PhD Application Instructions

The application for Spring 2025 is open. The deadline is September 14, 2024.

The application for Autumn 2025 is open. The deadline is December 1, 2024 for all applicants.

The GRE test is no longer required for our department.

Graduate Admissions Checklist and Requirements

Students with a strong background in chemical engineering or related field are encouraged to apply. A bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering, or closely related field (another engineering field, chemistry, etc).

An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Our most competitive applicants have a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, or 88% out of 100% or 1st Class with Distinction. If applicable, a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Application Fees:

Ohio State is part of the Big 10 Academic Alliance (BTAA). The BTAA provides a means of requesting an application fee waiver for those who meet the requirements (US citizenship, 3.0+ GPA, Ph.D. applicant, etc.). This is a competitive process with limited numbers of fee waivers available. See the site for further details and the process for requesting a waiver.

International students should contact an Education USA advisor for your country to determine if they can assist you with your application fee. You can find this on the Education USA Website Search.

Application

• Apply online at the OSU Graduate Admissions Office website.
• Application fees are paid as a part of the online application process. This fee cannot be waived or deferred.

Supporting Documents to be uploaded with your online application

• Statement of Purpose:
  • A one to two page statement of purpose outlining your motivation for attending our program and your goals after receiving the degree. This essay allows you to express your interest in chemical and biomolecular engineering, describe what area(s) interest you the most, and goals that you have for applying the training received here. Since most of the material supplied with the application is little more than numbers, data, and grades, this statement allows you to "speak" to the faculty reviewing your file and gives them a glimpse into your motivations. Please be sure to include your full name on this document.
  • Uploaded via the prompt in the online application
  • Submited electronically
  • Submitted by postal mail. The mailing address is located at the side of this page.
  • To read more, visit the Graduate and Professional Admissions Office Transcript Requirement page.
  • Official scanned copies of transcripts from all post-secondary institutions are required. We will not review an application for admission consideration without scans or physical copies of official transcripts on record. Anything other than scans of official transcripts will result in a delay in processing your application.
  • If you are an international applicant, you must upload scans of official transcripts with degree statements (proof of degree) in their original language, along with English language translations that follow the format of the original documents.
  • For questions surrounding transcripts, including what is acceptable or not, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. They oversee all transcript related questions.
  • Ohio State students are only required to submit transcripts from other institutions attended, if any. Ohio State transcripts will be obtained internally for the review process and do not need to be submitted with your application.
  • If admitted, a final official copy of all transcripts will be required at that time by the Graduate Admissions Office. A hard copy is not required as a part of the application process.

  Three Letters of Recommendation

  • During the application process, applicants will be prompted to enter the e-mail addresses of their recommenders. The Graduate Admissions Office will automatically send an e-mail to these addresses with details on how to submit an online reference letter once you submit your online application. Applicants are encouraged to contact their references to be sure they received the instructions from the Graduate Admissions Office and have provided a recommendation.

  Submit official TOEFL (if applicable) Scores

  • TOEFL scores are required of all applicants whose native language is not English. No student will be considered for admission until proof of English is received. If a student receives a degree from a U.S. institution, TOEFL scores are not needed. Our most competitive applicants have scores of at lest 100 (TOEFL iBT.) The minimum TOEFL score to apply is 79.
  • We also accept the IELTS test. The minimum IELTS score to apply is 7.0.
  • Note: Applicants must submit official scores via Educational Testing Services (ETS) to the OSU Admissions Office (institution code 1592, no department code is necessary).
  • To read more, please visit the Graduate and Professional Admissions Office Additional Requirements Page - Proof of English Proficiency. We cannot waive this requirement.

  Prerequisites for non chemical engineering majors:

  We do occasionally admit students who have undergraduate degrees in subjects other than chemical engineering. However, these students will need to take make-up course work to succeed in our graduate program. These students must take the following undergraduate courses or have equivalent coursework in the following subject areas:

  • Thermodynamics: CBE 3508 and 3509
  • Transport Phenomena (Momentum and Mass Transfers): CBE 2420, 3421 and 3422
  • Chemical Engineering Kinetics: CBE 3610
  • Engineering Mathematics (Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations): Math 2177 or equivalent