We appreciate your interest in pursuing doctoral studies in Chemistry at UC Berkeley. Below, please find information regarding application deadlines and requirements.
Questions concerning the admission process can be directed to the Graduate Student Affairs Office at chem_grad_info@berkeley.edu.
The 2025 application for graduate admission to the Department of Chemistry is electronic (paper applications cannot be accepted). The application is available from the Graduate Division Admissions website beginning in early September. The application deadline is December 2, 2024 . The deadline for supplemental information (transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores, letters of recommendation, research summary) is also December 2, 2024.
It is not required to contact faculty for application purposes, however, if you are interested in particular faculty, please list them on your application.
Application fee waivers are provided to members of various professional societies and program participants, including those that are members of (or previously participated in) NSF-REUs, NSBE, NOBCChE, SACNAS, AmeriCorps, Teach for America, and the Peace Corps, among many others. Fee waivers are also considered for those with a demonstrated financial need. Please see the following Graduate Division website for more information on requesting an application fee waiver: https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/fee-waiver/
Due to the uncertainty of testing centers being available for the GRE due to COVID-19, we will not require General or Subject test scores during the Fall 2025 admissions cycle. Our department conducts holistic reviews, and carefully considers the context of each applicant's past achievements and academic record. The admission committee will make no assumptions if GRE scores are not included with an application.
Upload PDF files of all college level transcripts, with the application for initial departmental review. These must include your name and the name of the institution. Official transcripts of all college-level work will be required if you are admitted and intend to register for Fall 2025.
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. These should be from faculty you have worked with closely or supervisors from industry-related work experience. Your recommenders will be contacted via email to submit their letters on-line. (See online application for details.)
Statement of Purpose: Describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, including your preparation for this field of study, your academic plans or research interests, and your future career goals. Please see: https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/statement-purpose/
Personal History Statement: D escribe how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. For more information about a Personal History Statement, please see: https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/personal-statement/
Please note the following additional admissions requirements All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency
If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better in residence at a recognized U.S. institution, you do not need to take a standardized test. Instead, you must upload an unofficial transcript from the recognized U.S. institution.