American healthcare. Alumni from all over the globe stand as proof. Almost 1,000 international students from around 100 countries make up more than 18 percent of MCPHS's student body, creating an enriching, dynamic, and vibrant community.

　　At MCPHS, international students are immersed in a unique interdisciplinary, team-based world of professional healthcare. It prepares them to succeed in the healthcare field as a medical professional, educator, or researcher.

　　Students have access to internships, clinical placements, and research opportunities. These come from the university's longstanding partnerships with neighboring medical institutions in Boston's Longwood Medical and Academic Area.

　　MCPHS's faculty and staff members offer personalized services for international students, which enhance learning and development. From visa guidance to academic mentoring, the MCPHS Community helps students with their transition to the United States. This provides them with the tools they need to succeed at a university whose rankings demonstrate student career success.

　　MCPHS ranks first in the United States for university earning power (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education 2018). Money Magazine ranks it as the most transformative college in the United States for enhancing the lives of students. MCPHS's network of more than 32,000 alumni work in virtually every sector of healthcare, not only in the United States, but throughout the world.

　　

International programs

MCPHS offers five programs designed for students whose academic and professional experiences took place outside the United States. This includes four International Transition Programs.

　　

Early Start Program

The Early Start Program, designed for MCPHS freshmen and transfer students who are coming to study in the U.S. for the first time, strives to help make the transition to life in the United States a bit easier.

　　

Graduate Studies Summer Program

Unlike many international pharmacy degree programs outside of North America, United States pharmacy programs include liberal arts courses. As a result, students who earned an undergraduate degree internationally may be missing the liberal arts courses required for entry into the MCPHS Doctor of Pharmacy program. The Graduate Studies Summer program allows students to satisfy these liberal arts requirements by taking a short 10-week summer session.

　　

Academic Bridge Program

The Academic Bridge Program provides students with a full-time, structured transition to the university's curriculum by allowing them to start their degree while simultaneously strengthening their English proficiency through a focus on science- and health-related language-learning courses.

　　

Accelerated PharmD Pathway

Students interested in the Accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy degree, but who are missing many prerequisites, have the opportunity to come to Boston for one year to fulfill their required coursework. At the same time, they strengthen their scientific and language skills, meet faculty from the doctoral program, receive assistance in the application process, and participate in communication coaching for their admission interview.

　　

Medicine Pathway with St. George's University

Academically motivated international students have the opportunity to earn a combined Bachelor of Science in Premedical Health Studies at MCPHS and a Doctor of Medicine at St. George's University, located in Grenada. More information on this pathway can be found on the MCPHS website.

　　

Teaching quality

Faculty

From fellows of national academics to investigators on federally funded research grants, MCPHS's dedicated and experienced faculty members teach students using a supportive method that facilitates their orientation into the American healthcare system.

　　With a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students benefit from the expertise of 826 faculty members at MCPHS, 90 percent of whom are full-time faculty members with terminal degrees. Most faculty maintain professional activities or clinical appointments as they teach, allowing students to benefit from their real-world industry advice and networks.

　　

Experiential and interprofessional training

Before entering the clinical or industry environment, students find themselves in real-world, clinical situations at MCPHS. Five on-campus clinics and centers see more than 250,000 patients annually, giving students the experience they need to excel in the healthcare field.

　　MCPHS is also known for its interprofessional education, which brings together students and faculty from different disciplines to teach and learn from each other. This innovative teaching style broadens students' perspectives, enabling them to discover new ways to address complex challenges in their respective fields, and effectively communicate within different populations.

　　Many academic programs at MCPHS give students the opportunity to conduct their required clinical rotations or clerkships abroad. This is made possible by affiliations with 11 international rotation sites, including Peking University, Seoul National University, and the University of the Western Cape (South Africa).

　　

Entry requirements

First-year, transfer, and graduate applicants must meet the requirements for admission to specific programs. They are encouraged to consult the university to confirm their eligibility.

