Applying to the MLS Program
Application deadline: Second Tuesday in January
Applications will open each year in August or September. Completed applications received by the second Tuesday in January will receive first consideration for admissions. Completed applications received after that date will be considered if there are positions available in the program. The final deadline for all applications is the second Tuesday in March.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must have either:
- a baccalaureate degree and certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist MLS(ASCP) or Medical Technologist MT(ASCP) or equivalent US certification (e.g., MLS certification from AMT). (Applicants who are eligible for certification must schedule the exam so that certification can be obtained by the first fall semester of the MLS program.)
OR
- a baccalaureate degree in a biological science and certification as an MLT(ASCP), or equivalent US certification (e.g., MLT certification from AMT), plus have two years full-time* experience working in the U.S. or Canada in an accredited** clinical laboratory within the last four years.
OR
- a baccalaureate degree in a biological science and US certification in a specialty area (e.g., HT, CT, or categorical certification) plus have two years full-time* experience working in the U.S. or Canada in an accredited** clinical laboratory within the last four years.
*Full-time experience is defined as a minimum of thirty-five (35) hours per week.
**CLIA, CAP, AABB, Joint Commission accreditation, JCI accreditation, or accreditation under ISO 15189.
Admissions Process
The application
Applications for admission to the UNC-Chapel Hill Masters of Clinical Laboratory Science – Medical Laboratory Science track should be submitted via the online admission application. All required materials described below should be submitted according to the instructions provided. Your application will not be reviewed until the application fee is received. By submitting an application to UNC-Chapel Hill, consent is granted to university staff to obtain any additional or missing information as needed, including campus safety information.
- Download and complete the MLS Planned Course of Study worksheet.
- Click to apply: https://applynow.unc.edu/apply/
Please remember as you complete your application:
- Include a current email address on your application because we will rely mainly on email for communication with applicants.
Required Application Materials
1. Application Fee.
A non-refundable $95 application fee is required. Applicants can pay their application fee by credit card (Visa/MasterCard) or mail a check or money order to the address below. For security purposes, the credit card address manually inserted during the final payment process must exactly match the credit card billing address for a successful transaction. Mail-in payments are restricted to a check (in U.S. funds) that contains the pre-printed electronic routing numbers, or an international money-order made payable to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Please include your full name, birth date and program to which you applied.
2. Transcripts.
One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. If offered admission, one paper official transcript for each university attended will be required at a later date.
- Transcripts of all post-secondary education (including community colleges, summer sessions and extension programs) are required. Unofficial transcripts must be complete (not select courses), issued in the original language and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable. Transfer credit posted on the transcript of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from the institution attended. A transcript from each institution is always required.
- Applicants should submit transcripts showing their current courses. Final transcripts must then follow.
- Applicants with education obtained outside the US or Canada must upload a course-by-course evaluation for equivalency reviewed by an evaluation agency.
3. Current letters of recommendation.
The email address of two recommenders will be required within the application for electronic submission and delivery. You should solicit recommendations from individuals who are qualified to evaluate your academic and professional achievements and who can address your potential for success in the medical laboratory science program. The online application will prompt you to submit the email addresses for your two recommenders.
4. Resume.
You will be asked to upload a current resume.
5. Standardized test scores.
Applicants for the MLS graduate program do not need to submit GRE scores. Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be given a writing assignment which will be evaluated for content and adherence to guidelines.
6. Statement of purpose.
You will be asked to upload a one-page, typed statement indicating your educational and professional goals and a statement of your reasons for pursuing the MCLS-MLS degree. You should also include any special interests, plans, or relevant information pertaining to educational records and career progression.
7. Supplemental information: Planned Course of Study
The applicant will submit a plan that describes the semester that each of the courses in the MCLS-MLS curriculum will be completed and their selection of elective courses. (This is the Planned Course of Study worksheet that you downloaded in advance.)
8. Campus Safety Information.
Applicants for admission will be asked several questions regarding criminal pleas, charges and convictions, academic suspensions, and military discharges on the application. You will also be asked to submit information for a criminal background check. You must describe violations of law in your home country and in any other country in which you have resided. The term “law” includes codes, legal rules and regulations, and other criminal-type statutes or violations of municipal, local, provincial, state, federal, national, commonwealth, and other governmental jurisdiction. Failure to provide complete, accurate and truthful information will be grounds to deny or withdraw your admission, or to dismiss you after enrollment. The same actions will occur if you fail to notify the Admissions Office promptly in writing of such charges that occur at any time after you submit the application.
9. TOEFL or IELTS score (no more than two years old).
All international applicants must submit acceptable, official scores for TOEFL (reported directly to school code #5816 from ETS) or IELTS (reported directly from IELTS). We accept no other English Language tests.
- Standardized test scores must be official and are reportable for a period of two years from the date of the exam. Exam results more than two years old cannot be considered. Standardized test scores that are submitted to this institution are kept on file for only one year.
- When you register for any tests, you should indicate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School as a score recipient. If you did not specify the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School as a score recipient at the time of taking the test, you must promptly ask to send your scores to us. While photocopies of score reports are useful for informal evaluation, the official report of your scores must arrive before final review and admission can be offered.
There are several categories of applicants who may qualify for an exception to the English Standardized exams:
- those from countries where English is the SOLE OFFICIAL language of instruction (Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada-except Québec, England, Ghana, Ireland, India, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, and Wales)
- those who have received or will receive a degree from an accredited university in the United States (If you are currently enrolled at a U.S. institution, you must submit an official transcript or verification of degree candidate status from that institution to qualify for a TOEFL or IELTS waiver. If the degree or an official verification is not received, the score will again be required.)
- those who have received or will receive a degree from an accredited university where English is the SOLE language of instruction. (If you are a degree candidate in a university where English is the SOLE language of instruction, you must submit an official verification from that university that English is the SOLE language of instruction along with your anticipated date of graduation. If the degree or an official verification is not received, the TOEFL score will again be required.)
The required minimum total score on the exams are:
- The internet-based TOEFL exam = 90.
- The IELTS exam = 7
10. Financial Certificate (for international students).
Additional information for international applicants.
Interview
Based on the review of the submitted materials, applicants may be interviewed to assess their career goals and aptitude for study at the master’s degree level.
Address for application fees:
Office of Student Services
Department of Health Sciences
UNC-Chapel Hill
1021 Bondurant Hall CB# 7120
Chapel Hill NC 27599-7120
Ph (919) 966-8803
Fax (919) 966-8384
For questions about the MLS graduate program, please contact Mrs. Carolyn Oakes (carolyn_oakes@med.unc.edu).