Applications for our graduate program are currently CLOSED for entry in Fall 2025.
Please note: if you applied and are accepted, the initial support offer in your letter of acceptance will only mention two terms of support (fall and spring). However, support is guaranteed for the summer term and beyond as long as you remain in good academic standing. All students in good academic standing are fully funded as either teaching assistants (TAs) or graduate research assistants (GSRs) while actively completing their degree. All incoming students are also eligible for our new student fellowships, with up to 25% of the incoming class receiving A&S Fellowships which reduce the teaching requirement to one term during the first year.
You will need the following application materials to complete your application:
- Statement of purpose
- Transcripts for all college-level institutions attended
- Three letters of reference
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (OPTIONAL)
- Application fee OR fee waiver code
Additionally, if you are an international applicant, you will also need to submit:
Specific requirements and advice for successfully completing each of these components of the application are described below.
Applicants are encouraged to submit completed applications as early as possible. Application review will begin on December 15, and proceed on a rolling basis until January 15. All application materials must be received by January 15; applications received and/or incomplete after January 15th will not be reviewed or considered.
Requirements & Advice:
- Your statement of purpose should address your specific interests and/or expertise in chemistry, and describe as specifically as possible the area of research you wish to pursue.
- Your statement must explicitly address the questions listed on our FAQ page. You may also find the following two videos, prepared by members of our faculty, helpful:
- While there is no strict length requirement, successful statements of purpose are typically one to two pages long.
- Applications must include transcripts for all college-level institutions attended.
- All transcripts must be uploaded onto the application Web site. Unofficial transcripts are accepted.
- Cumulative GPA must be at least a 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale. There is no waiver for a GPA that does not meet the minimum requirement.
- Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale if it is not listed on your transcript in a 4.0 scale. There are free conversion calculators available online.
- Submit names and contact information for reference writers via the online application portal.
- Reference letters must be uploaded by the referee, not by the applicant.
- Letters are most helpful when they come from faculty members who know you well and can provide specific details about your academic preparation and/or potential for graduate research.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, general and chemistry subject, are recommended but not required.
Application Fee and Fee Waivers
The Application Fee Waiver Request Form will be unavailable starting the morning of Friday, December 20, during the winter recess. The form will reopen on Wednesday, January 1, and responses will be processed in the order they are received starting Thursday, January 2.
- The application fee is $75. However, most domestic applicants are eligible for fee waivers to reduce or eliminate this fee.
- To receive a fee waiver, submit the fee waiver survey. If approved, you will receive a fee waiver code that can be entered in the online application portal to remove the application fee.
- We encourage all of our applicants to submit the survey. More information can be found on the Graduate Studies site and through the application system.
- Please note that fee waivers are approved on a case-by-case basis and all requests will be reviewed and responded to within 48 hours during normal business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. EST.
- 99% of the fee waiver applications that are submitted are approved. If you receive a fee waiver rejection, please contact gradadm@pitt.edu for additional options.
TOEFL, IELTS, and/or Duolingo English Test Scores
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test scores.
- Please note that language scores are required to be submitted by all international applicants unless they are a citizen of a language score exempt country or a Bachelor's or Master's degree has been earned from a U.S. institution or from an institutions whose language of instruction is English and located in countries whose official languages include English. The list of countries and their exemption status can be found here.
- The minimum TOEFL score of 100 (with at least a score of 22 in all of the four sections of speaking, listening, reading, and writing), the required minimum IELTS of 7.0 (with at least 6.5 in each of its four sections), or the required minimum Duolingo score of 120.
- Please have your scores sent to the University of Pittsburgh directly from the testing center as described below so they can be marked as received and official:
- TOEFL scores will need to be sent electronically from ETS directly to the University of Pittsburgh. A PDF copy of the score report can be uploaded to your application under "Academic History, Standardized Test for TOEFL" as an unofficial copy until your official scores are received. You can also email a PDF copy of the report to gradadm@pitt.edu to be attached to your application.
- IELTS report will need to be uploaded to your application. A PDF copy of the score report must be uploaded to your application under "Academic History, Standardized Test for IELTS". You can also email a PDF copy to gradadm@pitt.edu to be attached to your application.
- Duolingo scores will need to be sent directly to the university: University of Pittsburgh, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. A PDF copy of the score report must be uploaded to your application under "Academic History, Standardized Test for Duolingo" as an unofficial copy until your official scores are received. You can also email a PDF copy to gradadm@pitt.edu to be attached to your application until the official scores are received.
Other Resources
You may also find the following additional resources helpful as you prepare your application:
- Frequently-Asked Questions for graduate applicants
- Pitt Chemistry YouTube Channel
- Should you go to Grad School?
If you are having issues with any part of your on-line application for the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, please reach out to the GradCas Applicant Help Center. If you cannot find the answer to your question(s), you can also contact them by phone 857-304-2086 or email: gradcasinfo@liaisoncas.com. For the quickest response, it is best to contact them via the Live Chat option on the Applicant Help center page.
If you are missing letters of recommendation, please send a reminder to your references. If your references have any issues with uploading their letters, please direct them to Letters by Liaison Help Center - Liaison (liaisonedu.com).
For more information please contact:
Graduate Administrator
Department of Chemistry
236 Chevron Science Center
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-624-8501
FAX: 412-624-8611
E-mail: gradadm@pitt.edu
Online applications may be started for the Chemistry Department's Fall 2026 graduate class beginning October 1, 2025. All applicants will receive an e-mailed decision letter by February 1.
