Thank you for your interest in our doctoral program. We already have over 200 bright and talented graduate students from diverse backgrounds, and next Fall we will welcome a new group of students from an applicant pool of 480+. Please let me take this opportunity to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about our program and admission to it.

• What is the research environment like?
• What are the highlights of your doctoral program?
• What are the application deadlines?
• How do I apply?
• Can I have my application fee waived or reduced?
• How are admissions decisions made?
• When will I hear of an admissions decision?
• Who do I contact for more information?

WHAT IS THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT LIKE?

UCSD is at the center of a vibrant and thriving scientific community located on the Torrey Pines Mesa. Our campus houses over 32 graduate programs, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the Howard Hughes Institute, a School of Medicine, and the San Diego Supercomputer Center. Our neighbors on the mesa include the Salk Institute, the Burnham Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, and a biotechnological park C&E News calls Eden. [Top]

WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR DOCTORAL PROGRAM?

Chemistry and Biochemistry is in an unparalleled time of growth, with 25 faculty having joined our faculty in the past decade. With 70 faculty, 230 graduate students, and over 1000 undergraduate majors, we are one of the largest departments on the campus. We offer our doctoral students:

• Research opportunities in all areas of contemporary and traditional chemical and biochemical sciences. Research is conducted in modern laboratories, and the facilities and equipment are first-rate.
• A doctoral program designed to accommodate individual interests. Students begin their research in the first year, and most finish in their fifth year.
• Full financial support, including an annual stipend including fees and out-of-state tuition.
• Interactions and possible collaborations with local and national industry.
• Student housing for a large percentage of the UCSD graduate population.
• Campus resources and organizations for mind, body, and spirit.

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WHAT ARE THE APPLICATION DEADLINES?

Admission to the Ph.D. program is for Fall Quarter only. The priority deadline is January 17th.

International applicants: The application period for foreign students will close on January 17th. After the January 17th deadline, the next opportunity to apply to our doctorate program will be for Fall 2008 admission.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents: You may submit your application now, with a priority deadline of January 17th. Complete application files received before the priority deadline will be up for first review by our Admissions Committee. Since the Admissions Committee expects to being making doctoral offers of admission as early as December 2007, it would be advantageous to have your application file complete way in advance of the priority deadline, preferably by November 2007. The Admissions Committee expects to continue to make offers through the priority deadline. After the priority deadline, we will continue to accept applications and supplemental materials until all available spots for the Fall 2008 incoming class are filled. However, the competition for available spots increases as our number of open spots decreases.

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HOW DO I APPLY?

Application materials required are listed below. The UCSD application and fee must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. All other supplemental materials are submitted directly to our department.

• A UCSD application. UCSD currently utilizes a Web-based application to apply for graduate study. You may work on your application a bit at a time, and then submit it once it is complete. The site is secure, and your application information and credit card payment will remain confidential. Please use the UCSD Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) Web page as your starting point once you are ready to apply.
• Application fee. The fee is $60 for all U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and $80 for all international applicants..
• Three letters of recommendation. The forms for the letters as well as waiver forms to accompany them are available on-line.
• Statement of purpose. Available on-line.
• Transcripts. Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended directly to the Student Affairs Office contact http://www-chem.ucsd.edu/academic/contact.cfm
• GRE general exam score report. All applicants must provide official GRE general test scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical) from ETS.
• GRE advanced exam score report. All applicants must provide official GRE advanced test scores in either Chemistry or Biochemistry.
• Foreign applicants must submit the official report of their TOEFL or TSE scores. TWE scores are optional but encouraged.
• Optional. Please send copies of any research publications or abstracts you have authored or co-authored. [Top]

  Supplemental forms and application instructions [Top]

MAY I HAVE MY APPLICATION FEE WAIVED OR REDUCED?

Only U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents may request a waiver of the application fee. Fee waivers or fee reductions are based solely on financial need. Applicants need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) at GradAdmissions@ucsd.edu for such requests. Our department does not review requests for fee waivers or reductions. UCSD requires that all foreign applicants pay the full application fee. There are no waivers or reductions available for foreign applicants. In accordance with the UCSD policy, our Admissions Committee does not review a file until the fee has been paid or has been waived by OGS. [Top]