Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Check out the program homepage or Plan a Visit page to view upcoming sessions.

Yes! Our student ambassadors give tours regularly and is dependent on their class schedule. The schedule is posted on our Plan a Visit page. If you can’t make it to campus, check out our Virtual Tour.

The program starts in the fall semester (August) each year.

The program is five semesters completed over 21 months.

Yes, international students are welcome to apply for the entry-level MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion program. International applicants are required to submit a TOEFL score if English is not their first language and they have not studied in the United States. Academic records from foreign institutions must be provided in English and must be certified or validated as true by a university or government official. View more resources for international applicants.

For international applicants that are already practicing perfusionists, The Cardiovascular Perfusion Division offers an online MS in Extracorporeal Science. Note, the online program will not prepare you to practice as a perfusionist in the United States.

No. The entry-level MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion is a full-time residential program. Students accepted into the program will be required to attend classes on the MUSC campus in Charleston, SC and complete clinical rotations at locations across the United States.

The Cardiovascular Perfusion Division offers an online MS in Extracorporeal Science. Note, the online program will not prepare you to practice as a perfusionist in the United States.

In the last application cycle we received more than 200 applications.

We accept approximately 28-30 students each year.

MUSC does not require the vaccine for enrollment into classes. However, due to clinical observations at MUSC Health beginning in the second semester, our students will be required to submit proof of COVID vaccination (among others) or documentation of declination for clinical access compliance. View the MUSC vaccine policy for students.

Yes. You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. A specific major is not required, but specific prerequisite coursework is required. View the program admissions requirements.

A list of prerequisite course work can be found on our Admissions page. You may also view our Frequently Approved Prerequisites to assist with you in evaluating your coursework.

Yes, the program will accept online or in-person coursework from any regionally accredited institution.

Yes, a minimum of 16 hours must be completed by the application deadline. The remaining 11 hours must be completed by matriculation. For the Fall 2023 application cycle, you will have until December 31, 2022 to submit your final transcripts for any coursework completed in the Fall 2022 semester.

No, there is no time limit for the program to accept completed coursework.

Decisions for admission are made on a competitive basis, with the applicant's undergraduate GPA factoring into the decision. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for admissions consideration. The average cumulative GPA for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle was 3.48.

No, the program does not require the GRE or any other test for admission.

Yes. View more information about shadowing at MUSC.

The program does not accept applications beyond the deadline. Applications for the next academic year typically open in July.

No, this program is in-person and would require you to relocate to Charleston, SC. We do offer an online Master of Science in Extracorporeal Science (MS-ECS) program. Please note the ECS program does not provide the necessary curriculum for practicing as a perfusionist in the United States.

View our current tuition and fees. View the program’s estimated cost of attendance.

Yes, MUSC and the College of Health Professions do have some scholarships available. These scholarships are open for application once you have started your first semester in the program. Most are based on financial need and require a FAFSA to be completed.

No, the program does not provide housing, travel or meals for students. Students are responsible for securing their own accommodations.

Yes, all graduates from the program are eligible to sit for the exam regardless of residency.

International graduates will have the same experiences and likely employment opportunities as domestic graduates. Graduates may need to seek employment that can provide visa sponsorship, which may pose a challenge, but some hospitals do offer sponsorship.

The program has an extensive network of clinical affiliates. Students are required to complete clinical rotations throughout the United States as part of the curriculum. Many of our students use this opportunity to network and leverage the rotations for future employment.

Yes, either test is required if English is not your first language and you have not studied in the United States. To be eligible, applicants need to score at least an 80 on TOEFL or 6.5 on IELTS.

Yes, international applicants must complete the same prerequisite courses as domestic applicants. These courses may be taken as part of a bachelor’s degree program or separately. The program will accept online or in-person coursework from any regionally accredited institution.

Yes. MUSC requires that your international coursework be submitted in English and verified by a professional transcript evaluation agency. You can find more information on the MUSC International Applicants page.

Yes, you are required to shadow at least one perfusionist. If you are shadowing outside of the United States, it is not required that the perfusionist be ABCP certified.