Application Information

Deadlines

  • July 15 for Certificate and non-degree admissions
    • Non-Degree admissions for Winter, Spring, or Summer term should be submitted by the opening date for registration for that term based on the OHSU academic calendar (typically early November, February and May). Note that all year-long courses begin in Fall term.
  • M.C.R. admissions - Submit after completion of first year as a certificate candidate in the HIP program
    • By July 15 in summer after first year for admission for Fall term
    • Or on revolving cycle by opening date of registration for any other term based on the OHSU academic calendar (typically early November, February and May).

Applications for Fall term admissions are reviewed at one time and applicants will be notified of admission decision by mid-August. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered if space is available.

Contact hip@ohsu.edu  for any application questions.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must have acquired an M.D., M.D./Ph.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.C., Pharm.D., O.D., or an N.D.; have a Ph.D. with clinical responsibilities or interest in patient-oriented research; or be a doctorally-trained nurse. Graduate students already enrolled in doctoral programs at OHSU (Ph.D., M.D., D.M.D.) may apply with approval from student's program director.
  • Applicants should be graduate students, faculty or staff at OHSU,  VA Portland Health Care System or at other health care facilities or institutions of higher education in Oregon or the Northwest that do not have similar training programs.
  • Applicants to the M.C.R.* must be enrolled in the certificate program and have completed the first year curriculum successfully.  Graduates of the HIP certificate are still eligible to apply.

* Students, trainees and scholars in the Physician-Scientist Experience, OSLER TL1, OCTRI KL2 and other pre-approved training programs may apply directly to the M.C.R. without starting in the certificate program. 

For applicants that are not affiliated with OHSU, there is a one-time background check fee and requirement for an ID badge if admitted to the program.  Students must use OHSU's background check vendor and are responsible for any fees associated with this background check.

Considerations

The HIP certificate and MCR program are different from many traditional graduate programs and are designed for enrollment concurrent with active participation in research.  This allows the education to be “just-in-time” such that students can use the training and skills as they are learned.  Three important things should be in place for students to fully engage in either degree program:

  • Active involvement in research and an active research study, or planning for research at matriculation and a research question for a study that can be developed 
  • An identified research mentor in the field who can advise you on the research study.  For new clinical fellows, this is somewhat flexible in the early weeks of the HIP program. 
  • Dedicated time to complete a degree. See here for more information about the time commitment.

Applying to the HIP Certificate

The following materials are required in the online application for the Certificate: 

1. A current curriculum vitae which includes education, residencies and fellowships.

2. Answers to the following supplemental questions:

  1. Please discuss your research focus for the next two years, including specific proposals you plan to submit or implement. (If you have a research mentor, please note this.)
  2. What are your career goals for the next 5-10 years and how will this program help you achieve these goals?
  3. What are your professional responsibilities for the next 2 years? (Specify clinical, administrative and research time.)
  4. List all research proposals or grants that you have submitted, including those that have not been funded.

3.  A letter of recommendation from your department chair or training director is required. In addition to requesting comments that will assist us in evaluating your application, we will also ask for a commitment of protected time to complete the program. The letter of reference waiver form (below) contains more guidance on what specifically should be included in the letter.

Please download the letter of reference waiver form and send to the person providing the letter of reference. The letter of recommendation will be requested directly from the recommender through the online application.

4.  Transcripts

Official transcripts from your highest degree-granting program (doctoral degree, master's, or bachelor's degree) are an admission requirement. There are two options for submitting official transcripts. 

1) Submit within the "Academic History" section of the online application. Note - ONLY transcripts from your highest degree-granting program are needed.

2) Arrange for your official transcripts to be submitted directly by:

Exceptions for transcript requirements:

  • Graduates from a doctoral degree program at OHSU do not need to submit a transcript.
  • Current HIP non-degree or certificate students submitting an application to the certificate or M.C.R. do not need to submit a transcript if they have previously submitted one. 

Applying to the M.C.R.

The following materials are required in the online application for the MCR:

1. A current curriculum vitae, which includes education, residencies and fellowships.

2. Answers to the following supplemental questions:

  1. How will the M.C.R. degree help you to meet your short and long term career goals?
  2. What mentoring experience do you plan for the M.C.R. to help you meet those goals?
  3. What course work do you plan to take to meet these goals.  Be specific if possible by providing a list with the terms in which you plan to take each course. These plans can be changed but will be used to help with registration.

Note, if not already enrolled in the HIP certificate program, you may also need to answer questions A-D for the certificate application supporting document and well as these questions above for the M.C.R.  Check with the program office if you have questions.

3.  Transcripts

  • Current students and graduates from a doctoral degree program at OHSU do not need to submit a transcript.
  • Current HIP non-degree or certificate students submitting an application to the certificate or M.C.R. do not need to submit a transcript if they have previously submitted one. 

