PhD in Chemical Engineering or Materials Science Admissions

Application Requirements

The deadline to apply for the PhD program is December 15th.

 All application materials should be submitted on the application portal by the application deadline. We cannot review your application until all of the required materials are submitted.

We will consider applications from various disciplines outside of the chemical engineering and materials science fields including but not limited to metallurgy, ceramics, polymer engineering, chemistry, physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biological engineering, or biomedical engineering. Your application will be evaluated based on previous academic record, letters of recommendation, and your statement of purpose. It is important that applicants communicate how they are prepared to succeed in your respective program which can be achieved in a multitude of ways including coursework and research experience.

Required application materials

  • Application for Admission submitted via the application portal
  • Transcripts - Please follow the admissions application instructions regarding transcripts.
  • Personal statement - Communicate your preparation for advanced study in your chosen field including relevant coursework, research, internships, or other experiences. Outline your immediate educational and long-range career objectives in relation to your chosen field. Please include your top three research areas of interest, the names of particular faculty members with whom you wish to study, and explain why you want to study with those individuals. Length is ideally ≤ 2 pages.
  • Resume or CV
  • Diversity statement - All applicants should submit a statement (up to 1 page) that communicates how the challenges you have faced, skills you have build, or lessons you have learned will provide you a unique ability to contribute to the University of Minnesota’s scholarly community.
  • Research statement is not required - Reference the personal statement on what to share about your research experience.
  • Recommendation Letters - We require three recommendation letters. Acceptable recommendations will come from current or former professors, employers, or individuals who can assess your potential for graduate work. If you are currently in a graduate program, one letter must be from your research advisor. 
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency - The University of Minnesota policy requires international and domestic applicants whose first language is not English to provide proof of English Language proficiency as a condition of admission. CEMS follows the minimum requirements for the ELP on TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB. If you think you might be exempt from submitting an ELP score, please refer to the English Language Proficiency section of the Graduate School website.
  • GRE is not required and if a score is submitted, we will not review out of fairness to other applicants. 

Related Links:

Admissions Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in the PhD program at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Please note that application deadlines will be communicated via the application portal , and we only admit students for fall semesters. Students will only be allowed to begin their studies at another time during the academic year for extenuating circumstances, and they must seek approval to do so prior to submitting an application.

CEMS seeks students who are academically well prepared for graduate-level coursework, have demonstrated potential for excellence in independent research, and will contribute to our collaborative community. Particular attention is paid to evidence of success in undergraduate research experiences or student’s potential for scientific research and to letters of recommendation from faculty research supervisors or others who can comment on research experience and/or potential. Successful applications often also include one or more letters from faculty members or employers who can offer evidence of relevant intellectual and personal qualities beyond the information provided by the applicant’s undergraduate transcript. A master’s degree is not a prerequisite for admission to our doctoral degree program.

Graduate admissions decisions are made exclusively by a committee of faculty from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. A decision for admissions notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the department’s admissions committee and your transcripts and any credentials are authenticated by University officials. You can expect a decision between early January through mid-April.

Financial Support for PhD Students

All full-time doctoral students in good academic standing receive complete financial support in the form of an assistantship or fellowship. These are 50% appointments and include a stipend, full tuition waiver, and a health insurance package for which you are charged a minimal fee. Support as guaranteed as long as you remain in good academic standing with the department and university and are making satisfactory progress towards completing your degree requirements.

For students on a graduate assistantship, the current stipend is $35,000/year. For more information on graduate assistantships, benefits, and fellowship opportunities, explore our financial support tab.