Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for Fall admission are accepted year-round. We matriculate approximately fifteen students each fall. We are not offering a spring admissions cycle at this time. Applicants should plan to apply for fall enrollment.

There is no explicit application deadline, as our department accepts applications to the Ph.D. program year round. However, we encourage applicants interested in matriculating for the Fall semester to submit their applications before 15 January, since this is typically when admissions decisions are finalized. Similarly, applicants interested in matriculating for the Spring semester (if and when Spring admission is available) are encouraged to submit their applications by 15 October.

Instruction for applying may be found in the Department’s website and in the Graduate Studies website. Questions about the application process should be directed to the Department’s Graduate Admissions Officer.

All applicants who are not native English speakers are required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in the English language. Proficiency can be demonstrated by the receipt of a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction. All other non-native speakers must achieve a minimum score on either the TOEFL or the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS results will not be accepted if they were not achieved within the last two years. The English Language Proficiency requirement will not be waived under any circumstances. To be competitive, candidates taking the TOEFL should have a minimum score of 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test), or 100 (Internet-based test). To be competitive, candidates taking the IELTS should have a minimum score of 7.5.

Nearly all students admitted to the Ph.D. program are awarded teaching assistantships. All prospective students—both domestic and international—are eligible for teaching assistantships. As an assistantship recipient, you will gain significant experience in teaching by leading undergraduate laboratory and/or recitation sections. Most of our students serve as teaching assistants for approximately two years, and then are supported as research assistants by their PIs. Graduate students who remain in good standing are guaranteed financial assistance for a full 5 years. Ph.D. students earn a highly competitive stipend ($43,517 for the twelve-month 2025-2026 academic year), complete full-time tuition coverage (valued at > $50,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year), and comprehensive individual medical insurance. Details of other departmental and university awards are listed here and may also be found on the Graduate Studies website.

All students in our graduate program are admitted as students pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry. We understand there are circumstances in which a student terminates his/her studies prematurely. An M.S. degree may be conferred if certain requirements are met.

Most well prepared students are able to complete a Ph.D. in Chemistry degree in five years on average.  Some students may finish earlier or later, depending on the pace of their research.