Application Deadline: December 1st

U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International students are invited to apply to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ph.D. Program. Your electronic application will be composed of the UCSB Graduate Division online application, official transcripts, Statement of Purpose, Personal History and Diversity Statement (PH&DS), Resume or CV, three Letters of Recommendation, and English Language Exam Scores (if applicable).

NOTE: Your completed application must be received by the deadline in order to be eligible for any type of financial support (including, but not limited to, fellowships, stipends, summer funding opportunities, and employment as a Teaching Assistant or Graduate Student Researcher). Applications will not be accepted after December 1st.

The application process is highly competitive; it is critical that applicants meet all of the eligibility requirements outlined below. Admitted international applicants will have high written and spoken English language competency, significant research experience, and strong letters of recommendation. They also must pass an oral English language exam administered by the UC Santa Barbara English for Multilingual Students program in order to become eligible for employment as a Teaching Assistant. In preparation for this exam, admitted international students may be asked to arrive 2-3 weeks prior to the start of New Grad Academic Training.

Minimum Admissions Requirements:  

• Degree: Bachelor’s Degree or its equivalent from an accredited university prior to the quarter for which the applicant seeks admission, with a major appropriate to the proposed graduate program.
• GPA: Grade point average or equivalent of 3.0 or above.
• English Language Examination Requirements (international applicants only): International Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take one of the following: TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) with a minimum total score of 80, TOEFL Paper-Based Test (PBT) with a minimum total score of 550, IELTS with a minimum Overall Band score of 7, or Duolingo English Test (DET) with a minimum total score of 120
  • The following exams are not accepted: TOEFL ITP Plus, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS One Skill Retake, and other exams not specifically noted above.
  • Please refer to our FAQ to see if you are exempt from this requirement here.

Application Checklist:

• Online Application with Application Fee: Complete the online application according to Graduate Division's instructions and pay the application fee.
• Statement of Purpose: Include your research interests and potential faculty advisors in your Statement of Purpose; multiple research areas and faculty can and should be included.
• Personal History and Diversity Statement (PH&DS): Include aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that you feel are important in evaluating your application for graduate study.
• Resume/CV: Include all positions and experience that may be relevant to the Graduate Admissions Committee.  
• Transcripts: Upload all pages of your transcript(s) from each institution attended. If transcripts are not in English, you must include the original language transcript and certified English translation.
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• English Language Examination Scores (international applicants only)

For more information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page, Graduate Division's FAQs for Applicants, or contact the Chemistry Graduate Program at gradprog@chem.ucsb.edu.