PhD Chemistry at Rice University

Programme overview

The PhD in Chemistry is awarded for original research culminating in a thesis defended in a public oral examination. Students choose a research advisor in their first semester and join a research group full-time from the second semester.

Faculty: Wiess School of Natural Sciences | Department: Chemistry | Duration: 90 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Houston, TX, United States

What you will study

Students complete 18 credit hours (about six graduate lecture courses at 500-level or higher) in the first two years, teaching equivalent to three semesters, research responsibility courses and a responsible conduct of research course. The qualifying exam is taken by the end of the fourth semester and passed by the end of the sixth, and the thesis defense must be passed before the 16th semester of residency.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Chemistry PhD program: coursework equivalent to a BA or BS in chemistry, with a high aptitude for chemistry and strong motivation for original research. Three letters of recommendation, transcripts from all institutions attended, a statement of purpose and a minimum 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) are expected. The GRE is optional, with the Subject Test not required. The application deadline is December 1 and the fee is $85, which may be waived for applicants from Texas and bordering states. International applicants show English proficiency with a US degree, a degree taught in English, or minimum scores of TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS 7 or Duolingo 115. Application fee is $85.

USD 66,784 a year (2026-27). School of Natural Sciences: Masters & PhD full-time tuition ($33,392 per semester) for the school's standard full-time master's and PhD programmes; estimate, excludes fees and health insurance. Reduced rate of $3,710 per year applies to continuing doctora Source

Most doctoral applications for Fall 2027 close December 1, 2026 (Mechanical Engineering December 15, Computer Science January 1, 2027); applications open September 1, 2026 through the Rice graduate portal (gradapply.rice.edu). Application fee is generally $85, waived for some doctoral applicants.

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