How to Get Into Brigham Young University School of Medicine: The Definitive Guide (2026-2027)

Brigham Young University School of Medicine is the newest MD program in Utah and one of the newest in the country. It sits on BYU’s West Campus in Provo, in renovated space that was once Provo High School, and it will welcome its first class of up to 60 students in July 2027. The school was announced by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in July 2024, and it received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in October 2026.

BYU’s medical school is built around a stated mission: to prepare physicians who will serve people throughout the world as healers, teachers, researchers, leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ. Faith is part of the curriculum, the admissions criteria and student life. Every student, of any religion, commits to the BYU Honor Code and submits an ecclesiastical endorsement. Global health, research and service run through all four years, and Intermountain Health is the primary clinical partner.

This guide covers the inaugural 2026-2027 application cycle, which fills the class that starts in July 2027. It walks you through the mission and what the admissions committee looks for, accreditation, the three-phase curriculum, admissions requirements and deadlines, the Honor Code and ecclesiastical endorsement, 2027-28 costs and financial aid, the interview day, student life, the people leading the school, how BYU compares with the other medical schools in Utah, and how to prepare for the three secondary essays. At International Medical Aid, we believe that knowledge is power. Because this is a brand-new school, some numbers other guides would include, like class averages and match results, do not exist yet. This guide tells you plainly what is published and what is not.

Key Takeaways

• A brand-new MD program: BYU School of Medicine received LCME preliminary accreditation in October 2026 and enrolls its first class of up to 60 students in July 2027. Graduates earn the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.
• Deadlines are later than usual this year: The AMCAS primary application is due December 31, 2026, and the BYU secondary is due January 15, 2027. Acceptances go out on a rolling basis from January through April 2027.
• Faith-based standards apply to everyone: All applicants who receive a secondary commit to the BYU Honor Code and submit an ecclesiastical endorsement. You do not have to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to apply.
• No cutoffs, no situational judgment test: There is no minimum MCAT and no minimum GPA, and BYU does not require PREview or Casper. MCAT scores must be from January 2024 or later for the 2027 class.
• Simple prerequisites: Two semesters each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. Labs are not required, online courses are accepted, and biochemistry can replace one semester of organic chemistry.
• Tuition for 2027-28: $25,000 for Latter-day Saint students and $50,000 for other students. The first-year cost of attendance runs from $58,057 to $85,637 depending on tuition rate and housing.
• Interviews are in person: Interview day on the Provo campus combines a traditional 45-minute interview with multiple mini interviews (MMIs).
• No class statistics yet: BYU has not enrolled a class, so there is no median MCAT, median GPA, acceptance rate or match list to report.

Key Facts About BYU School of Medicine

Mission and What BYU Looks For

BYU School of Medicine describes itself as founded on the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and guided by the doctrine and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its mission statement commits the school to a spiritually grounded and scientifically rigorous education for physicians who will care for people throughout the world. The school was created to help meet physician workforce needs, improve access to care for underserved populations, support the Church’s humanitarian work and prepare graduates to relieve suffering around the world.

That mission shapes admissions directly. The school says it looks at the whole person, not just grades and test scores, and it names seven qualities it wants to see in applicants:

• Faith and spiritual commitment: a strong foundation of faith, shown through following the example of Jesus Christ, personal worship, ministering to others and taking part in a faith community.
• Mission alignment: motivation by faith, service and improving health locally and globally. Strong applicants can explain why they want to be a physician and how their experiences connect to the school’s mission.
• Moral and ethical character: honesty, responsibility, respect for others and living the BYU Honor Code.
• Academic excellence: strong coursework and MCAT performance, problem solving, curiosity through research and a love of learning.
• Leadership and service: consistent service or volunteering, community impact and leading with humility.
• Emotional and social intelligence: empathy, communication, relationship building and resilience.
• Commitment to global and underserved health: serving underserved communities, understanding barriers to care and wanting to make a lasting difference locally and globally.

Read that list as a map for your whole application. Your AMCAS activities, personal statement, secondary essays, letters and interview should each give the committee evidence for several of these qualities, especially service to people with limited access to care and a clear reason for choosing BYU’s mission.

Accreditation Status

The LCME, which the U.S. Department of Education recognizes as the accreditor for MD programs, granted BYU School of Medicine preliminary accreditation in October 2026. The school moved through the LCME’s stages quickly: applicant status in November 2024, candidate status in October 2025, a survey visit in June 2026 and preliminary accreditation in October 2026.

Preliminary accreditation is an accredited status, not pre-accreditation. It authorizes the school to recruit and admit students and launch its MD program. Students in programs with preliminary or provisional accreditation have the same eligibility as students at fully accredited schools to take the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK and to enter accredited residency training, subject to the standard requirements every examinee and applicant must meet. Graduation from an LCME-accredited program also meets the medical education requirement used by most state medical boards.

Two more reviews come later. Provisional accreditation is typically considered during the inaugural class’s second year, after the pre-clerkship curriculum is in place. Full accreditation is typically considered as the first class nears the end of its clinical training. Each review includes updated information from the school, a site visit and an LCME decision.

Curriculum Overview

BYU’s MD curriculum is organized in three phases. It combines organ-system science courses with two longitudinal courses that run across the pre-clerkship years: Global Clinical Medicine, and Global Health and Research. The school’s medical education program objectives are the basis for course design and assessment from orientation through graduation.

Phase 1: Pre-clerkship (14 months)

Phase 1 opens with a two-week introduction called “Becoming a Christ-Centered Physician.” Students then move through six organ-system courses, each lasting six to nine weeks:

• Blood, Microbes, and Immunity
• Skin and Musculoskeletal
• Circulation and Ventilation
• Nutrition, Digestion, Elimination, and Renal
• Reproduction, Development, and Endocrine
• Brain, Behavior, and Movement

Alongside those courses, the two longitudinal courses teach clinical skills, professionalism, medical ethics, global health foundations and research design. Clinical exposure starts early: first-year students can serve at a free primary care clinic. Phase 1 ends with a four-week course that pulls the material together and prepares students for USMLE Step 1, with short breaks for rest built into the schedule.

Phase 2: Core clerkships (12 months)

Phase 2 begins with a one-week transition to clinical settings, after which students rotate through internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, neurology and pediatrics, plus a longitudinal family medicine clerkship. The phase ends with time to review and prepare for USMLE Step 2 CK. Required clerkships begin at the start of the second year.

Phase 3: Immersion (18 months)

The final phase includes a sub-internship, emergency medicine, critical care and advanced specialty rotations in areas of interest. A central part of Phase 3 is an 8- to 12-week global health and research experience that can include global health courses, humanitarian service and research at an international partner site. Domestic rural options are available, with priority for students whose circumstances limit international travel. Breaks are scheduled for rest, residency interviews and the transition to residency.

Clinical Training, Research and Global Health

Clinical affiliates

Intermountain Health is the school’s primary clinical affiliate. It is the largest health system in the Mountain West, with 23 hospitals in Utah alone, and BYU’s future medical school building will sit just east of Intermountain’s Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. Most clinical training will take place at sites in Utah and Salt Lake Counties. BYU also lists these clinical affiliates:

• Bingham Family Clinic, a nonprofit free clinic in Orem for uninsured and underserved patients
• Utah Surgical Associates
• Utah Valley Pediatrics
• Alpine Pediatrics
• University of Utah Health
• Utah State Hospital
• Revere Health

Year 1 is based in Provo. Core clerkships and electives in later years take place at affiliate hospitals and clinics in the greater Provo and Salt Lake City areas, so you will need a car. BYU does not expect students to relocate for required core rotations.

Research

Every BYU medical student learns research principles and joins a research team in an area of interest starting in the first year. The school’s research focuses on improving health outcomes for underserved populations. Priority areas include maternal and child health, sustainable health systems and safe surgery, non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases and other humanitarian health work, aligned with the Church’s humanitarian priorities.

Global health

Global health is built into the mission. Students take global health coursework from the first year, complete the immersive global health and research experience in Phase 3 and can work with communities in the United States and abroad. If you are building experience now, clinical work in places with limited access to care is a natural fit for this school. Pre-med internships abroad are one way to gain that kind of experience before you apply.

