Graduate Application Information

Prospective students are invited to apply for entry in either the fall or spring semesters. Only applicants wishing to study full-time will be considered. Applicants for graduate studies must have received, or be candidates for, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution (or a comparable degree from an international institution). Candidates may apply for either the M.S. or Ph.D. program; however, those admitted to the Ph.D. program generally have a strong record of achievement that is higher than the minimum requirements. While all admissions decisions are made by the Chemistry Graduate Admissions Committee, official notification of acceptance or denial will come from FAU's Graduate College.

Minimum requirements (fulfilling requirements does not guarantee admission)

  1. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score submission is optional but strongly recommended. Priority considerations may be given to applicants with Quantitative score of 152 and Verbal score of 150 or higher on the general aptitude exam.
  2. Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) 3.0 in chemistry or chemistry focused degree.
  3. International applicants for which English is not the primary language of instruction for the baccalaureate degree: a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (PBT / paper-based) or 79-80 (IBT); minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (band score); minimum PTE of 55; or minimum DET (Duolingo English Test) of 110.

Formal Application Process

In order to be admitted to a graduate degree program at Florida Atlantic University, all students must apply online through the Graduate College and submit official documents (transcripts, test scores, etc.). Click here for more information.

Applications are accepted for both the fall and spring semester admission cycles. Completed applications must be received by:

  1. April 15 (Domestic) and February 15 (International) - Fall semester entry
  2. November 1 (Domestic) and July 15 (International) - Spring semester entry

Submit an online application

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  1. The online application can be found at http://www.fau.edu/graduate/applyonline/. Paper applications are not accepted.
  2. Payment of the application fee using a credit card online (recommended) or by mail. If you choose not to pay by credit card, the fee may be submitted in the form of a check, money order, or U.S. traveler's check. All checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank.
  3. Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts (in English). Applicants whose transcripts are from foreign institutions must have their credentials evaluated by a professional evaluation service. (A list of approved evaluation service providers can be found at http://www.naces.org/members.htm).
  4. Official GRE scores (Florida Atlantic University school code is 5229). Although not required, applicants are encouraged to submit scores from the GRE Chemistry Subject Test
  5. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (International applicants only).

In addition to the official documents required by the Graduate College, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry requires additional supplemental documents to complete the application process. The supplemental documents must be sent directly to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the following address:

Florida Atlantic University
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Attn: Graduate Admissions Committee (c/o Ingrid Jones, chemgrad@fau.edu)
777 Glades Road, PS 110
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
FAX: (561)297-2759
E-mail: chemgrad@fau.edu

Supplemental Documents:

  1. A Statement of Personal Objectives in the essay form outlining your research interests.

  2. Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation are required and must be received by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry by the application deadline. Applicants may submit three or more letters if they choose. The letters must be sent by persons who are familiar with the applicant's potential for graduate study in chemistry. Click here to access the Letter of Recommendation form (listed under Important Links).

  3. A current resume.

Shortly after the published application deadlines, the Graduate Admissions Committee will meet to make their admission decisions. Therefore, it is of primary importance that all application materials are received by the formal application deadlines given above. Official notification of acceptance or denial will come from the Graduate College.

Financial Support

All accepted graduate students receive financial support in the form of teaching or research assistantship. Continuous funding is provided to students who remain in good academic standing – generally up to five years for Ph.D. students and three years for M.S. students. 

For the academic year 2024-2025, graduate teaching assistantship at the Ph.D. level will receive $25,000 and the M.S. level, $15,000 (12 months of support for both levels). In addition, students on an assistantship receive a full tuition waiver. This accounts for approximately 80% of the fees that are assessed for a typical 9 credit-hour course load per semester. Graduate teaching assistantships typically work 20 hours per week. Graduate students are eligible to receive health insurance benefits at a reduced cost. Additional financial support may be available through FAU's Financial Aid. Highly competitive applicants can receive additional fellowships of $5,000 or $10,000. FAU's Tuition Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions