Hearing and Speech Sciences

School of Medicine | Hearing and Speech Sciences Admissions

Vanderbilt’s top-ranked Hearing & Speech Sciences programs offer a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Master of Education of the Deaf, Doctor of Audiology, and the Ph.D. in in Hearing and Speech Sciences. Students gain varied clinical experience across top healthcare settings.

 

A VUSM student practices taking a scan of another student's mouth.

Admissions Information for Prospective AuD, MDE, and MS-SLP Students

  • MDE Admission for 2026/2027

    We are accepting MDE applications for Fall 2026; however, our ability to accommodate students intending to matriculate into the program in Fall 2026 is currently predicated on receipt of funding. We will notify students prior to acceptance regarding funding and program status.

  • Application and Admissions Timeline
    1. Apply between August 1 and January 15 for the following fall semester.
    2. Admissions decisions will be mailed by March 15.
    3. Send your written response by April 15.
      1. If your written response is not received by April 15, the Department has the right to rescind the offer of admission and financial award. Confirmed receipt of an email to the Director of Graduate Studies specifying your decision by April 15 can be used to extend our deadline for receipt of the written response.
  • Application Fee

    AuD & MS-SLP Applicants

    • $50 non-refundable application fee due at time of application submission

    MDE Applicants

    • No application fee

    Exemption Available for Applicants with Financial Hardship

  • Required Application Materials

    Personal Statement, Resume, and Supplemental Materials
    Your personal statement should reflect your experiences and goals. Submit 1–1.5 pages, plus an optional resume and materials via the “upload material” section of the status page.

    Transcripts and Academic Information
    You may upload unofficial transcripts with your application. Official ones are required once admitted and must be sent directly to Vanderbilt.

    Letters of Recommendation
    Submit 3–5 recommendation letters, ideally from faculty. You provide email addresses for recommenders – proof for accuracy and spelling. Paper letters may be accepted if necessary.

    Test Scores (GRE)
    GRE Scores are required by the application deadline.

  • Tuition Scholarships

    AuD and MS-SLP
    All applicants are considered for merit-based tuition scholarships. No separate application is required.

    MDE
    Students admitted to the MDE program are fully funded through Project Deaf Education (covers 100% of tuition for eligible students).

Admissions Information for Prospective PhD Students

  • Application and Admissions Timeline

    August 1 – Application portal opens
    Dec 1 – Application, test scores and all supporting materials due
    March 15 – Admissions decisions mailed
    April 15 – Responses due

  • Application Fee

    The AuD and MS-SLP have a $50.00 application fee, which is non-refundable and may be paid online by credit card when the application is officially submitted. A check or money order should be made payable to Vanderbilt University and sent to:

    Program Manager
    Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences – Vanderbilt University
    1215 21st Ave. South, Room 8310
    Medical Center East, South Tower
    Nashville, TN 37232

    *Applicants who are unable, as a result of financial hardship, to pay the application fee should contact Todd Ricketts, Ph.D.; Vice Chair of Graduate Education to request an exemption.

    There is no application fee when applying to the MDE or PhD degree programs.

  • Required Application Materials

    Personal Statement, Resume, and Supplemental Materials
    In addition to submitting an on-line application form, your personal statement is an important indicator of scholarly potential.

    Transcripts and Academic Information
    You may upload unofficial transcripts with your application. Official ones are required once admitted and must be sent directly to Vanderbilt.

    Letters of Recommendation
    Submit at least three recommendation letters.

    Test Scores
    GRE Scores are required by the application deadline.

  • Tuition Scholarships and Financial Support

    PhD students receive full tuition support and a stipend for up to 5 years.

Additional Information for International Applicants

  • Visas

    If you need a student visa (F-1 or J-1), you must be able to document that you have the financial resources to pay for (at a minimum) one year’s expenses each year. For more information on visas necessary for studying at Vanderbilt, see International Student & Scholar Services.

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

    Students must have robust written and spoken English skills. If English is not your native language, please provide scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) on your application. The minimum acceptable score on the paper-based TOEFL is 600, and for the Internet-based test, 100. The Vanderbilt Institution Code for the TOEFL is 1871. We strongly suggest that applicants take the TOEFL by the first week in December in order for their scores to be reviewed.

    TOEFL is not required for applicants who have earned a U.S. bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association in the United States, or the international equivalent degree from a university of recognized standing in a country in which all instruction is provided in English. Therefore, applicants with degrees from the U.S., Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales) are not required to submit TOEFL scores.

  • Transcripts

    International students should supply official academic records, including certificates, mark sheets, and examination results. These may be certified copies of the original documents.

  • Costs & Financial Aid

    Vanderbilt does not have specific aid opportunities set aside for only international students; admitted candidates to VUSM are eligible for both merit and need-based scholarships regardless of citizenship status. To be eligible for Federal loans, you need a permanent resident visa or an immigrant visa if you are not a U.S. Citizen. Because international students are not eligible for federal aid, VUSM recommends that applicants line up loan opportunities before making a commitment to attend a U.S. graduate school.

Cost and Financial Aid

Learn about tuition, fees, estimated expenses, and financial aid options.

Scholarships & Funding

Explore funding and scholarship opportunities.

Schedule a Prospective Student Visit

Discover how to visit campus and meet faculty.

Connect With Us

Have questions about the application process for the Hearing and Speech Sciences degree programs? Email us!

Email the HSS Admissions Team