Graduate Programs
Advance your education through a graduate degree in chemistry.
Pursuing graduate work in chemistry at TCU combines the best of both worlds. You can work on problems of contemporary interest — from medicine to materials science — in a setting that allows for intimate mentorship from your Ph.D. advisor.
That is, the average research group size here is two graduate students – far less than that of R1 institutions. This environment is ideal for students that come to graduate school with a broad liberal arts background or little research experience, but with a passion for science.
While pursuing your degree, opportunities for professional development abound. Your training in communication will form a foundation for presentations at regional, national and international conferences as well as your first job talks. Working hands-on with your Ph.D. advisor in the design of experiments or preparation of manuscripts will hone your abilities as an independent investigator and clear communicator. Teaching and working in a laboratory with undergraduate researchers will develop your leadership skills.
Students graduating from the program have opportunities to enter industry or academia. Many pursue post-doctoral work at some of the most prestigious laboratories across the world.
Master of Science (MS)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Application Process
Application deadlines for the College are flexible, but apply by January 1 for maximum consideration for Fall and Summer admission and by September 15 for maximum consideration for Spring admission for most programs.
- Students need to fulfill the general TCU admission requirements.
- A completed online application (see below.)
- Three letters of recommendation (the online application will prompt you for information regarding your references.)
- Transcripts of all colleges attended (upload unofficial copies via the online application. If you are admitted to the program a single copy of all official transcripts will be required – see address below) [When applicable, student needs to submit English translations of transcripts. We do not provide this service.]
- Personal Statement of Purpose (upload via the the online application. Essay – 1,000 words or less, that describes your motivation and goals for graduate study, career ambitions, and the specific ways TCU may fit those.)
- TOEFL/IELTS scores (input scores in Testing Information section in the online application, then request official scores to be sent to TCU Graduate Studies, ETS institutional code 6820) for evidence of proficiency in English a minimum TOEFL score of 80 (internet based) or 550 (paper based) is required or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5].
- TOEFL is required of all international students – applicant may request a telephone interview with the department for possible waiver of the TOEFL.
- For U.S. permanent resident: Please confirm that you are a permanent resident of the United States by emailing a scanned copy of your green card to csegradapp@tcu.edu.
- For non-permanent residents, please upload the completed International Student and Scholar Form with your application.
Admitted students will also be required to provide proof of financial support by filling out and returning the International Student Financial Statement. Students on full Teaching Assistantships (see below) do not have to use this form.
Financial Statement for International Students
For additional information for international students, refer to International Student ServicesFrequently Asked Questions
Please refer to the application process.
The number of students that are accepted depends on the number of available teaching and research assistantships available in a given year.
We have accepted between 0–2 students to start their graduate studies in January. However, most new graduate students start in August.
We generally make our first round of offers for fall admission around mid-to-late February. We then typically make a second round of offers in April if there are still positions available.
We continue to make offers at that point until the class is filled. Decisions for spring admission are usually made in mid-to-late October.
Domestic students who have submitted all of their application items are certainly welcome to visit the department. We will typically cover travel costs. Please contact Graduate Director to arrange your visit.
The fall admission deadline is January 1 for primary consideration. For the spring admission it is September 15.
The $60 application fee could be waived upon request for some qualified applicants. The contact information is listed in the application portal.
All admitted students are guaranteed a stipend and tuition/fee waiver. This includes international students. To be considered, just check the appropriate box in the application. There are a limited number of assistantships available, so admission is competitive.
The current regular stipend for teaching and research assistants in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry is $28,600 per year. Exceptional applicants can be considered for an additional stipend award.
Graduate Students supported by assistantships receive full tuition waivers.
All graduate students, including international students, will be enrolled automatically for TCU health insurance after enrollment of classes. To opt out, you must complete a waiver form on the Haylor website. International students are required to carry the SHI plan. Most graduate students who are receiving financial aid may be eligible for a Health Insurance Award (HIA), covering 85 percent of the cost of the SHI plan. Please see the Health Insurance page from the Graduate Studies.
No, we do not require applicants to take the GRE. If students have taken the exam, they are welcome to submit copies of their scores.
The institution code for Texas Christian University is 6820.
TOEFL or IELTS is required for all international students. For English proficiency, TCU’s minimum TOEFL score is 80 (internet based) or 550 (paper based), or an IELTS score of 6.5. Applicant may request a telephone interview with the department for possible waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS.
Contact Us
Please use the address below for mailing of any hard copies of documents (e.g. transcripts
sent from your institutions). Please also feel free to contact us regarding any questions
you may have about the application process.
TCU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Sid Richardson Building, Suite 438
2950 West Bowie Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76109
Apply Today
Start your graduate school experience with the TCU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry