­­­­­1. Can I apply after December 1st?

Applications will be reviewed beginning December 1st, and admissions will be made on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply by December 1st for the best chance of admission. The final deadline for applications is March 15th.

 

2. Does the Department of Chemistry have a terminal Master of Science program?

The Department of Chemistry does not have a terminal master’s degree program. Emphasis at the graduate level is on the Ph.D. degree; the master’s degree may be awarded along the way of earning the Ph.D. degree.

 

3. Can I apply to both the Chemistry Ph.D. program and Chemical, Applied and Materials Physics - Chemistry Ph.D. program?

Applicants should apply to either the Chemistry Ph.D. program or the ChAMP - Chemistry Ph.D. program, but not both.

 

4. What are the TOEFL admission score requirements?

The minimum TOEFL scores to be eligible for our program are: an overall score of 80 or higher to be admissible AND a speaking score of 26 or higher. Please note that TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years.

 

5. What are the IELTS admission score requirements? 

As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum IELTS scores to be eligible for our program are: an overall score of 7 or higher to be admissible, a speaking score of 8 or higher & a score of 6 or higher on the remaining modules.

 

6. Can the TOEFL or IELTS be waived?

For more detailed information on these exams and how to determine if a student is eligible for an exemption, please review the English Proficiency Chart. However, if you do not meet our English requirement, and you are a highly qualified student who would fill a need in our research team, you are strongly encouraged to contact the Chemistry faculty whose research interests you and apply to the program. 

 

7. Can the application fee be waived?

We as the Department of Chemistry are unable to grant application fee waivers. There is a fee waiver within the application itself; they are available to qualified domestic applicants only. Eligibility to apply for a fee waiver is determined by participation in one or more of the Graduate Preparation programs listed here or US veteran status. Please refer to the Application Fee page on the UCI Graduate Division website for more information.

 

8. Do you require the GRE General Test?

No, effective for the Fall 2021 application cycle, the Department of Chemistry will no longer require the GRE General Test.

 

9. Do you require the GRE Chemistry Subject Test?

No, the GRE Chemistry Subject Test is not required.

 

10. What is the department code for sending official TOEFL score reports?

A department code is not required. To send official score reports to UCI, please use institution code 4859.

 

11. What is the average GPA for admitted students?

The Chemistry Ph.D. program considers many important factors when reviewing graduate applications. These factors include, but are not limited to: research experience, letters of recommendation, and academic record. GPA serves as just one component of the review process, and cannot solely be used to predict a student's future success or likelihood of admission into a Ph.D. program. No single factor will guarantee or preclude admission. Currently, the average GPA for admitted students is roughly 3.76 on a 4.0 scale.

 

12. Is it required to send official transcripts to UCI by December 1st?

No, you will be required to submit official transcripts only if you are admitted and decide to enroll at UCI.

 

13. Can I add a new transcript to my application after submitting?

Yes, to upload an updated transcript to your submitted application, go to apply.grad.uci.edu/status and select "Transcript (Copy)" under the 'Upload Materials" section. Other documents can be uploaded as a "Post-Submissions Document."

 

14. How long is the Ph.D. program?

The normative time to degree for the Chemistry Ph.D. program is 5 years.

 

15. Are students offered financial support?

Yes, all admitted students are offered full financial support. This includes a stipend as well as tuition, fees, and health insurance. Detailed funding information can be found here: https://www.chem.uci.edu/funding.

 

16. Does the Department of Chemistry host visit days for prospective students?

Yes, the Department of Chemistry hosts two group visit days in March for admitted students.