New Students

Welcome to Biomedical Graduate Education! We’re excited to help you get started in your academic program and on our campus.

There are many steps to take as a new student. Follow the New Student Checklist to establish your accounts and registrations. You’ll also attend New Student Orientation to familiarize yourself with our processes and resources.

COVID-19 Resources

Vaccination: Georgetown strongly encourages but no longer requires students, faculty or staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Health professional students who have clinical placements with affiliated organizations (e.g., MedStar Health) still need to comply with their associated immunization requirements, including for COVID-19. We strongly recommend that all community members stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and receive the latest booster or any new dose that becomes available and recommended by the CDC moving forward.

Testing: Free antigen and PCR testing for COVID-19 continues to be available to all community members as needed.

Masks: Wearing a mask is optional in university-owned and operated buildings and on university-sponsored public transportation (e.g., GUTS), as well as in university health facilities (e.g., Student Health Center) unless otherwise instructed by a clinician.

Visit the Coronavirus Resource Center for more information.

New Student Checklist

Deadline: Found in your admissions letter

Follow the instructions in your official admissions letter to confirm your enrollment through the online application portal. Submit the Enrollment Confirmation Form and corresponding deposit to hold your place in the program until you matriculate. Georgetown accepts Visa and Mastercard for the enrollment deposit.

If you have received a Conditional Admissions Letter, please read through the steps to meet the outstanding conditions of admissions. If you have received a merit-based aid award letter, please submit the paperwork to the office indicated on the letter.

In your admissions letter, you have received your University NetID with your temporary password. Set up your University NetID password here. NetIDs are automatically assigned, unique electronic identifiers for each authorized user at Georgetown.

Students should navigate to Georgetown Google Apps to open GUMail, enroll in Duo (two-factor authentication) and create a Zoom account. Visit Georgetown’s New Student Technology Resources website for more — including services for Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) students.

MyAccess is the one-stop student portal that includes registration, student accounts and student services. For more information on MyAccess, visit the MyAccess Guides and MyAccess FAQ.

Please ensure that your local address is in MyAccess to avoid registration holds.

Note: Students who have recently paid the commitment deposit will need to wait 24-48 hours after the payment is processed in order to log in to MyAccess.

Canvas is our learning management system; it may be used for accessing course materials, submitting assignments and receiving grades.

Please review your program’s curriculum and/or speak with your program director and coordinator about your first-semester curriculum prior to registering for classes.

Review the registration dates for “new BGE admits” (search this term on the registration dates site) and follow the directions in the MyAccess Guides carefully to register for your classes!

For more information on MyAccess, visit the MyAccess FAQ.

If you encounter a course that requires departmental approval, please fill out the Add/Drop form (new window) including signatures and email it to Holly Sanders for processing. 

Deadline: Check the Billing Calendar posted on the Revenue and Receivables website for the exact date (on the left under “important dates”).

Log in into MyAccess to view billing statements. See the instructions for viewing your bill.

Deadline: After your confirmation of enrollment and deposit

If you have applied for financial aid, please stay in touch with the Office of Student Financial Services at osfsgradfinaid@georgetown.edu. To check/accept your financial aid award letter, please log in to MyAccess and follow the next steps after receiving your financial aid.

Pre-arrival deadline: After your confirmation of enrollment and deposit
Arrival: Once you arrive to the United States

Visit the Office of Global Services (OGS) New Students page for your pre-arrival checklist. You may also wish to review the resources and information on our BGE International Students page.

Newly admitted international students should contact newinternational@georgetown.edu with any inquiries or requests. Please also see the I-20 or DS-2019 process.

Newly admitted international students must attend the International Student Orientation and Mandatory Immigration Session in order to activate your Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) record. More information is on the OGS new student webpage and BGE Orientation section below.

Current students should contact internationalservices@georgetown.edu.

Activate or waive the Georgetown University student health insurance. If you already have adequate health insurance, you must log in to waive the Georgetown student insurance.

You may also choose to enroll in Georgetown’s Voluntary Dental Plan for dental insurance.

Deadline: Check the Student Health website for exact dates

Submit your required proof of Student Immunization and Tuberculosis Screening Certificates to the Student Health Center to avoid registration holds.

Biomedical Graduate Education New Student Orientation is mandatory for all incoming students.

