Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the PhD Program in Comparative Biomedical Sciences located?
The PhD Program is located at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts. The Grafton campus is within an hour's drive of Boston and Providence and 75 minutes from Hartford, Connecticut. Worcester, which is about 20 minutes away by car, is the nearest major city close to the campus. The campus is close to many historical sites, cultural centers and recreational facilities, including Boston's Freedom Trail, Old Sturbridge Village (a living museum depicting 1830 rural village life), the beaches of Cape Cod and Maine, and several major metropolitan areas featuring world-class museums, concert halls and professional sports teams. Further north are the White and Green mountains and the Berkshires to the west which are great for hiking and skiing.

What is the Grafton campus like?
The Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (TCSVM) is the only veterinary school in all of New England and is home to the traditional Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program (DVM), several combined degree programs, a Masters Degree program in Animals and Public Policy, and a PhD program in Comparative Biomedical Sciences.

The campus is located on the site of the former Grafton State Hospital. Many of the old buildings have been preserved and extensively renovated, making the Grafton campus very picturesque. In addition, several new buildings have been added to the site including the teaching hospitals (Foster Hospital for Small Animals and Hospital for Large Animals) and the Bernice Barbour Wildlife Medicine Building. During the academic year there are approximately 320 veterinary students, 50 interns and residents, 85 veterinary technicians, 90 faculty members on campus.

The PhD program in Comparative Biomedical Sciences is housed in several fully renovated buildings. This includes more than 12,000 square feet of fully equipped, modern laboratories and offices, state of the art instrumentation including electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, cell analyzer/sorter, 57,000 square feet of state of the art indoor animal facilities, and 35 acres of paddocks and pastures, including barns for goats, swine, cattle, sheep, poultry, and horses.

This PhD program is relatively new. There are currently 6 students in the program. In addition, there are 34 research techs, 17 research assistants and post docs, and 34 biomedical faculty members in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Are there campus-related activities that I can become involved with?
A list of student organizations on the veterinary school campus can be found at http://www.tufts.edu/vet/studentlife/stugroups.html. Most of these groups are veterinary student related. However, graduate students are welcome to join Gap Junction, which is a group that hosts middle school students who are interested in learning about science, and the Pet Loss Support Hotline. Graduate students are also invited to the various social events on campus such as the Alphi Psi House Happy Hours, Brewfests, SCAVMA's Hoe-Down, etc. Finally, many lunchtime seminars take place on campus in which the PhD students can take part.

When must I be on campus?
It is important for students to be on campus by late August. This ensures that students have time to find housing and get settled. This also allows the students to attend Orientation, sign up for courses, apply for student IDs, etc. The Orientation dates may change from year to year. If admitted to the program, students will receive a letter with more information on this topic.

Do students have winter and spring vacations?
There are no formal vacations built into the program. However, PhD students are excused from laboratory duties for three weeks of vacation during each twelve-month academic year and for one week between December 25 and January 1 of each year. Vacation periods should be scheduled in advance and must be approved by the student's mentor.

Can I afford to live on my stipend?
The cost of living in New England can be expensive, so it is important to know how much it costs to live in the area. There is no graduate student housing on campus, so students must find their own housing. Typically students live 10-20 minutes from campus by car in all directions. It costs approximately $700-$800 per month to live alone in a one bedroom apartment in the area. However, if you have roommates, housing costs decrease dramatically. Students can find shared housing for $400-$500/month/bedroom. Therefore, the stipend is generally enough to cover living expenses.

Do I need a car/computer?
Yes. Students on the Grafton campus should have a car. While it is possible to take the Commuter Rail to campus, the trains are infrequent and the student would need to live very close to a commuter rail stop. Having a car is also necessary to get groceries, shop, etc.

It is preferable, but not absolutely necessary for you to have a computer. There are computer labs in the Webster Library, and you should have consistent access to a computer in the research labs. However, it can be helpful to have a home computer to aid in your coursework or home activities.

Is public transportation available?
The MBTA Commuter Rail train is available from the Grafton Campus. Otherwise, there is no other public transportation for this area. However, there are several forms of public transportation for getting around Worcester.

  • Buses
    The city of Worcester is serviced by two bus companies, Greyhound Lines, Inc. and Peter Pan Bus Lines. For fares and schedule information on Greyhound, call 1-800-231-2222. More information regarding Peter Pan Bus Lines, which only services the northeastern seaboard, is available via a toll-free number, 1-800-343-9999.

    The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) bus system extensively covers the city of Worcester and lies along five seperate routes. For bus schedule information, visit their Web site or call 508-791-9782.

