University of Kentucky
Chemical and Materials Engineering
College of Engineering
177 F. Paul Anderson Tower
Lexington, KY 40506-0046
Phone: 859.257.8028
Fax: 859.323.1929
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Thank you for your interest in pursuing a graduate degree in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Kentucky. As Directors of Graduate Studies, we are here to assist you as you explore our faculty and resources, and the research opportunities available at UK. This website is designed to guide you through the application process, and to answer questions that you might have regarding our academic programs and financial support.
The Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering offers two distinct degree programs:
Ph.D. (or M.S.) in Chemical Engineering
Ph.D. (or M.S.) in Materials Science and Engineering
In both programs, the emphasis is on the Ph.D. degree. Students with strong academic credentials can apply directly for Ph.D. study upon receipt of their bachelor’s degree (B.S.). A prior Master’s degree is not required to study for the Ph.D. directly. For students with a prior M.S. degree, coursework credits completed at the graduate level are usually applicable to some portion of the requirements for the Ph.D.
The department offers full financial support packages for all students who are admitted to our Ph.D. programs; admission is competitive, and is based on academic credentials, test scores, letters of recommendation, and research performance potential. Since the emphasis in our Department is on doctoral study, the priority for financial support is students admitted directly to the Ph.D. program. Our typical support package is comprised of a research stipend, a full tuition scholarship, and student health insurance. For students making good academic progress in the doctoral program, financial support is guaranteed for a minimum of four years. Outstanding applicants may be eligible for additional stipend supplements, and these are awarded on a competitive basis during the application cycle. All applicants are automatically considered for financial support as part of the application process; no additional financial application forms are required.
As part of their financial support package, all students admitted to our graduate programs are required to provide service as a part-time teaching assistant (TA) during their first academic year. A typical assignment would be ten hours per week assisting with an undergraduate course in the Department for both the Fall and Spring semesters. For most students, no additional teaching duties are required beyond the first year.
Students can start the application process by completing the electronic application available on the University of Kentucky Graduate School webpage
The Graduate School webpage provides details on all required documents and credentials.
For applicants to the graduate programs in Chemical or Materials Engineering at the University of Kentucky, the following are required:
Each of these components are described in detail, below.
Official GRE scores reported directly from ETS:
The University requires official GRE scores for all applicants; only the GRE general test is required. While scores on all components of the examination will be reviewed, the emphasis for purposes of admission is on the quantitative component. However, the GRE is only one factor that is used in assessing student promise. As such, we consider all applications individually, and do not publish specific score requirements for our applicants.
GRE scores should be requested directly from ETS. The institution code for the University of Kentucky is 1837.
Official transcripts from every university attended:
The Graduate School requires that each applicant provide two full sets of official academic transcripts for every University attended. One set of transcripts should be sent to The Graduate School admissions officer for your program (see Graduate School website), and a second set of transcripts should be sent directly to our Department.
The Department address is:
Director of Graduate Studies
c/o Mr. Bruce Cole
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
177 Anderson Hall (FPAT)
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0046
For international applicants, it is acceptable to send both copies of the transcripts in a single packet. In this case, please send the transcripts directly to the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the address provided above. Official transcripts must be provided in English.
Students applying to the Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering are expected to have an awarded B.S. in chemical engineering prior to enrollment. Similarly, applicants to the Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering are expected to have a B.S. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field. Additional information for students with other undergraduate backgrounds is provided, below.
Official TOEFL score reported directly from ETS:
International applicants must submit TOEFL scores directly from ETS; the institution code for the University of Kentucky is 1837. The University of Kentucky requires a score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); the equivalent score on the computer version of the TOEFL is 213 and on the internet‐based test is 79. Applicants may also use International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores to satisfy the language requirement. The minimum acceptable IELTS overall band score is 6.5.
Applicant resume and statement of research interests:
Each applicant should submit a 2-3 page resume that highlights their educational background, technical work experience, prior research activity, and career goals and objectives. In addition, applicants should prepare a 1-2 page statement of research interests that details their motivation for pursuing an advanced degree, discusses research background and skills, and possible areas of research focus. These documents may be submitted electronically to the Department (PDF format is preferred), or included in the application packet.
For electronic submission, please send to:
Steve Rankin (co-DGS CME): srankin@engr.uky.edu
Fuqian Yang (co-DGS MSE): fyang0@engr.uky.edu
Be sure to indicate the program and semester for which your applying.
Three letters of recommendation:
Applicants should send three recommendation letters from previous University professors and/or work supervisors directly to the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering. These letters should address the preparedness of the applicant for graduate coursework and research, their motivation, their communication skills, their creativity, and their ability to work independently as well as in a team. No standardized form is required.
The letters of recommendation may be submitted electronically to the Department (PDF format is preferred), or included in the application packet. For electronic submission, please send to:
Steve Rankin (co-DGS CME): srankin@engr.uky.edu
Fuqian Yang (co-DGS MSE): fyang0@engr.uky.edu
Application Deadlines
The vast majority of our students begin their graduate study in the Fall semester. Students are encouraged to initiate the application process early in the Fall semester in the academic year before their planned enrollment date. Review of applications typically begins in January, and offers of admission and financial support are issued on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to complete their application packets by mid-January, if possible, as this will ensure that they receive full evaluation for admission, as well as consideration for all possible sources of financial support including special University Fellowships and stipend supplements.
For domestic applicants, there is no fixed application deadline. However, for practical purposes, application packets should be completed no later than April 1st. As indicated above, it is advantageous to the applicant to complete the application process as early as possible (by mid-January).
For international applicants, the Graduate School imposes a firm application deadline of February 1st; the electronic portion of the application must be completed by this date. There is some flexibility for assembling the application documents, but international applicants should make every effort to provide all required application materials by this deadline, if possible.
On occasion, opportunities may be available for students to enter our graduate program in the Spring semester. Applicants who may be considering applying for Spring semester admission are encouraged to contact the co-Directors of Graduate Studies at the contact information provided above. The Spring deadline for international applications is June 15th. However, there often is some flexibility in this regard, and interested students should contact us to explore possible options.
Student Visits:
All domestic applicants to our graduate programs are strongly encouraged to visit the Department and meet with the faculty. We would be happy to assist you with scheduling a visit and arranging meetings with faculty and current graduate students, as well as tours of our research facilities.
Students with non-traditional educational backgrounds:
The Chemical Engineering and Material Science graduate programs encourage students with B.S. degrees in chemistry or physics to apply. Depending upon the background of the student, direct admission to either the M.S. or Ph.D. degree program is possible. Minimum requirements for consideration include mathematics preparation through differential equations, and two semesters of university-level physics. Upon enrollment, a series of undergraduate courses are required to provide the necessary engineering fundamentals. Financial support may be available.
For more information, please contact the Directors of Graduate Studies.
Graduate School Information:
In addition to the electronic application portal, the University of Kentucky Graduate School website has a wide range of useful information.
Recommended links include:
The Graduate School Home Page
Graduate School Application Information