The BYU Honor Code and Ecclesiastical Endorsement

These two requirements are what most clearly set BYU apart from other MD programs, so it is worth understanding them before you apply.

Honor Code commitment

Every student admitted to the School of Medicine commits to live the BYU Honor Code. Applicants agree to it as part of the secondary application, and enrolled students renew the commitment every year. The Honor Code sets expectations for:

• academic integrity
• respect for others
• abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs
• abstinence from sexual relations outside marriage between a man and a woman
• dress and grooming standards

You do not need to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to make this commitment. All students, regardless of religious affiliation, are expected to uphold it. BYU housing policy also requires single students who are not living with qualifying family members to live in housing with members of the same sex.

Ecclesiastical endorsement

The ecclesiastical endorsement is a confidential evaluation from a religious leader that affirms your moral character, integrity and spiritual commitment. It confirms that you strive to live honestly, are willing to abide by the Honor Code, respect the mission and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are committed to spiritual growth during medical school. Endorsements are valid for one year and must be renewed annually while you are enrolled.

• Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints receive their endorsement from their bishop and stake president.
• Applicants of other faiths obtain an endorsement from a member of the clergy of their own faith who knows them personally, can speak to their character and is willing to affirm their commitment to the Honor Code.
• Applicants who are not part of a faith community complete a first endorsement interview with a local bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a second interview with the BYU University Chaplain. The chaplain contacts you; do not reach out first.

Instructions for requesting the endorsement arrive with the secondary application. Your application is not complete, and you cannot be invited to interview, until both the Honor Code commitment and the endorsement are done. If your endorsement depends on a religious leader’s schedule, start that conversation as soon as you submit AMCAS.

If you are not a Latter-day Saint

BYU welcomes applicants of all beliefs who embrace the school’s mission, commit to the Honor Code and obtain an endorsement. It says students of other faiths should expect to feel respected and included and will take part fully in all academic, clinical and community experiences. BYU publishes a Guide for Students of Other Faiths. Weekly devotionals and forums are part of campus life. Think carefully about whether the environment fits you, and if you apply, be ready to explain honestly why this mission appeals to you.

Admissions Requirements

Eligibility

• A bachelor’s or graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian institution, or its equivalent, completed before you start medical school. Your degree can be in any field, and no major gets preference.
• Fluency in reading, writing and speaking English.
• U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international applicants may apply. Undocumented students and DACA recipients are currently not eligible because of licensure and residency-training barriers after graduation.
• Accepted students complete a criminal background check through the AAMC’s Certiphi service, meet the technical standards (with or without accommodations) and are up to date on required immunizations: MMR, varicella, hepatitis B, Tdap, influenza and tuberculosis screening.

Prerequisite coursework

Labs are not required, and online courses are accepted. Coursework has no strict expiration date, but recent coursework helps show readiness. Community college science courses are accepted as long as they make up no more than half of your science coursework, and AP and IB credit counts if it appears on your undergraduate transcript. Letter grades are preferred for science courses, though pass/fail grades are accepted, especially from special circumstances such as the COVID-19 period. Required courses must be finished before you start. Exceptions are rare and case by case.

MCAT

• You must take the MCAT before applying, and official scores must arrive by the December 31 deadline.
• There is no minimum score. The school gives the most weight to your highest valid score, and retakes are accepted.
• Scores must be from within three years of matriculation. For the July 2027 class, that means January 2024 or later.

GPA

There is no minimum GPA. Post-baccalaureate coursework is combined with your undergraduate GPA, while graduate program grades are considered separately. The committee looks at your grade trend and course rigor, so a strong upward trajectory counts.

Letters of recommendation

Submit either two or three individual letters, with at least one from a science faculty member who knows your academic work, or one pre-health committee letter or letter packet. Three is the maximum. Letters must be on letterhead and signed. BYU recommends letters from people who know you well, such as a healthcare professional you have worked with over time, a faculty member or a work or volunteer supervisor.