Other applicants are required to submit Official transcripts from your highest degree-granting program (doctoral degree, master's, or bachelor's degree) are an admission requirement. There are two options for submitting official transcripts. 

1) Submit within the "Academic History" section of the online application. Note - ONLY transcripts from your highest degree-granting program are needed.

2) Arrange for your official transcripts to be submitted directly by:

  • email from the university or college to somgrad@ohsu.edu
  • or by mail to:
    OHSU SOM Graduate Admissions
    3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd L102GS
  • Portland, OR 97239

Transcripts from Foreign Institutions:

OHSU strongly encourages all applicants with foreign degrees to obtain a World Education Service International Credential Advantage Package (WES ICAP) course-by-course credential evaluation. Please consult WES's website for more information and instructions. Applicants are responsible for the full cost of this service. It is the applicants responsibility to contact the program(s) in which they are applying to determine if the WES ICAP is required during the application process.

Application form

All applicants for the Certificate and the MCR must submit the following items through the UniCas application system PLUS the additional materials listed for the program to which you are applying.

Application Fee for new degree applicants: $70.00

Submitting the application:

  • You will need to create a new account to apply.  If you were a previous or current student at OHSU who applied through the UniCAS system, you can use your previous username and password and some information should pre-fill from your prior application.
  • From the list of programs, select HIP Certificate or HIP Master of Clinical Research as appropriate.
    • Certificate students must apply for Fall Term
    • Applicants to the M.C.R. must be enrolled in the certificate program and have completed the first year curriculum successfully.
  • Important: To avoid confusion and possible duplication with your OHSU employee account, it is recommended to enter your social security number in the application form where requested in order to match with your employee record even though this is optional if not requesting financial aid.  Social security numbers are kept securely in the student system with limited access.

Applications for Fall term admissions are reviewed at one time and applicants will be notified of admission decision by mid-August. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered if space is available.

Online application form

Fee waiver request

  • Application fee waivers are available for current SOM graduate students including current HIP students applying to change degree programs.
  • Applicants applying to any OHSU School of Medicine graduate program who are economically disadvantaged, have extenuating circumstances and/or participated in a qualifying program are eligible to request an application fee waiver. Graduate Studies provides a limited number of application fee waivers each academic year and these waivers are granted based on funding availability and are not guaranteed. 
  • For more information, please review the Application Fee Waiver policy. 

If eligible for the application fee waiver:

  • Log in to the online application and create an account.
  • Once you have created an account, you will be assigned a CAS ID# (the number under your name in the top right corner of the application page) 
  • Email the CAS ID# to somgrad@ohsu.edu to request your waiver code.
  • Please note that fee waiver requests should be submitted at least 5 business days prior to your program’s application deadline.  The Graduate Studies office will review all application fee waiver requests and notify those applicants that are granted a waiver.

If not applying to the Certificate or M.C.R. (ONLY planning to take classes as a non-degree participant), the following materials should be sent via email to hip@ohsu.edu: 

1. A current curriculum vitae, which includes education, residencies and fellowships.

2. Answers to the following supplemental questions:

  1. After carefully looking over the non-degree track information, course descriptions, pre-requisites and the class schedule, list each class that you wish to take including the term, year and whether you wish to audit the course or take for academic credit.  List your planned courses for each year that you plan to participate.  Note that you will receive a confirmation of courses that you may enroll in when you receive acceptance into the program.  More information for non-degree participation
  2. Indicate if you are required by your fellowship program to take classes in the HIP program. 

Non-degree enrollment is subject eligibility and available space in any course.

Graduate students currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at OHSU should contact the HIP program before applying to learn about additional material requirements. Some programs require approval from the program director before enrollment in HIP classes.

OHSU COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

OHSU requires immunizations for its students in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from the State of Oregon. Students must comply with OHSU pre-entrance immunization requirements per Policy 03-30-150 and Policy 02-90-010   and remain in compliance for the duration of their enrollment at OHSU.

This means that all admitted students must provide proof of full COVID-19 immunization or receive an approved medical or religious exception 21-days prior to the start of the academic term. Admission into OHSU academic programs are considered conditional until proof of full vaccination is provided or a medical or religious exception is approved by OHSU.  If students have not met the COVID-19 policy requirements at least 21 days prior to the start of the academic term, their offer of admission to OHSU will be rescinded and they will be unable to take courses or start their programs of study or other academic activities. 

Students admitted into non-clinical programs who have received exceptions will be required to complete COVID-19 testing as specified by OHSU and will receive additional direction related to required safety standards and practices. OHSU does not allow unvaccinated students to participate in in-person direct patient contact or in simulation activities involving in-person direct contact with standardized patients, and as such, entry into clinical programs for unvaccinated students will be prohibited.

New admits who have already demonstrated compliance as an employee or student in another program do not need to resubmit proof of compliance.