The graduate application for Fall 2024 admission is now open!

The entire application must be submitted by December 1, 2023 for admittance into Fall 2024.

Applications are evaluated by the Chemistry Graduate Admissions Committee, comprised of faculty from each division within the Chemistry Dept. Individual faculty can make suggestions to the Admissions Committee but cannot admit applicants directly.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the Graduate Application
  2. CHEM specific info
    • When filling out the application, you will be asked to select the chemistry division(s)/area(s) of interest and to  choose one or more faculty of interest from those divisions. Select your prospective faculty advisor(s) from this list: https://www.colorado.edu/chemistry/people/faculty. This information is important to help the admissions committee evaluate your specific interests. ​
    • Include a Statement of Intent (essay). The Statement of Intent may also be called the Personal Statement in the application. The admissions committee will review this statement as part of the evaluation process.
    • We recommend that students have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  3. Application fee - $80
    • The application fee can be paid online via credit card when you submit your application.
      • Please note, We are not currently offering application fee waivers.  
  4. TOEFL Scores
    • We expect all of our students to have excellent oral communication skills. If your native language is not English, all international applicants are required to meet a minimum standard of English proficiency. You will be required to take the TOEFL or an acceptable equivalent examination. For a list of exemptions and countries exempted from TOEFL or IELTS, and minimum required English proficiency scores, please consult this link.
    • The TOEFL department code for the internet-based, computer-based and paper-based test is 62. If your TOEFL score is close but does not meet the departmental minimum a phone interview may be required to determine English communication skills before an offer of admission is made.
  • Official TOEFL scores must be sent from ETS. Photocopies, are not considered to be official, and cannot be accepted in lieu of the official notification from ETS. You may self-report your scores on the initial application, but please have the scores sent from ETS as soon as possible.
  • For  2024 admissions: We will be accepting the online version of TOEFL offered by ETS through Proctor U. 
  1. GRE Scores and Transcripts
    • Scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test are no longer a required part of the application. Applicants who have already taken the GRE and wish to submit their scores may do so. 
    • Our Institution Code is #4841. The department code for GRE scores is no longer required by CU Boulder, however, if you need to input a code when you take the test, please use one of the following department codes for Chemistry: #0202, #0301, #0302, #0304, #0603, #0399. 
  • Upload one transcript from every college and university you have attended. You may scan a copy of your unofficial transcript, or use an unofficial electronic transcript as long as it is an actual transcript and not simply a list of courses.
  • We require one copy of the scanned transcript from each undergraduate institution. This includes community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.  While credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of a second institution, unofficial transcripts must be submitted from each institution, regardless of the length of attendance, and whether or not courses were completed.  Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university.

Instructions for Uploading UnOfficial Transcripts to your Application 

  1. Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Arrange to have three letters of recommendation sent to Graduate Admissions or submitted online through the online application system as a .pdf document on official letterhead.
  • Recommenders do not receive the online link to the recommendation form until after your application has been submitted. It is therefore recommended applications be submitted at least three weeks prior to the posted deadline so recommendation letters can be received by the application deadline.

All parts of the application must be submitted by December 1, 2023. Letters of recommendation must be received before the admissions committees can make their final decisions.

Please send any print materials, such as transcripts or letters of recommendation to the following address:

Office of International Admissions

University of Colorado Boulder

3100 Marine Street

65 UCB

Boulder, CO 80309-0065

USA

Applicants will be notified several weeks after the application deadline if any of these materials are missing. Notifications of acceptance or non-acceptance will be issued by mid-March.