No situational judgment test

BYU does not require PREview, Casper or any other situational judgment test.

How to Apply: The 2026-2027 Cycle

Because accreditation came in October 2026, BYU’s first admissions cycle opened later than the standard AMCAS calendar. The school began accepting AMCAS applications in early November 2026.

1. Submit AMCAS. Select Brigham Young University School of Medicine in your AMCAS application, and make sure your transcripts, letters and MCAT scores are submitted. Your AMCAS personal statement should connect your path to medicine with service and the school’s mission.
2. Complete the secondary. After your verified AMCAS application is reviewed, eligible applicants are invited to complete the BYU secondary: three essays, a $50 non-refundable fee, the Honor Code commitment and the ecclesiastical endorsement. Details arrive by email.
3. Screening. Only complete applications are reviewed: verified AMCAS, a current MCAT, letters, the secondary with fee paid or waived, and the Honor Code commitment and endorsement.
4. Interview. Selected applicants are invited by email to an in-person interview day in Provo.
5. Decision. Decisions (acceptance, waitlist or not accepted) are made on a rolling basis and are final.

Key dates

Admissions are rolling, so apply as early as you can. If you qualify for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program, BYU waives the $50 secondary fee automatically. Updates are accepted only from interviewed applicants, who receive instructions for sending significant news such as a publication, presentation or award. All communication goes to the email in your AMCAS application.

Secondary Essays: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Applicants invited to the BYU secondary answer three additional essay questions. BYU sends the questions and instructions by email with the secondary invitation, and the school has not posted the prompts publicly. Because the secondary is due January 15, 2027, only two weeks after the primary deadline, preparing ahead matters.

You can prepare now by building a bank of experiences that match what BYU says it looks for. For each, write a short paragraph on what happened, what you did and what it taught you:

• Why BYU and its mission: a specific, honest reason this mission fits you. Mention concrete features, such as the global health and research immersion, the free-clinic service in Year 1 or research on maternal and child health or infectious disease, and tie each to something you have actually done.
• Service to underserved people: sustained service where you saw barriers to care up close, and what you learned from the people you served.
• Faith and character: a time your values guided a hard decision, or how your faith or personal convictions shape the way you treat others. Keep it personal and specific rather than general.
• Global health: work with communities abroad or with immigrant and international communities at home, and how it shaped your view of medicine.
• Challenge and resilience: a setback, what you changed and how you grew.
• Leadership: a time you led with humility and helped others succeed.

When the prompts arrive, match each question to the strongest story in your bank, answer the exact question asked and keep every claim consistent with your AMCAS activities. Have someone who knows you check that your answers sound like you.

Interview Format and Preparation

All BYU interviews are held in person at the School of Medicine in Provo. Interview day combines a traditional 45-minute interview with several multiple mini interviews. The day also includes a facilities tour, a meal, a program presentation and time with faculty, staff and other candidates.

• For the traditional interview, know your application thoroughly. Be ready to explain why you want to be a physician, why BYU’s mission fits you and what you learned from your clinical, service and research experiences.
• For the MMIs, practice short timed stations on ethical scenarios, communication and teamwork. Our Multiple Mini Interview guide walks through the format and a reasoning method you can use at any station.
• Expect mission questions. Be ready to talk honestly about the Honor Code, service and how faith or personal values shape your approach to patients.
• Plan travel early. Interviews are in person, and Provo Airport is about 15 minutes from campus, while Salt Lake City International Airport is about 45 minutes away.

Tuition, Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid

BYU School of Medicine is supported in part by contributions from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That support keeps tuition lower for all students and gives Latter-day Saint students an additional reduction, similar to how public schools charge residents less. The rate is based on church membership, not state residency.

Students must show proof of health insurance before starting, either a qualifying private plan or the BYU Student Health Plan. The school provides disability insurance to every enrolled student at no cost.

Financial aid

• Scholarships: Admitted students are considered automatically for achievement-based scholarships. Need-based scholarships and grants are considered after admitted students complete the FAFSA and any required documents. International students are considered for both merit and need-based scholarships.
• Federal loans: Students starting in July 2027 fall under the new federal rules: Grad PLUS loans are no longer available to new borrowers after July 1, 2026, the annual limit is $50,000, the graduate aggregate limit is $200,000 and the lifetime limit is $257,500. BYU’s FAFSA school code is 003670.
• Other options: military education benefits, University Institutional Loans and private loans.

Student Life and Support

Year 1 takes place at the School of Medicine on BYU’s West Campus. The interim facilities include anatomy and simulation labs, team-based learning classrooms, research and mentoring space and student support areas. The school’s permanent home, a 275,000-square-foot building, will also be on West Campus next to Utah Valley Hospital, and construction is expected to begin in 2027. Its plans include simulation and clinical skills space, a medical library, anatomy and research labs, a global health hub and a family room with a children’s play space.

• Learning communities: students are grouped into learning communities of 20, each with a mentor couple who support students and their families through medical school.
• Support offices: the Office of Student Experience and Well-Being and the Office of Student Progress work together on well-being, academics, professional development and residency preparation. Students also have access to BYU’s Student Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services.
• Families: the school expects many students to be married, parents or caregivers and is building family programming, gathering spaces and accommodations for pregnancy, parenting and lactation.
• Faith and campus life: weekly devotionals and forums, religious worship and BYU’s clubs, intramurals, arts and athletics are open to medical students. As the first class, students will help create the school’s organizations and traditions, from the White Coat Ceremony to Match Day.
• Utah living: skiing, hiking, national parks and Salt Lake City are all within reach. Students arrange their own housing in Utah and Salt Lake Counties, and a car is necessary for clinical rotations.

Leadership and Admissions Staff

BYU School of Medicine is led by its inaugural dean, Dr. Mark Ott. Admissions are led by Dr. Josh Jaramillo, associate dean of admissions. Other members of the founding leadership team include:

• Jeff Seegmiller, senior associate dean of academics
• Lesley Gardiner, associate dean of curriculum
• Brett Nelson, associate dean of global health and humanitarian service
• Brandon Webb, associate dean of research
• David Roos, associate dean of student experience and well-being
• J Namealoha Sells Hekekia, associate dean of student progress
• Adam Sharp, associate dean of faculty
• Matt Linton, assistant dean of Phase 1
• Steven Embley, assistant dean of Phase 2
• Derek Wilcox, assistant dean of accreditation and quality improvement

Because the school has not graduated anyone yet, it has no alumni. Admissions questions go to the Office of Admissions at [email protected].

Admissions Statistics and Class Profile

BYU School of Medicine has not enrolled a class yet, so it has no published median MCAT, median GPA, applicant count, acceptance rate or match results. The LCME approved an inaugural class of up to 60 students. Future class sizes will depend on educational outcomes, faculty, facilities, clinical training capacity and accreditation guidance.

Without class averages, use these questions to judge your readiness:

• Is your MCAT score competitive for the MD programs you are applying to overall, and is it from January 2024 or later?
• Have you completed, or will you finish before July 2027, all four required science sequences?
• Do you have sustained service, clinical experience and evidence of the seven qualities BYU names?
• Are you ready to commit to the Honor Code and secure an ecclesiastical endorsement quickly after you apply?

A small, brand-new class drawing from a national applicant pool is likely to be competitive. Apply early in the cycle, complete your secondary quickly and build a balanced school list.

How BYU Compares With Other Utah Medical Schools

Utah now has four medical schools. Here is how BYU fits alongside them. For the full picture, including Utah’s PA programs, see our guide to medical schools in Utah.

For Utah residents, the University of Utah is the state’s public MD option, with resident tuition that gives Utahns a strong cost advantage. Noorda, also in Provo, offers the DO degree through AACOMAS. BYU is the only one of the four with faith-based admissions standards, and its tuition for non-members is lower than the private DO schools’ published tuition. Many Utah applicants will apply to more than one of these schools, so read each school’s guide as you build your list.

Tips and Strategies for Admission

1. Apply early in a short cycle

BYU’s first cycle runs from November 2026 to the December 31 primary deadline and the January 15 secondary deadline, with rolling decisions starting in January. Submit AMCAS as early as you can, and turn the secondary around within days.

