phd chemistry entrance exam date

How to Apply

Applications are accepted from candidates who intend to pursue the Ph.D. degree. We don't have a MS degree program. Applications are submitted online with an application fee, paid by credit card.

The electronic application can be found on the  Graduate Admissions  page. The web-based application allows applicants to save entries and return several times for edits before submitting the application. The application fee is $125 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international applicants. Applicants who need financial assistance with the application fee are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver. Information on fee waivers is available on the Graduate Admissions website .

The Department of Chemistry welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

Application Requirements

A complete application includes the online application and the following supplementary materials:

• three letters of recommendation (we value letters that speak to your lab experience and scientific creativity and potential to work independently to solve research problems)
• statement of purpose (describe your research projects/skills/experience and specifically your research interests at Stanford; provide details and research group names)
• TOEFL scores, for applicants who have not studied in an English speaking country for at least two years leading to a BS or MS degree (we are looking for a score of 108 or higher)
• one uploaded unofficial transcript from each university you have attended for one year or longer (two official transcripts from each university you have attended for one year or longer, if you are admitted)
• official GRE scores   (optional)

Test Scores

Applicants may take the general GRE exam in the autumn prior to applying, or earlier.  Per the statement above, all GREs are optional. There is also a TOEFL requirement for foreign applicants who have not studied in an English speaking country for at least two years leading to a BS or MS degree.

The on-line application deadline is December 2, 2024  for an Autumn quarter 2025 start; required supporting materials may arrive after the deadline. It is to your advantage to have your application complete as close to the deadline as possible. Therefore, we strongly recommend you ask your letter writers to submit their reference letter by the application deadline.

Application Status

To check the status/activity of your application materials, please log into your application account. There you will find the most current status of all your application materials. You will also be able to send reminders to those recommenders who have not yet submitted letters of recommendation.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of the Department's decision as soon as possible after all supporting materials have been received, and in no instance later than March 15. Applicants receiving offers of admission must notify the Department of their decision to accept or decline the offer by April 15.

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Admission Steps

Chemistry - phd, admission requirements.

Terms and Deadlines

Degree and GPA Requirements

Prerequisites

Additional standards for non-native english speakers, additional standards for international applicants.

For the 2024-2025 academic year

See 2025-2026 requirements instead

Fall 2024 quarter (beginning in September)

Priority deadline 1: December 15, 2023

Priority deadline 2: January 15, 2024

Final submission deadline: August 1, 2024

International submission deadline: June 4, 2024

Priority deadline: Applications will be considered after the Priority deadline provided space is available.

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree.

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.

An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the recognized equivalent from an international institution supersedes the minimum GPA requirement for the baccalaureate.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework completed for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher.

Program GPA requirement: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Applicants must earn and submit proof of earning the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree in chemistry, biochemistry or a related field from a regionally accredited institution prior to beginning graduate coursework at DU.

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80

Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5

Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115

Additional Information:

Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

Application Materials

Transcripts, letters of recommendation.

Required Essays and Statements

Other Required Materials

We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  It is recommended that these letters be submitted by individuals capable of assessing your ability to succeed in courses and research in graduate school, for example former chemistry professors and/or research advisors. Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

Essays and Statements

Personal statement instructions.

A personal statement of at least 300 words is required. The statement should include information concerning your life, education, practical experience, special interests and specific purpose for applying to the University of Denver. Describe your goals for attending graduate school. What areas of chemistry or biochemistry are you most interested in? What do you hope to do after you complete your graduate studies? Why do you enjoy chemistry or biochemistry? Describe any research or teaching experience you have had. Have you been involved in an undergraduate research project during the academic year or in the summer? Have you had a summer job or internship in a commercial lab? Have you had experience in teaching as a grader, a lab teaching assistant or a lab preparatory assistant? Specifically mention research groups at DU that you would be most interested in joining, and why. Share anything in your personal statement that you believe will help evaluate your application.

Résumé Instructions

The résumé (or C.V.) should include work experience, research, and/or volunteer work.

Additional requirements for this program:

Applicants may be contacted to schedule an admissions interview.

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Online Application

Financial Aid Information

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Your submitted materials will be reviewed once all materials and application fees have been received.

Our program can only consider your application for admission if our Office of Graduate Education has received all your online materials and supplemental materials by our application deadline.

Application Fee: $65.00 Application Fee

International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50.00 Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States.

Applicants should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.

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Ph.D. in Chemistry

Graduate students earn a Ph.D. through independent research in collaboration with one or more faculty members . A modest amount of graded coursework ensures a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of the chosen field, as well as breadth of knowledge in the chemical sciences. The median time to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. is about five years. Students are required to pass oral examinations in their area of specialization. There are no pre-entrance or qualifying exams.