GOCard is the official student ID card at Georgetown University, and can be used for on-campus purchases and much more.

BGE students receive a physical GOCard. To get your card, upload an ID photo, then visit the GOCard Office.

Completion of the Honor Council Tutorial is required of all first-year master’s students in Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, including BGE students. You will receive an email directly from the Graduate School with the link to the tutorial and the deadline to complete it. Please complete the Honor Council Tutorial to avoid registration holds.

Completion is required of all first-year graduate students, including master’s and doctoral students. Students will receive a message from EVERFI, the third-party provider the University partners with to deliver this training. Please complete the SAPG training to avoid registration holds.

You may refer to the Georgetown University Code of Student Conduct as needed for information about prohibited conduct and disciplinary processes. Contact the Office of Student Conduct at studentconduct@georgetown.edu for more information.

Sign up to take the Environmental Health & Safety training. You may be required to take some or all of the training courses, depending on your area of research. Check with your program about training requirements.

Visit our Housing & Transportation page for information and listings.

Sign up for a one-on-one career advising appointment to connect with BGE’s career development team and start planning the next phase of your career.

Fill out the Individual Development Plan form, provided by the BGE Office of Career Strategy & Professional Development. The IDP helps you to set academic and professional goals, in conversation with your faculty and career advisors.

We recommend these BGE career courses to help you plan and prepare for your professional journey:

  • Take the online, self-paced EPIC Career Strategy Course to map out each stage of your career search process: Explore, Prepare, Interview, and Choose.
  • Register for BGE’s Academy for Transferable Management Skills to gain experience in planning and running a research project. The course is intended to support you in your student research and serve as a resume item.
  • Look at the professional memberships available to you as a BGE student. Professional organizations provide networking opportunities, webinars and workshops, and other resources for career advancement.

Visit our Community page to get resources on our community! Join the Medical Center Graduate Student Organization (MCGSO), a student-run organization that includes all BGE students, and like BGE on Facebook to stay updated about resources and events.

Visit our Health & Wellness for support in taking care of your physical and mental health as a grad student.

New Student Orientation

Biomedical Graduate Education hosts orientations for incoming students in Fall, Spring and Summer. Orientation provides important information about registration, student organizations, student financial services, academic integrity, library facilities and computer resources.

Summer 2024 Biomedical Orientation for New Ph.D. Students

The Biomedical Summer Orientation is mandatory for all incoming biomedical Ph.D. students starting in Summer or Fall 2024, and M.D./Ph.D. students who are officially starting their Ph.D. studies in Spring 2025. Incoming students will be notified of the date, time and location of Summer Orientation. You may find the Medical and Dental Building on the campus map and review transportation options for getting to campus in advance.

Please consult with your program about the required Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) training.

If you have questions about New Student Orientation, please email BGE Academic Specialist Holly Sanders.

New international students: Please visit the Office of Global Services website for the official OGS Orientation and Immigration Document Review.

The online Biomedical Fall Orientation is mandatory for all incoming biomedical master’s and certificate students. In early August, incoming students will receive an email to complete the Fall Orientation.

All new graduate students: Please visit the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences website for the Graduate Student Induction Program.

If you have questions about New Student Orientation, please email BGE Academic Specialist Holly Sanders.

SMP students: You will not receive the BGE online Fall orientation; instead, you will participate in the SMP Orientation.

New international students: Please visit the Office of Global Services website for the official OGS Orientation and Immigration Document Review.

The online Biomedical Spring Orientation is mandatory for all incoming biomedical students. In early January, incoming students will receive an email to complete the Spring Orientation.

If you have questions about New Student Orientation, please email BGE Academic Specialist Holly Sanders.

New international students: Please visit the Office of Global Services website for the official OGS Orientation and Immigration Document Review.

  • Monday, October 16, 2023: Georgetown begins SEVIS immigration document issuance for Spring 2024. International Student Portal invitations are emailed to confirmed admits with an active learner record.
  • Friday, December 8, 2023: Deadline to upload evidence for F-1 or J-1 eligibility. Portal reopens March 15, 2024.
  • Monday, January 8, 2024: New students must arrive before the start of classes.
  • Monday, January 8, 2024, 5-7 p.m.: OGS Welcome Event.
  • Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 1-2 p.m.: MANDATORY Immigration Session to activate SEVIS record. Please avoid schedule conflicts.

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