The Master’s degree in Neuroscience is a full-time in-person program consisting of 9 months of intensive coursework followed by 12 months of laboratory research in one of the world-class neuroscience laboratories at Johns Hopkins. Both the coursework and the research opportunities will encompass the gamut of contemporary neuroscience including molecular/cellular approaches, development, circuit function and neurobiology of disease, as well as systems, cognitive and computational neuroscience. Graduates of our program will be well-prepared for research-oriented jobs in pharma, biotechnology, academia, or government or for application to programs conferring advanced degrees such as M.D., Ph.D., D.V.M., or Pharm.D. Graduates of the Master’s program can apply to continue in the doctoral program in neuroscience at Johns Hopkins with credit given for courses taken.
The inaugural class will matriculate in late August 2026.
Curriculum
The master’s program consists of 9 months (2 semesters) of intensive coursework followed by a 12-month research period in a single neuroscience laboratory. Your research period will conclude with a master’s thesis based upon your laboratory experience. There is no final oral exam for the master’s degree.
The coursework consists of:
Eligibility
A bachelor’s degree from a qualified college or university is required. Recommended courses include biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and calculus. Cell biology and biochemistry are recommended. We do not require GRE scores but will consider them if submitted.
Application
The application portal for the master’s program is now open. Please click here <https://krieger.jhu.edu/graduate-admissions/apply/how-to-apply/> for information about applying and here < https://krieger.jhu.edu/graduate-admissions/> to start the application process..
For full consideration, the deadline for completed applications, including letters of recommendation and official transcripts, is March 15 (see FAQ below).
The extended deadline for completed applications, including letters of recommendation and official transcripts, is May 15.
Application materials include:
1. Transcripts. Applicants will need to list all colleges and universities they attended. A transcript will need to be uploaded from each school attended.
2. Curriculum Vitae (2 pages maximum). Please include the length of time for any full-time or part-time research experiences, any work experience, awards, fellowships, and any abstracts, poster presentations, or manuscripts authored in your CV.
3. Statement of Interest and Career Objectives (1 page maximum). The statement should include your motivations for pursuing a master’s degree in neuroscience at Johns Hopkins and should describe your scientific preparation (research experiences) and your long-term career goals. The statement should enable the admissions committee to determine that: 1) you are committed to pursuing a master’s degree in neuroscience and understand what is needed to succeed in graduate school, 2) you are intellectually engaged in science and your research, and 3) that the program in neuroscience at Johns Hopkins is a good fit for your research and career interests.
4. Letters of recommendation. Applicants must identify three people who are familiar with the applicant’s work and provide contact info for these references. The contact info will be entered into the application, and SOM will contact the references and ask them to submit letters of recommendation on behalf of the applicant. Letters should preferably come from faculty members or other professionals who can comment on the applicant’s aptitude for independent research and motivation for applying to the program.
5. International students whose undergraduate coursework was not conducted in English are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). When taking the exam, applicants should request official scores be reported to Institution Code 5316 (the Department Code is not necessary). To report official IELTS test scores, please include the Test Report Form (TRF) verification number on the application. Scores must be received before the application deadline. The TOEFL requirement is waived for students who have studied at a university within the U.S. or if you received your degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction. Students whose undergraduate degree was completed in Puerto Rico do not have to submit a TOEFL score. All transcripts, letters of recommendation, and parts of the Admissions application must be in English. The approved transcript service for use by international students is WES.
6. Optional Additional material. There is an option for uploading additional information including a description of any special considerations or additional documents that may support your application. Examples includes abstracts of posters or meeting presentations.
7. Optional Official GRE Scores
All matriculating Johns Hopkins graduate students will undergo criminal background checks.
Tuition
$94,000 for the 21-month program, pending final approval from the university’s Board of Trustees.
FAQs
Q: How can I learn more about the Master’s Program in Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins?
A: Please send an email to the Master's Program Director Prof. David Linden at dlinden@jhmi.edu.
Q: Is there an online or low-residency version of this program?
A: No, the intensive nature of the course work and the research laboratory component necessitate that this is a full-time in person program lasting 21 months.
Q: I didn’t major in neuroscience or even biology as an undergraduate. Will I be competitive for admission?
A: Neuroscience is an inherently integrative discipline. We’ve had successful students with undergraduate degrees in many fields, including psychology, cognitive science, engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science and math.
Q: Is there an advantage to applying earlier rather than later?
A: Yes. Admissions will proceed on a rolling basis and the first-year class is limited to ten students. While applications will be accepted until May 15, 2026 there may be fewer positions available for applicants who wait until then to apply.
Q: I already had statistics coursework as an undergraduate. Can I be exempt from that course requirement?
A: Potentially, yes. If we determine that your prior statistics course is equivalent to our requirement, then you can substitute a neuroscience elective course.