A review of the electromagnetic (EM) approaches used for electric (E) field and transmembrane potential (TMP) evaluation (i.e. microdosimetry) on cells exposed to ultra short-pulsed E fields (usPEF) is presented in this paper. The literature classification is provided on the basis of the EM solution type (i.e. analytical, numerical) and of the analyzed biological target (i.e. single cell, clusters). Moreover, for each EM approach, dielectric modeling of cell compartments is described as well as the various cell shapes employed and pulses characteristics. The EM solutions coupling with biophysical models as those used for membrane electroporation is also discussed. © 2012 IEEE.