　　

First-year applicants

Applying to MCPHS as a first-year student is free of charge. All programs require the following documents for review:

　　Common application or MCPHS International Application Transcripts from the past three years Proof of English language proficiency One letter of recommendation (biology, chemistry, or math teacher preferred)

Transfer and graduate applicants

MCPHS will consider any applicant who has completed 12 or more college credits as a transfer applicant. Graduate applicants are students who have already earned a bachelor's degree and are looking to pursue an advanced degree. The requirements for transfer and graduate applications vary by program.

　　

English language proficiency

All international applicants must show proof of English language proficiency by submitting one of the following:

　　Official TOEFL score Official IELTS score Official iTEP score Official Duolingo score Certificate of completion from an approved ESL school in Boston SAT or ACT Proof of academic success from four years of high school in the United States, a U.S. accredited high school abroad, IB curriculum, or A2 Levels curriculum An earned bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited U.S. institution

Conditional Admission

If students meet the academic requirements for a program, but not the English language requirements, MCPHS may be able to offer them conditional admission or admission to an Academic Bridge Program.

　　The Academic Bridge Program provides students with a full-time, structured transition to the university's curriculum by allowing them to start their degree, while simultaneously strengthening their English proficiency through a focus on science- and health-related language-learning courses.

　　

Student Life and housing

Location and student life

MCPHS's Boston campus is an urban campus located in Boston's world-renowned Longwood Medical and Academic Area. While it is the oldest institution of higher education in Boston, the campus has state-of-the-art facilities and a modern look and feel.

　　MCPHS students at the Boston campus are passionate about getting involved, having established more than 100 student organizations, many of which are focused on culture, diversity, and religion.

　　

Colleges of the Fenway

MCPHS is one of five Boston-based colleges that make up the Colleges of the Fenway, through which students have access to hundreds of social activities, including intramural sports and performing arts. MCPHS students can cross-register in any of the 2,300 courses offered by the Colleges of the Fenway.

　　

Housing

Students can live in residential housing on MCPHS's Boston campus, and enjoy a comfortable and safe environment with 24-hour security. MCPHS offers various residential housing options, including apartment-style suites located above labs and academic spaces. Incoming first-year students and transfer students who meet application and deposit deadlines are eligible for residential housing.

　　

Student support

The first days

International students are invited to arrive at the university before all other students for an additional orientation event, during which they learn about U.S. academic requirements, classroom culture, U.S. immigration status, options for jobs, internships on a visa, and more.

　　

International academic advising

The International Academic Advising Office supports international students with personalized services. This includes setting academic and career goals, explaining policies and procedures, and adjusting academic schedules to meet individual needs.

　　

Immigration support services

The Immigration & International Support Services Team provides immigration advice and assistance for international students. They help with obtaining and maintaining proper legal immigration status while attending MCPHS, as well as the search for internships, employment, and training in the United States.

　　

Scholarships

MCPHS has special recognition scholarships in place for first-year international students. These scholarships are based on merit (grades, application file, and profile) and not on financial need. Scholarships for international students range from USD 2,000 to USD 18,000 per year and are renewable if a student maintains a specific academic performance.

　　

Graduate Outcomes

Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, MCPHS is a global leader in developing students into successful professionals in the healthcare industry. Founded in 1823, MCPHS is the oldest university in Boston and the second-oldest pharmacy school in the nation, graduating more pharmacists than any other school.

　　MCPHS was ranked as the top university for earning power by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings in 2018, and as the most transformative college in 2018–19 by Money Magazine. MCPHS's graduates earn a median annual income of USD 116,000, ten years after enrolling. They join a global alumni network of more than 32,000 members.

　　After graduating from MCPHS, international students go on to work in the industry, attend medical school, or obtain their master's degree at MCPHS.

　　

Career development

During their time at MCPHS, students can visit the Center for Professional Career Development for employment resources and tools to help them advance their careers. Services provided include one-to-one coaching sessions, resume writing, and guidance for students' career search.

　　

Alumni spotlight:

HARDIK GOSWAMI, PHEP '19 Hardik is an alumnus of MCPHS who graduated from the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Health Economics and Policy (PHEP) program: ''The PHEP program was a stepping stone to enter into the corporate pharmaceutical world and achieve my goal of becoming a researcher.''

　　Hardik went on to become a successful associate principal scientist at Merck, where he supported and developed health economic models for products for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submissions and reimbursement processes.