Applying to Graduate School
During the active admissions cycle you must submit your application via the Online Application. Applications for Fall 2024 admissions are now closed. Applications for Fall 2025 will open on September 15, 2024 and the application deadline is December 1, 2024. Please see below for helpful information about our application requirements. Since offers of admission are made continuously after the application deadline, all of your materials must be submitted by the application deadline. This includes letters of recommendation and all official test scores.
Note: Many questions are answered in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. Prior to contacting the MIT Department of Chemistry (chemgradeducation@mit.edu), please take the time to review our FAQ page.
Requests for fee waivers are coordinated centrally by the Office of Graduate Education. For further information, including the eligibility requirements for fee waivers, please visit the Application Fee Waiver section of their web site. The waiver request must be submitted at least five business days before the December 1st application deadline. The Department of Chemistry can only waive the $75 application fee for international applicants if they have already applied and paid an application fee for another PhD program at MIT in the same admission cycle. All other inquires about fee waivers should be directed to the Office of Graduate Education.
For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please visit the Student Financial Services (SFS) website.
The Department of Chemistry does not provide application updates via email. All updates will be posted in the application portal.
Completing and Submitting the Application: Information for all applicants
Faculty of Interest
Applicants are asked to identify 3 faculty members listed in the application who they would be interested in working with.
Transcripts
A PDF copy of your college transcript(s) is required and can be uploaded to the application. Official transcript(s) are only required if you are admitted into our program.
Required Tests
GRE test scores are not accepted for applications. For applicants whose primary language is not English, your TOEFL or IELTS scores are required. Please see below for more information about TOEFL/IELTS.
Education and Work History
Resume/CV can be entered in text, MS Word or PDF format. Include your specific research experiences. This is extremely important.
Statement of Objectives
The recommended length for the Statement of Objectives is 1000-1500 words.
Describe your experience and contributions to scientific research, as well as how they have influenced your interests and your desire to pursue graduate studies in the MIT Department of Chemistry. Explain your research interests, professional goals, and how you plan to accomplish them. Explain why the MIT Department of Chemistry is best suited for your goals, highlighting current research in the department that is aligned with your research interests.
Personal Statement
Describe how your character and experiences have formed you into someone who will contribute positively and effectively to not only the MIT Department of Chemistry but also to the field of chemistry as a whole. Highlight what is unique about you in a professional context and how you will advance a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment within the department and the institution. Examples include explaining a meaningful teaching or mentorship experience you’ve had and what you learned from that experience or describing a social, educational, cultural, or economic obstacle you have overcome in your journey to get to where you are today.
Financial Support
Provide information regarding fellowships and scholarships you have received and also send a copy of the award(s) to
chemgradeducation@mit.edu
Recommendation Writers
Provide at least 3 names and email addresses (no more than 5) that you will be requesting a letter of recommendation from. We highly recommend that you notify your writers by November 1, to give the writer time to write and submit their letter.
Admissions Interviews
Following an initial review of all applications by our faculty, some applicants will be invited via email to interview. Interviews take place virtually over Zoom. Interviews will include the applicant and two faculty members and run for approximately 15 minutes. Information about the interview process, including a description of the opening interview question, will be provided in the invitation email.
Application fee
Provide a credit/debit payment of $75. Occasionally, debit card payments may not process correctly. If you experience difficulty processing a debit card payment, please try using a credit card instead.
Additional Information for International Applicants
IELTS/TOEFL Exam
For applicants whose primary language is not English, your TOEFL or IELTS scores are required. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 100 and the minimum acceptable IELTS band score is 7.0. The MIT reporting code is 3514, and the department code is 62.
Transcript(s)
All copies of transcripts uploaded to the application must be in English.
Fee Waiver
The Department of Chemistry can only waive the $75 application fee for international applicants if they have already applied and paid an application fee for another PhD program at MIT in the same admission cycle.
Chemistry Application Mentor Program
CAMP is a volunteer-based, student-run program that provides assistance to Chemistry Applicants. CAMP is intended to assist applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds – including but not limited to: groups underrepresented in the STEM field, first generation PhD applicants, and applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds. CAMP Applications for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle are closed.