For complete details about our doctoral program, see the pages below:

• First Year of Study
• Ph.D. Degree Requirements
• Ph.D. Degree Timeline
• 2nd Year Exam Guidelines (pdf, example)
• General Exam Instructions (pdf, example)
• Data Science Option (Chem-DSO)
• Elements of Good Academic Standing
• General Policies
• Advising & Mentoring
• Financial Support
• Student Awards

For current students, the most up to date documents and information can be found in the PhD Student Handbook .

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Department of Chemistry

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The graduate program in chemistry provides students with a solid foundation in chemistry, while recognizing that solutions to many important problems require interdisciplinary training. Students in our program have the opportunity to learn techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from multiple disciplines as the background in specialized knowledge necessary to advance fundamental understanding or solve problems.

Applying to the Program

Applications traditionally open on August 1 each year. The FINAL application deadline is January 1, after which point no applications will be accepted.

We use a holistic review process and take into account your grades (particularly in STEM coursework), GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose. Our aim is to determine how you and your goals fit into our research environment. A Ph.D. in chemistry is a research degree. As such, meaningful research experiences are particularly important to the review committee. This can be in the form of undergraduate research, summer research experiences (such as NSF REUs), or internships. Recommendation letters from your research mentors are very valuable.

Qualifications

Applicants should have worked, or be currently working, towards an undergraduate degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical biology, or have completed equivalent 35 hours of the basic undergraduate courses in general chemistry, quantitative analysis, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. Relevant research experience is strongly recommended.

Information to Submit

In order to complete your application to join the graduate program of chemistry you will need to include all of your most up-to-date academic transcripts , a minimum of three letters of recommendation, a Statement of Purpose , and any additional documentation you wish to submit. The GRE is not required for admission into the program. For international students, English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/DuoLingo) is required. Students seeking an English proficiency waiver, should review the waiver policy . Minimum requirements, per the Graduate School’s policy, are listed below:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language, minimum score 89
• International English Language Testing System, minimum score 7.0
• Duolingo English Test, minimum score 130 (not all programs accept this test, check with department of interest)

Your Statement of Purpose should highlight your academic history, research experience, career goals, and a general review of the importance of chemistry and how it impacts you and your future goals.

International Applicants

At Vanderbilt, we understand that our international applicant population may have unique and distinct questions regarding the program and the specifics of funding/milestones. To aid and ensure that all questions are answered, we’ve developed this International Student Application FAQ flyer . 

Application Fee & Waiver Criteria

Please read this closely: All individuals will be automatically considered for a fee waiver as part of the review process if they apply by December 1, 2024. Please do not email the Graduate Program Coordinator to request a fee waiver.

Application Fee

The Graduate School application fee is $95.00. After you submit your application online, you will see instructions to pay the fee with a credit or debit card via a secure payment portal.

• Domestic Applicants – Automatic fee waivers are granted for applications received by December 1 st , 2024.
• International Applicants – Fee waivers may be granted based on the criteria below received by December 1 st , 2024.

A candidate’s eligibility for admission will not be impacted by an application for or receipt of a fee waiver.

Application Fee Waiver Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants who have completed a B.S. or B.A. degree from a non-profit educational institution in the United States who apply by December 1 st , 2024, are eligible for a fee waiver.
• Applicants who have conducted research supported by the NIH, the NSF, a non-profit educational institution, or any other agency or private foundation within the US who apply by December 1 st , 2024, are eligible for a fee waiver. Be sure to check “yes” to the question in the application. Many of our applicants will qualify for this waiver.
• Special consideration: Additional waivers of the application fee will be considered upon request for US citizens and US permanent residents if they have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 in their undergraduate program who do not meet the above criteria. Under these circumstances, please reach out to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Discretionary Fee Waivers for International Applicants who do not qualify by the criteria above

A certain number of waivers for international applicants who did not complete a degree at a US institution are granted at the discretion of the program, based on recruitment priorities and other circumstances. 

• Fee waiver consideration is automatic if you have submitted your completed application by December 1 st , 2024. 
• Upon submission, the application portal will request payment of the application fee. Do not pay the fee. It will not affect your application’s consideration.
• The program will consider each submitted and complete application for a fee waiver during the review process.
• Each complete application will be considered whether a fee waiver has been applied or not.
• Please do not email the graduate application coordinator to request a fee waiver. If your application is complete, we will consider it.

Graduate School Deferral Policy

In accordance with the Vanderbilt Graduate School’s deferral policy, all applicants should make themselves aware of the deferral process prior to applying. Please note that deferrals are granted only for a limited list of issues:

• Serious medical reasons
• Visa delays or denials
• Military leave

Campus Visits

All admitted students are invited to a Recruiti ng Weekend via invitation following their admission. For other campus visits or inquiries, please contact our graduate program coordinator directly at [email protected].