2. Start your endorsement right away

Your file is incomplete until the Honor Code commitment and the ecclesiastical endorsement are done. Talk to your religious leader early, or if you are not part of a faith community, be ready for the two-interview process with a local bishop and the BYU University Chaplain.

3. Show service to people with limited access to care

Commitment to underserved and global health is one of BYU’s named criteria. Sustained service, whether in a free clinic, a community health program or work abroad, gives you specific stories for your essays and interview. If you are planning a summer before applying, pre-med summer internships in under-resourced clinics are one option.

4. Build clinical experience you can reflect on

BYU values students who understand what physicians actually do. Paid clinical work, scribing, volunteering and clinical internships for pre-med students all count. What matters most is what you learned and how you can explain it.

5. Do research

Every BYU student joins a research team in the first year, and the committee looks for curiosity through research. Any hands-on project, especially in global health, maternal and child health or infectious disease, gives you something real to discuss.

6. Be honest about fit

The faith-based mission is central to the school. Applicants who can explain sincerely why they want to train in that environment, whether or not they are Latter-day Saints, will be more convincing than those who treat it as a box to check.

7. Use a gap year with purpose

If you need more experience before applying, BYU says it does not see time off as a disadvantage. Full-time clinical jobs, service missions and pre-med gap year programs can all strengthen an application when you can describe what you did and learned.

8. Prepare for both interview formats

Practice a conversational interview about your own application and timed MMI stations. Both happen on the same in-person day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BYU School of Medicine accredited?

Yes. The LCME granted BYU School of Medicine preliminary accreditation in October 2026. Preliminary accreditation is an accredited status that lets the school recruit and admit students. Students have the same eligibility to take the USMLE and enter accredited residency training as students at fully accredited schools, subject to the standard requirements.

When does the first class start?

The inaugural class of up to 60 students starts in July 2027.

When is the BYU School of Medicine application deadline?

The AMCAS primary application is due December 31, 2026, and the BYU secondary is due January 15, 2027. Official MCAT scores must also be received by December 31.

Do I have to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

No. BYU welcomes applicants of all beliefs who embrace the school’s mission, commit to the BYU Honor Code and obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement.

What is the ecclesiastical endorsement?

It is a confidential evaluation from a religious leader that affirms your character and your willingness to live the Honor Code. Latter-day Saint applicants get it from their bishop and stake president, applicants of other faiths from their own clergy, and applicants without a faith community through interviews with a local bishop and the BYU University Chaplain. It is renewed every year.

How much is tuition at BYU School of Medicine?

For 2027-28, tuition is $25,000 for Latter-day Saint students and $50,000 for other students. The first-year cost of attendance, including living costs, runs from $58,057 to $85,637.

Is there a minimum MCAT or GPA?

No. BYU has no minimum MCAT or GPA and reviews applications holistically. It gives the most weight to your highest valid MCAT score, and scores must be from January 2024 or later for the 2027 class.

What is BYU School of Medicine’s acceptance rate or average MCAT?

It has none yet. The school has not enrolled a class, so it has no published acceptance rate, median MCAT or median GPA.

What are the BYU secondary essays?

The secondary has three essays. BYU sends the prompts by email to invited applicants and has not posted them publicly. The secondary also includes a $50 fee, the Honor Code commitment and the ecclesiastical endorsement.

Does BYU require Casper or PREview?

No. BYU does not require a situational judgment test.

Are labs or online courses accepted for prerequisites?

Labs are not required, and online courses are accepted. Community college science courses can make up no more than half of your science coursework, and AP or IB credit counts if it is on your undergraduate transcript.

Does BYU accept international or DACA applicants?

International applicants may apply and are considered for merit and need-based scholarships. Undocumented students and DACA recipients are currently not eligible.

What is the BYU interview like?

Interviews are in person in Provo and combine a traditional 45-minute interview with multiple mini interviews, plus a tour, a meal and a program presentation.

Is clinical experience required for BYU?

