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Chemistry Graduate Admissions

Graduate student in the chemistry lab
Graduate student in the chemistry lab

Note: The information on this page applies to the in-person graduate chemistry degrees offered on the Athens Campus. For admissions information about the online master's program, which is a non-thesis degree (MS3317), visit M.S. in Chemistry Offered Online.

Note: The department has exhausted its allotment of fee waivers for this admissions cycle. Email requests related to application fee waivers will not be answered.

Admission Requirements

Applications will be taken under consideration by the department after sufficient documentation is provided to make an assessment; however, an official offer of admission cannot be made until Department and Graduate College admissions requirements are satisfied.  A student with weaknesses in some areas of their application may still be considered for admission if other aspects of the application are considerably strong.

Application Requirements:

  • A completed application form submitted electronically through the Graduate College.
  • A bachelor’s degree awarded before the start date of the graduate program. Typical graduate students in our program hold a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field with a strong background in chemistry. International students must have a degree that is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree at a U.S. institution.
  • Minimum GPA required is 3.0 out of 4.0 for an undergraduate degree and any additional graduate degree programs, as applicable.
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general exam is no longer a requirement for application to the Chemistry graduate degree programs. However, students may still submit GRE scores as an option. The code for Ohio University is 1593. Official scores must be supplied directly from ETS. The GRE chemistry subject exam also is not required.
  • Three letters of recommendation on official letterhead submitted through the Graduate College’s online system. It is preferred that these letters are written by former professors or research supervisors who can speak to the applicant’s academic and research abilities. A letter from a work supervisor is also acceptable. Letters from peers or co-workers are not acceptable. All letters must be submitted directly by the writers, and not by the applicant. The letters should address the applicant’s potential for conducting graduate level research and succeeding in graduate level coursework. Although three letters are required, the admissions committee may begin reviewing an application as soon as two letters are received by the Graduate College.
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended. 
  • Resume or CV, which lists every school attended as well as the GPA obtained at each institution. The resume should also list research experience, teaching experience, publications, and other important work or academic experiences.
  • Statement of Purpose that discusses the following in sufficient detail:
    • Motivation for attending graduate school
    • Previous research experience and research accomplishments
    • Previous teaching experience or work experience
    • Graduate research interests, including a discussion about faculty or research areas that interest you
    • Briefly address any weaknesses on your application, such as poor grades or gaps on your resume
  • English Proficiency. Please review information about Ohio University’s English Language Proficiency requirements.

See more information about Ohio University's graduate admission requirements.

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Application Deadline

Graduate students are expected to begin their studies in the Fall semester. However, in exceptional cases, admission may be granted in Spring or Summer semesters. 

Fall semester admission: To guarantee full consideration for Fall semester admission with funding, applications should be complete by Jan. 15 (although applications will continue to be considered on a rolling basis through May 15).

Spring semester admission: M.S. applications should be completed by Oct. 15 for admission in the following spring semester. Ph.D. applications are not being accepted for Spring 2023 admission. 

Summer semester admission: M.S. applications should be completed by Feb. 15 for admission in the summer semester. Ph.D. applications are not being accepted for Summer 2023 admission.  

*Students applying to the Double Master's with Leipzig University must apply for summer semester admission. 

Note: Prior to applying, we encourage you to identify your research areas of interest. See Faculty Research Areas to help you decide. You may also want to contact Faculty members working in your favorite research areas for more information. 

Special Instructions for Double Master's Applicants

Regarding the Double Master's program with Leipzig University in Germany: Prospective students should apply by Feb. 15 and plan to start the program in the summer (as mentioned above). In your application, please indicate your research adviser preference and that you are applying for the double master's program. These should be included in your statement of purpose. In addition, please email the graduate chair (Dr. Katherine Cimatu) and cc: the graduate recruitment chair (Dr. Michael Held) stating that you have applied to the double master's program.