Admission Policies

Admission Policy

Admission to the Program requires:

  • A bachelor’s or a master’s degree in science, engineering, or mathematics.
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required for admission to the Polymer graduate program.
  • International students whose native language is not English must submit evidence of their proficiency in the English language.
    • Applicants may use results (no more than two years old) from one of the following standardized tests to satisfy this requirement: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); the International English Language Test System (IELTS); or the PTE test.
    • A minimum score of 79 is required on TOEFL (electronic test) or 550 (paper based) and a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS or 53 on the PTE is required.
    • Degree completion in any U.S. school waives the English proficiency requirement.
  • Applications received by the end of January will receive priority consideration but we will continue to accept applications until all available positions are filled.

 

Financial Aid:

Nearly all full-time Ph.D. students in the program are fully supported through financial aid in the form of fellowships and graduate assistantships funded by the state, industry, and federal government.

  • Stipends:
    • Stipends are based on the applicant’s prior academic experience and credentials.
    • For a student with a bachelor’s degree the 9-month stipend for the 2019-2020 academic year is $23,368.61 and for a student with a master’s degree the stipend is $24,589.50.
    • The amount of the stipend normally increases on completion of the course requirements for the M.S. degree and again on passing the general examination for the Ph.D.
    • Most students also receive additional support for the summer period.
  • In addition:
    • Graduate assistantships include a tuition waiver and highly-subsidized health insurance.

All applicants are automatically considered for an assistantship by the program.