Massachusetts Residency Classification

Both residents and nonresidents of Massachusetts are eligible to apply to the MD and MD/PhD programs at UMass Chan Medical School.

The UMass Chan Medical School is a campus of the University of Massachusetts, a public institution of higher education. UMass Chan Medical School is authorized and enabled pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 75, Section 34. The T.H. Chan School of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School accepts both in-state (Massachusetts) and out-of-state applicants, as well as Canadian citizens or permanent residents, DACA, refugee, or asylee. UMass Chan Medical School charges different tuition costs depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student. In this regard, Mass. General Laws, Chapter 75, Section 34A, states as follows:

“If tuition for the Medical School is set at a lower amount for residents of the Commonwealth, a resident shall be deemed to be a person who has resided in the Commonwealth for 7 consecutive years or more prior to enrollment or a person whose immediate family has resided in the Commonwealth for 7 consecutive years or more prior to enrollment.”

With respect to this statute, the term “immediate family” means an applicant’s parent, spouse, child or sibling; and the words “resident(s)” and “resided” mean domicile-a person’s true fixed permanent home or place of habitation, where he or she intends to remain permanently.

To comply with the legislative mandate of Section 34A, UMass Chan Medical School is aided by “proof of residency” guidelines promulgated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Board of Higher Education. Each case of “proof of residency” shall be decided on its own merits on the basis of all facts submitted by the applicant with qualitative rather than quantitative emphasis. A number of factors are required for residency to determine the intention of the applicant to maintain permanent residence in Massachusetts. No single indicium is decisive. The burden of proof rests on the applicant seeking classification as a Massachusetts resident.

First and foremost – seven years of uninterrupted federal and Massachusetts tax returns for the  seven year period immediately prior to enrollment, wherein Massachusetts is listed as the applicant / first degree relative’s legal residence (and not merely a P.O. Box). If the applicant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s) claim the applicant as a dependent on their taxes, the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) must list Massachusetts as their legal residence on their federal and Massachusetts tax returns. Partial year tax returns will be considered.