BYU does not list a minimum number of hours, but it looks for service, clinical exposure and a clear understanding of medicine. Volunteering, clinical jobs and medical internships abroad are all ways to build that experience.

Does BYU accept transfer students or allow deferrals?

Transfers are considered only in exceptional cases at the request of the dean of the student’s current LCME-accredited school. Admitted students may request a one-year deferral in writing after accepting their offer, generally by May 1.

Related Medical School Guides

• Medical schools in Utah
• University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
• Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• The AMCAS application guide
• The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) guide

How International Medical Aid Can Help

BYU looks for applicants committed to global and underserved health, and it builds an international immersion into the curriculum. International Medical Aid runs internships for pre-med students at clinical sites in East Africa, including Kenya, and in other regions. Interns work alongside local clinicians and, under supervision, take vital signs, do patient intake and triage and help with direct patient care. These medical internships for undergraduates give you hands-on experience in health systems where access to care is limited, and real stories for your secondary essays and interview.

If you want to compare programs and destinations first, browse our international healthcare internships. Spanish speakers interested in global health can consider a medical internship in Peru, and our pre-health internships page lists every pre-med program. To hear from past participants, read our alumni testimonials.

IMA programs are independent of BYU and BYU School of Medicine. Taking part does not create any affiliation with the school or any advantage in its admissions process. What it can give you is real experience that you can describe honestly in your AMCAS activities, your secondary essays and your interview.

IMA also offers medical school admissions consulting. Our advisors can help you build your school list, plan for BYU’s short first cycle, prepare stories for the three secondary essays and practice for the traditional interview and MMIs.

Final Thoughts and Sources

BYU School of Medicine is a strong option for applicants who want a rigorous MD program built around faith, service and global health, at a tuition well below most private medical schools. Its first cycle is short, its standards include the Honor Code and an ecclesiastical endorsement for every student, and as a new school it has no class statistics yet.

Your next step: confirm your prerequisites and MCAT date, submit AMCAS well before December 31, 2026, start your ecclesiastical endorsement and prepare your stories for the three secondary essays due January 15, 2027. If you have questions, contact the BYU School of Medicine Office of Admissions at [email protected] or visit the school’s admissions page.

Good luck with your medical school applications! Whether it is our pre-med internships or our admissions consulting, International Medical Aid is here to help you every step of the way.

Sources

Facts in this guide were checked on November 12, 2026, against these sources:

• BYU School of Medicine, How to Apply (AMCAS, letters, secondary, $50 fee, deadlines, screening, interview format, rolling decisions)
• BYU School of Medicine, Requirements and Eligibility (prerequisites, MCAT, GPA, degree, citizenship, background check, immunizations)
• BYU School of Medicine, Admissions FAQ (MCAT window, no situational judgment test, acceptance and waitlist timing, deferrals, transfers, training locations)
• BYU School of Medicine, Tuition and Financial Aid (2027-28 tuition, cost of attendance, scholarships, federal loan limits)
• BYU School of Medicine, Honor Code and Ecclesiastical Endorsement (Honor Code expectations and endorsement process)
• BYU School of Medicine, What We Look For (the seven qualities the committee looks for)
• BYU School of Medicine, Curriculum (three-phase curriculum and clinical affiliate)
• BYU School of Medicine, International Applicants (international and DACA eligibility)
• BYU School of Medicine, Student Life (learning communities, housing, transportation)
• BYU School of Medicine, Supporting Individuals and Families (support offices and family resources)
• BYU School of Medicine, FAQ (founding, class size, location, research, global health, accreditation stages)
• BYU School of Medicine, Accreditation (LCME preliminary accreditation, October 2026)
• BYU School of Medicine, Clinical Affiliates (Intermountain Health and other affiliates)
• BYU School of Medicine, Leadership (dean and leadership team)
• BYU School of Medicine, BYU School of Medicine now accepting applications (AMCAS opening, December 31 deadline, July 2027 start)
• BYU News: preliminary accreditation and future building (accreditation announcement and building plans)
• LCME directory of accredited programs (BYU listed with preliminary accreditation)

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