A special feature of the graduate program in chemistry at the University of Rhode Island is its small size with excellent research facilities and faculty. Unlike some larger programs, we pride ourselves in having personal contact with our graduate students. All our full-time students receive support in the form of assistantships that pay tuition, health insurance and a competitive stipend for living expenses. All graduate applications must be completed online. Before completing an online application, we request that you go to our pre-application form where we will ask you for some background information about yourself. After completing the pre-application form, you will be directed to the web pages for submitting an official online application.
The application deadline for the Fall semester of each year is February 1st for international students and June 1st for students with degrees from U.S. institutions. Please note that we will NOT be accepting students for the Spring 2025 semester. We admit students on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. For fall admissions, we typically begin reviewing applications in late December. The application fee for our Ph.D. program will be $15 beginning December 1st and will remain at $15 until our budget is depleted. We expect that will happen some time in mid/late December, so applicants are very strongly encouraged to submit as soon as possible beginning December 1st. After our budget is depleted, the fee will return to $103, and we will only be able to provide fee waivers to domestic students for the remainder of the application cycle.
Official Graduate online application requirements include: a statement of purpose including research interests, CV/resume (recommended), two letters of reference, and transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions previously attended. Applicants whose native language is not English must also submit an official test report from TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. Further information for international applicants is available through the URI Graduate School. Please note that we do not require the GRE.
You must meet the following requirements for us to consider your application: undergraduate degree in chemistry completed or expected to be completed by time of matriculation, undergraduate GPA 3.0/4.0 or greater, and for applicants whose native language is not English, an English proficiency exam meeting the minimum requirements given here. If you do not meet one or more of the requirements listed above and would still like to apply, you must reach out directly to the Chair of the Graduate Recruitment Committee, Prof. Dugan Hayes, at chm_grad@etal.uri.edu to explain your circumstances. For example, applicants with undergraduate degrees in fields other than chemistry may be eligible to apply if their transcripts show the expected coursework in chemistry. If you do not meet one or more of the requirements and do not get permission to apply in advance, your application will be immediately declined without review.
All undergraduate admissions, regardless of a student’s potential major, are handled through the University of Rhode Island Admissions Office, located in Newman Hall, 14 Upper College Road, on the Kingston Campus. The Undergraduate Admissions web page provides detailed information about admissions requirements, programs of study, financial aid, and campus visits. Online course catalogs and application forms are also available on the Undergraduate Admissions web site.
Prospective undergraduate students who have specific questions about studying chemistry at The University of Rhode Island are encouraged to contact Professor Kiesewetter, Chair, Department of Chemistry, Beaupre Center. Phone: 401-874-2318. E-mail: chm_chair@uri.edu. We welcome your inquiries.