  • Trains
    Amtrak services the city of Worcester from over 500 cities nationwide. The Worcester Amtrak station is loated on Shrewsbury Street, about two miles from the campus. For more information, visit the Amtrak or call 1-800-872-7245.

  • MBTA Commuter Rail
    The MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line has a Grafton Station stop which is very close to the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. The Framingham/Worcester Line runs from Boston to Worcester. The Worcester station is located on Shrewsbury Street. For fare information, maps, and schedules, visit MBTA Commuter Rail or call 617-222-3200.

  • Taxi Services
    Two taxi services provide transportation in the Worcester area: Yellow Cab (508-754-3211) and Red Cab (508-792-9999 & 508-756-9000).

What if I am an international student?
International students are encouraged to apply to the Program. Although few DVM students are from foreign countries, the Grafton campus is the workplace of a very significant number of international researchers; in fact 5 out of 6 continents are represented in the Division of Infectious Diseases alone. In addition, there are currently three international students participating in the PhD Program. All these individuals have been through the experience of adjusting to American culture and are happy to answer questions you may have or assist you in your transition. If you are interested in meeting with some of your fellow countrymen/women while you are at Tufts, there are also several ethnic and cultural groups on the Medford Campus (see http://ase.tufts.edu/stu-org/cultural.html) and in Boston.

Upon acceptance to the PhD Program you will receive information that will help you prepare for your relocation to the US. The International Center will assist you in obtaining a visa in your home country, as well as help you obtain a social security number once you arrive in the US. You will also receive information regarding vaccination requirements and documents that you should bring from your home country. These documents will help you open up a US bank account, purchase a car, obtain phone service, etc.

For more information specific to international students, please visit Tufts International Center. Please be aware that the International Center is located on the Medford campus, and while they include some information about the Grafton campus, in some cases information about the Grafton campus may be missing. If you feel this is the case, please call the Graduate Studies Manager at 508-887-4376.

What is the Worcester area like?
The nearest major city to the Grafton campus is Worcester, approximately 15 miles away. Worcester, with a population of 170,000 (plus 30,000 college students) is New England's third-largest city. Known for its outstanding educational and cultural institutions, the city is home to the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, which consists of 14 colleges and universities, including the College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, which has the fastest growing research program in the nation.

Incorporated in 1722, the city has long been a center for innovation. In the late 1800's the city was seen as a bustling manufacturing center making a host of products for a growing nation. Today it is a major center for research, manufacturing and education in medicine and the life sciences, with a host of renowned educational and research institutions and more than 60 life science corporations.

The city is within a hour's drive of Boston and Providence; and 75 minutes from Hartford. It is close to many historical sites, cultural centers and recreational facilities, including Boston's Freedom Trail, Old Sturbridge Village (a living museum depicting 1830 rural village life), the beaches of Cape Cod and Maine, and several major metropolitan areas featuring world-class museums, concert halls and professional sports teams. A bit farther are the White and Green mountains to the north and the Berkshires to the west which are great for hiking and skiing.

Within Worcester, the Worcester Art Museum, the second largest in New England, and the world-renowned American Antiquarian Society are great places to visit. Also nearby are the historic Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester Historical Museum and the EcoTarium. The city is home to resident theater companies, a symphony orchestra, several excellent choruses and the nation's oldest musical festival. Residents enjoy concerts performed by internationally recognized artists in the beautifully restored Mechanics Hall, one of the finest concert halls in the United States, and the Worcester Centrum Centre, a 15,000-seat arena and conference center that hosts a variety of entertainment events and conferences.

For more information on all that Worcester has to offer feel free to visit these websites:

What is the climate like in Massachusetts?
The climate in Massachusetts is highly seasonal. Summer is relatively hot and humid (around 80-90 F) while winter is cold and frequently snowy (around 20-40 F). Each season offers something special - spectacular foliage in the fall, snow sports in the winter, beautiful blossoms in the spring, and outdoor festivities in the summer.

How do I get to campus from any of the nearby airports?
Students coming straight from the airport to the Grafton campus are encouraged to either rent a car or to use Knight's Airport Limousine Service, which costs $40-$50 each way. A less expensive, yet time consuming, option is to take the MBTA subway from Logan International Airport in Boston to the MBTA Commuter Rail (Framingham/Worcester Line) at South Station and exit at the Grafton Station.

How do I find housing near the Grafton Campus?
During the summer, there is a housing website that operates out of the Student Affairs Office. This website only runs during the summer months because it is run by a veterinary student. The website is http://www.tufts.edu/vet/studentlife/housing.html If you would like to get a sense of housing costs in the area and the website is not available, feel free to look at apartment listings in the online versions of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, and the MetroWest Daily News.