Applications for Fall are due December 30 and are free for Domestic Students

Application requirements:

• Three recommendations from people who know the prospective student’s academic record and potential for graduate study. Interfolio may be used.
• Click here for the English Proficiency Requirements for International Students.
• The GRE is not required.
• Statement of purpose (personal statement) should focus on research accomplishments and aspirations, and may include figures and chemical structures. Please also identify 3-5 specific faculty research programs of interest to you, why they are of interest (scientifically), and what skills and background you possess that will advance research progress in these programs. There is no maximum length, but it should be at least 1-2 pages.
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Legible, unofficial copies of transcripts should be uploaded to the application for review purposes. Upon recommendation of admission, the University requires that official transcripts that document all prior conferred/awarded degrees be on file in the student’s permanent record at NC State. The transcript(s) must include a statement of any degree(s) awarded.

Additional application requirements can be found in the NC State Graduate Handbook.

The Chemistry Department pays the application fee for domestic applicants only. Domestic applications will be finished when the payment screen is reached, so supply no payment information. For international applicants, please go here.

Foreign Applicants ONLY: TOEFL, IELTS & Duolingo General Score Requirements

Provide TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT). Minimum test scores for each section:

• Listening: 18 points
• Reading: 18 points
• Writing: 18 points
• Speaking: 18 points for admission, 23 points for TA appointment where TA has direct verbal interactions with students, 26 points for TA appointment where TA presents lectures in the class or laboratory. NOTE: The current computer- and paper-based versions of the TOEFL test will be given until the iBT version is implemented in a particular location. Computer-based TOEFL scores must be 213 or higher (with at least 17 on three sections and no section score below 13). The paper-based test requires a score of 550 or higher (with scores of 50 on at least two of the three sections and no section score below 45).

Provide IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Minimum test scores for each section are listed below:

• Listening: 6.5
• Reading: 6.5
• Writing: 6.5
• Speaking: 6.5 for admission, 7.0 for TA appointment

Provide Duolingo with a total score of 110 or better, and with Conversation and Production section scores of 110 or better. A minimum score of 115 in the Production or Conversation assessment is needed to be a TA.

Frequently Asked Questions

• When is the application open for admission?
  • With a due date of December 30, it is best to submit your application in November (the application portal will be open at that time). Please note that applications are reviewed according to the admission committee’s schedule, with admission decisions usually issued in January–April.
• Can I submit an unofficial transcript with my application and then submit my official transcript after admission?
  •  Yes, unofficial transcripts can be uploaded with your application, and official ones will be needed if you are admitted into the program.
• What is the possibility of funding through graduate research or teaching assistantship? 
  • All students admitted to our program are funded initially on a teaching assistantship. Further funding, either by a research or teaching assistantship, is subject to the availability of funds as well as students maintaining good academic standing.
• Do I need to contact or secure an advisor first before admission is granted?
  • No, there is no need to contact faculty in advance. All admitted students are given 10 weeks at the start of the Fall semester to find a research advisor.
• Is the GRE test compulsory?
  • No, GREs are not mandatory.
• I am an international student. Can I apply for an application fee waiver?
  • Possibly, but that will require a review of your application materials first to see if you are competitive with the admission criteria of our admitted students.
• I am an international student and my undergraduate degree was taught in English. Am I exempt from the English Proficiency Requirements?
  • To be eligible for an English Proficiency waiver, you must meet one of the below options:
    • Be a citizen of a country where English is the official language and the language of instruction in higher education;
    • Have successfully (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher) completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a regionally accredited four-year US College or university.
• I am an international student who lives in a country where English is the official language. Am I exempt from the English Proficiency Requirements?
  • To be eligible for an English Proficiency waiver, you must meet one of the below options:
    • Be a citizen of a country where English is the official language and the language of instruction in higher education;
    • Have successfully (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher) completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a regionally accredited four-year US College or university.