Brown offers an eight-year program for students who are committed to a career in medicine and who also want a broad liberal arts education. By taking full advantage of Brown's Open Curriculum, PLME students complete a four-year undergraduate program and then proceed directly to Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School. As undergraduates, PLME students may choose to work toward an A.B. or Sc.B. degree in the sciences or toward an A.B. in the humanities, social sciences or behavioral sciences. PLME students may choose any one of the nearly 100 departmental and interdepartmental concentration programs offered at the University.
Undergraduate Admission
Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME)
The Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) is an eight-year continuum that allows students to combine both their undergraduate and medical school education at Brown.
Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME)
The Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) is an eight-year continuum that allows students to combine both their undergraduate and medical school education at Brown.
Undergraduate Years
The undergraduate experience is designed to best prepare students for the last four years of the program, which constitute the medical school years and culminate in the M.D. degree.
During the undergraduate portion of the program, the summer period is free but may be used for independent study, elective coursework or laboratory research. During the medical school years, students may apply to be considered for our MD/MSc program called the Primary Care - Population Medicine program, or choose to partake in our scholarly concentration program. (See Advanced Scholarship.)
The expected duration of the PLME is eight years. However, students may choose to defer their entry to medical school for one year while they pursue opportunities in other fields such as education, research, public service, government, health care and business.
Applying for the PLME Option
To apply for the PLME option, you must indicate your interest on the Common Application and respond to the additional essay questions.
Many students at Brown who are not enrolled in PLME complete the necessary courses for medical school during the undergraduate experience and go on to successful careers in medicine. We offer extensive health career advising resources to students who are interested in continuing on to medical school, and Brown students are admitted to medical school at a rate that is almost twice the national average.
PLME Candidates and Early Decision
A student applying early decision to the College and the PLME may be admitted in December to both Brown and the PLME. However, some students may be selected early decision for admission to Brown only and not the PLME. In this circumstance, the student will be bound by the early decision agreement to attend Brown regardless of non-acceptance into the PLME program. Those who apply early decision and are admitted to Brown and not to PLME will be reconsidered for the PLME during regular decision. Those students who do not want to be bound to Brown at early decision without being admitted to the PLME program are asked to apply through Regular Decision.
Start Your Application
Applications to Brown are submitted online via the Common Application. Learn how to apply and start your application.
ADDITIONAL APPLICATION OPTIONS:
To apply to Brown, complete the Common Application and Brown Member section online.
Every year Brown welcomes students from around the world. In fact, about 14 percent of our students come from abroad.