Prospective Students | Polymer Program

Ph.D. Program

A doctoral degree in the Polymer Science requires students to follow the general rules, regulations, and requirements for the Doctoral degree as established by the Graduate School in the latest Graduate Catalog. Additional program requirements for a Ph.D. degree are listed below.

The typical duration of a Doctoral degree is 5 years. Most graduate students enrolled in the PhD program are supported by graduate assistantships, which include a stipend, tuition waiver, and both medical and dental insurance.

Program Requirements

Core Courses
- Polymer core courses are required for all Master’s and Doctoral Degrees: Polymer Physics, Polymer Properties, Polymer Synthesis, Polymer Physical Chemistry, Polymer Characterization I & II, and Seminars in Polymer Science
Academic Credits
- Students must complete no less than 30 academic credits beyond a bachelor’s degree or 15 academic credits beyond a master’s degree
- After completing the core course curriculum, “elective” courses must be approved by the student’s advisory committee

15 credits of doctoral dissertation research
Maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or greater
Selection of a Major Advisor and Advisory Committee
General Exam – 2 parts
- Written cumulative exam
- Oral examination
Research Dissertation
- Dissertation proposal
- Written research dissertation
- Oral defense of the dissertation

Master’s in Science Degree Options

Two options are offered for individuals seeking to obtain a Master of Science (MS) degree: Plan A and Plan B. Plan A emphasizes research and includes a thesis requirement. Plan B emphasizes coursework and often completed on a part-time basis by students who work full-time elsewhere.

Students must follow the general rules and regulations for the Master’s degree, as established by the Graduate School in the latest Graduate Catalog. Additional program requirements are listed below.

Master’s Plan A – with a thesis

21 credits of content coursework

Including polymer core courses: Synthesis, Physical Chemistry, Characterization I & II, Properties, and Polymer Physics

9 credits of Master Thesis Research

Master’s Plan B – non-thesis

30 credits of content coursework

Including polymer core courses: Synthesis, Physical Chemistry, Characterization I & II, Properties, and Polymer Physics

The UConn Graduate School awards a number of fellowships to incoming graduate students, the Jorgensen, Harriott, and Crandall fellowships. Interested applicants must submit a form to request consideration for the Fellowship from your Application Management Page.

There are three stages to these awards. First, after submitting your application you will be given the option to indicate which fellowships you would like to be considered for. Second, the department to which you are applying will then decide who among their applicants they wish to nominate for the award. Finally, a university-wide committee reviews all applicants nominated by departments and decides upon awardees of the fellowship.

For fellowship information, eligibility, and selection criteria, please visit the Graduate School's fellowship information page.

Most graduate students enrolled in the PhD program are supported by graduate research assistantships, which include a stipend, tuition waiver, and an attractive benefits package with medical and dental insurance. While teaching assistantships include teaching duties of up to 20 hours per week.

Application to the Program

Applications received by the first week of January (January 6) will receive greater consideration, but the admissions committee will continue to accept applications until all available positions are filled.

Graduate School Fellowships

The UConn Graduate School awards a number of fellowships to students starting a graduate program in the fall semester. In order to be considered for a fellowship nomination, an application should be submitted no later than the first week of January and request consideration for specific fellowships in the application. This is done from the Application Management Page.

For fellowship eligibility and selection criteria, please visit this site: https://grad.uconn.edu/financing/fellowships/internal-awards

Application Form
The on-line application form is available at: https://grad.uconn.edu/admissions/apply-to-uconn/

Please indicate Area of interest as Natural Sciences and Field of Study as Polymer Science.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the must satisfy admissions requirements of both the Graduate School and the Polymer Program, as listed below.

UConn Graduate School requirements

Details can be found at: https://grad.uconn.edu/admissions/requirements/

Transcripts – An original transcript is required, International students may submit their transcripts electronically. Please review the Graduate School website (link is above) for details and physical as well as email addresses.
GPA Requirement
1. An undergraduate cumulative grade-point average no less than 3.0
2. A grade-point average of at least 3.0 for the final two undergraduate years 
3. or exceptional work during the final undergraduate year (3.5 or better)
English Proficiency - International students whose native language is not English must submit evidence of their proficiency in the English language. Please visit the Graduate School admissions page for more up to date details.
1. 79 minimum is required on TOEFL (electronic test) or 550 (paper based)
2. 6.5 minimum is required on the IELTS
3. 53 minimum is required on the PTE
4. 100 minimum is required on Duolingo
  Note: These scores are only valid for two years (from original test date to submission of UConn application)
Degree Equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. Please review the Graduate School website (link is above) for details

Polymer Program Requirements

A bachelor’s or a master’s of science degree in: chemistry, engineering, physics, or mathematics. Completion of the Organic Chemistry course sequence is recommended.
Three recommendation letters, can be submitted with application or directly to gradadmissions@uconn.edu or osker@uconn.edu
CV/Resumé

NOTE: GRE scores are no longer required for Polymer Program Admission

Application Inquiry

IMS Graduate Admissions Inquiry Form

Contact: osker@uconn.edu