Graduate Deadlines and FAQ | Department of Chemistry

Deadlines

What are the deadlines for Fall and Spring Semester admission?

The priority deadlines for application submission are the following:

Fall Semester: December 1
Spring Semester: September 15

The UNL Department of Chemistry encourages you to send your application materials as soon as possible. Early application will increase your opportunities to 1) get into the area you desire to study and 2) be awarded one of our premium fellowships.

Late Applications: The UNL Department of Chemistry prefers to receive applications by the deadlines listed above but will consider applications received after those dates depending on the availability of assistantships.

Note for applications to begin in the Spring Semester: We are generally not able to accept international students to begin in the Spring Semester due to ITA (International Teaching Assistant) Workshop training constraints. We highly recommend that international students apply to begin in the Fall semester to allow them maximum availability of assistantships. In rare circumstances, international students may be admitted to the Spring semester if there is faculty member who is familiar with the student and willing to support a student under a graduate research assistantship.

Are late applications acceptable?

The UNL Department of Chemistry prefers to receive applications by the deadlines listed above but will consider applications received after those dates depending on the availability of assistantships.

Application Requirements

What application materials are needed to apply for the PhD graduate program?

Click here for application materials needed

Do I need to secure a faculty member as my advisor prior to applying?

No, students do not secure a faculty member research advisor prior to submitting an application. Decisions about first rotations and joining labs are made after admittance to the program.

Do I need a master’s degree to apply to the PhD program?

No, students with a bachelor’s degree (no master’s degree) are eligible to apply directly to the PhD program.

What information should be included in my personal statement?

Effective personal statements often include information about the applicant’s past research experience, their long-term research/career goals, why they are interested in Nebraska Chemistry, information on potential faculty that they may want to work with, explanation of their fit to those research groups, and any other information that the applicant feels will be valuable for the admissions committee to understand why the applicant wants to pursue their graduate degree in the Nebraska Chemistry program.

How long should I make my personal statement?

While there is no strict page limit to the personal statement, we suggest the personal statement be ~2 pages in length

Who should I ask to complete letters of recommendation?

The most useful letters of recommendation are those from professionals able to comment specifically on your academic and technical ability in chemistry.

Are publications required for admission?

Publications are not required as part of the application process.

Can I use unofficial transcripts for the application process?

Yes, unofficial transcripts can be used for the application process. After the admissions process, official transcripts will be required to be sent to UNL before enrollment.

Where should I send my official transcripts?

https://graduate.unl.edu/application-requirements-additional-details/#tab-transcripts

Do I need a WES evaluation?

You do not need a WES evaluation, or any similar evaluation, to apply. We do all evaluation of applications internally.

GPA and Test Scores

What is the minimum GPA required for admission?

The UNL Department of Chemistry does not have a minimum GPA score required for admission to our program; however, GPA scores are considered as one part of the information necessary to make admission decisions concerning applicants. We prefer GPA scores >3.0, but will consider other scores based on personal statements, references, and other application materials.

Is the GRE required for admissions?

We do not require the GRE general or subject test for applications.

Who is required to submit scores from English proficiency exams?

If English is not your native language, you will be required to demonstrate your ability to undertake advanced academic work in an English-speaking institution. To demonstrate English proficiency, you will be required to submit scores from TOEFL or IELTS exams as part of your application. Duolingo scores are accepted but will generally require an oral interview before admission into the ITA (International Teaching Assistant) workshop.

Exemptions for the English proficiency requirement are granted for non-native speakers who have received a bachelor's or more advanced degree either from an accredited U.S. institution or from a university outside the U.S. at which English is the official language of instruction.

What are the minimum requirements of TOEFL or IELTS scores?

TOEFL score (iBT) of at least 79 with a speaking score of at least 22, or an IELTS score of at least 6.5 (overall band score) with a speaking score of at least 6.5 are the minimum requirements. Students with a TOEFL iBT speaking score of 18 to 21 may be granted eligibility on the basis of an oral interview (see information on the links below). Duolingo scores are accepted (minimum of at least 120) but will generally require an oral interview before admission into the ITA (International Teaching Assistant) workshop.

More information on English proficiency requirements can be found:

https://graduate.unl.edu/english-proficiency/

More information on ITA workshop requirements can be found:

https://graduate.unl.edu/institute-international-teaching-assistants/#application

Do you accept scores from TOEFL Home Edition?

Yes, the TOEFL Home Edition is accepted, and can be sent directly from ETS (https://www.ets.org/toefl.html) using institution code 6877.

What is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institutional Code for ordering official TOEFL reports?

Our Institution Code is 6877.

Application Fee/Fee Waivers

What is the fee for submitting a graduate application?

The UNL graduate application fee is $50.

Are fee waivers available?

We can provide an application fee waiver to any student who currently holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a US institution of higher education, or who will graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a US institution of higher education. To apply for a waiver code, send an email to Rezarta Selmani (rselmani2@unl.edu) before Dec. 1 attesting that you meet these requirements.

Note for all fee waiver requests: Application fee waivers are available for applications for PhD applications for the Fall term only. No fee waivers are available for applications for Spring admissions.

Is there a deposit required to secure my place after admission?

No, a deposit is not required after admission.

Finances

What opportunities are there for financial assistance during the graduate program?

Applicants admitted to the PhD program are provided support in the form of teaching and/or research assistantships which provide a stipend, benefits, and tuition remission. Financial support and tuition remission will be renewable for a total of at least five years as long as you make satisfactory progress towards your degree and fulfill the obligations of your research and/or teaching assistantship. Additional fellowships are available for outstanding applicants for higher assistantship support.

For additional information, please see:

Click here for additional information on financial support opportunities

What are the current stipends for research and teaching assistantships?

The current minimum stipends for teaching and research assistantships are listed below.

Minimum stipend plus fellowships for graduate research assistantship (GRA): $30,000 per year

Minimum stipend plus fellowships for graduate teaching assistantship (GTA): $27,774 per year

Is there a separate application process to be considered for premium fellowships?

There is no additional application needed to be considered for additional fellowships – all applicants are considered by the admissions committee during the admissions process.

How do I fill out the Financial Resource Form if I am an international student?

Complete only Section 1 of the Form, sign, and send to Graduate Studies.

Research

What type of research is being done and who are the professors involved?

Research is ongoing in Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Materials Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry. Click here for specific information about individual professor's research work.

Visas

How do I apply for a United States Visa?

An official source of information about United States visa policies and procedures can be found at:

https://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

Where can I find more information about the visa application process?

https://graduate.unl.edu/finances-and-visa-forms/

General Information

Should I apply for admission for the Fall or Spring Semester?

The majority of our students enter our program beginning in the Fall semester. Note that we are generally not able to accept international students to begin in the Spring semester due to ITA (International Teaching Assistant) Workshop training constraints.

How long does the application process take?

Decisions for applications for the Fall semester will be made on or before April 15^th.

Where do I find more information about UNL health and dental student insurance?

Information on student health and dental insurance can be found here: Student Health Insurance

In addition, the University Health Center (UHC) is your first stop on campus for all your healthcare needs. Services at the UHC include: medical clinic, specialty clinics, laboratory, pharmacy, physical therapy, radiology, counseling and psychological services, dental, and health education.

Where do I find more information about entertainment, housing, climate, etc., in Lincoln?

For more information about Lincoln, NE, please visit the following websites: