Graduate Admissions
All students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in CBE must first be admitted through the UT Graduate School. Applications for Fall 2024 closed on January 1, 2024. Applications for Fall 2025 are now open.
Frequently Asked Questions
We ask that all students proceed with submitting their applications. You will be able to submit your application without paying and it will remain pending while we review applications to determine how many fee waivers we can offer this year. Begin the application process.
No, the GRE is optional. If you have already taken the GRE, then please provide the score with your application.
After you submit your application you will be able to email graduateadmissions@utk.edu and request that they waive the TOEFL/IELTS.
A minimum of a 3.0 out of a 4.0 GPA is required by the university. We recommend all students apply for our program so that we may evaluate based on his/her academic performance (GPA, GRE, and/or TOEFL), research potential, and recommendation letters. The average GPA of admitted students is 3.7/4.0.
No. Most of our students are admitted to a general pool and match with an advisor towards the end of the first semester. GRA support (salary, tuition waiver, and basic health insurance) starts at day 1, irrespective of whether an advisor is assigned.
For PhD applications, the priority deadline is December 1 and the final deadline is January 1.
No, we only have funding for PhD students interested in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
Still have questions about the admissions process? Contact Dr. Siris Laursen.
Graduate Admission Requirements
Candidates for admission to the CBE department must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by the appropriate accrediting agency or an international equivalent. Applicants without undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering may be required to take additional coursework as appropriate to prepare them for graduate work. Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test is also considered for admission, although for the upcoming academic year, the GRE will remain optional for domestic and international graduate student applicants*. For those applicants whose GPA is below 3.50 out of 4.0, the GRE is recommended but not required.
*Exceptions will be handled on a case by case basis
Additionally, students whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
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Student admission is evaluated based on his/her academic performance (GPA, GRE, and/or TOEFL), research potential, and recommendation letters. The average GPA of admitted students is 3.7/4.0.
As part of the online graduate application process, applicants will complete a departmental application and upload a statement of purpose and resume. Academic, research, and work background of prospective students will be reviewed to check that a good match exists between the student and the department.
Application Fee Waiver
Students who meet the following requirements are eligible to have their application fee waived:
- US citizen
- Application completed by January 1
Application fee waivers are available to students who meet certain criteria and will be offered on a case-by-case basis.
Financial Support
Students who are admitted to our PhD program will be financially supported with a generous stipend plus a tuition waiver and health insurance. Read more about financial aid available to CBE graduate students.
Research Opportunities
Partnerships with other disciplines at UT—such as medical, life, and physical sciences—as well as with nearby industries and ORNL, help to create exceptional research opportunities for CBE graduate students and develop leadership roles in the vital technologies of the future.
Additional research facilities include the Computational Materials Research Group, Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Joint Institute in Biological Sciences, Joint Institute for Computational Sciences, and Sustainable Energy Education and Research Center.
Visit our Research Overview page for more information.
| Useful Links |
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| View the Application Process for New Applicants |
| View the Application Process for Readmission |
| View the CBE Graduate Brochure |
| View the CBE Graduate Recruitment Booklet |