How to Apply to the Ph.D. Program in Chemistry

The Chemistry Department welcomes and invites applications for admission to the Ph.D. program from all qualified candidates. We admit students who will begin their studies in the Fall term. The normal admissions process begins in the previous autumn or early winter and most of the openings are filled by mid-April. While late applications may be considered in special cases, the formal application deadline is January 1.

Financial Support and Costs of Study

Students who are admitted to the Penn Chemistry Graduate Program are provided support for the duration of their Ph.D. studies. In most cases, the first year's financial support is from a Teaching Assistantship, whereas the large majority of students beyond the first year are supported by Research Fellowships. All graduate students receiving full financial support are provided with health insurance via the Penn Student Insurance Plan at no additional cost to them. The stipend for FY 2009-2010 is approximately $26,500 and the value of the University-based health insurance amounts to approximately $2,600.00. In addition, the support package includes full tuition, general fees and any related tuition charges.

How To Apply

Penn Chemistry no longer accepts paper applications. Please submit your application online.

We will begin accepting applications on November 1, 2009 for Fall 2010 admission.

Application process
In addition to the completed online application, all applicants must submit the following:

  1. Uploaded transcripts from all Universities and Colleges attended. Please note that you must upload your transcripts with your online application.
  2. Three (3) letters of recommendation. It is best to have these submitted online.
  3. Official GRE scores for the general aptitude portions and the chemistry subject exam.
  4. Personal statement - submitted online
  5. Any CVs, resumes or additional documents should be uploaded and submitted online

The best method to submit all materials is to upload them with the electronic application. Any materials you wish to mail, can be sent to the Chemistry department at the following address:

Graduate Office
Department of Chemistry
University of Pennsylvania
231 South 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit the results of an English Language test—either the Test of Spoken English (TSE, strongly preferred) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Proficiency in spoken English is a requirement of our program and is used as an admissions criterion. Admitted students in this category also have to attend a two-month English Language Program and Teaching Assistantship Workshop (sponsored by the department) beginning the first week in July and to pass a University-administered spoken English test in order to qualify for a Teaching Fellowship. Application forms and information regarding these examinations can be obtained directly from the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540 USA, or the nearest American Consular Office or Embassy. The school code for all exams is: 2926

For more information please contact the Graduate Admissions Office, 215.898.8334, or chemgrad@sas.upenn.edu.

Fellowship opportunities
NIH
Applicants interested in graduate work in Chemistry that involves Imaging Sciences and who wish to obtain a grounding in biomedical sciences as part of their training may qualify for support through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute – NIH Interfaces Initiative in Biomedical Imaging & Informational Sciences as "HHMI Traines". For more information, visit http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/ime/phdprogram/home.html.

NIH
Students wishing to pursue a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences can apply to an exciting graduate program designed to bring together the National Institutes of Health and the University of Pennsylvania, two of the world's finest training institutions in Immunology. Students must complete applications to both the University Pennsylvania and the NIH. For a more complete description of the program, details about the application process, and to complete the NIH application visit http://gpp.nih.gov/Applicants/ProspectiveStudents/AppInfoProspective.htm.

IGERT
Students who have an interest in nanoscale research and plan to enter a Ph.D. program in science or engineering should consider applying to the Drexel-Penn IGERT program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If accepted to the program, students will receive tuition remission and a stipend ($30,000 for the first year), the opportunity to receive a certificate in nanotechnology in addition to their departmental degree, and the support of the IGERT community of students and faculty. For more information, visit http://nano.materials.drexel.edu/IGERT.html.