Graduate Student Applicant Criteria

Applications to the Ph.D. program received by January 15th can be considered for fellowships and assistantships that include full stipend and full tuition remission. In addition, the program is a hub for an NIH sponsored doctoral training program in Biotechnology, and several research centers or institutes are centered in CBE including the Center for Structured Organic Particulate Systems and the Catalyst Manufacturing Center. Rutgers fosters diversity through several special fellowship and training programs and encourages underrepresented minority students to apply.  

All admitted full-time Ph.D. students receive funding through either teaching assistantship (TA), graduate assistantship (GA) or fellowship and can expect funding for at least five years subject to satisfactory progress. TA and GA positions are very limited and are reserved for Ph.D. students. We only hold a Fall admissions cycle for the Ph.D.  

Apply Here

Application to the Master’s program is done on a rolling basis. We offer both Fall and Spring admissions cycles. The application deadline is August 1 st for Fall admission and December 1st for Spring admission. A number of our Masters students seek out and find paid positions on campus on their own, including as graders, learning assistants, and part-time lecturers. Departments such as Chemistry, Math and Physics serve a large undergraduate population routinely look for students from CBE for such positions. We have a very limited number of grader positions in our department as well, depending on course enrollment.  

Many of our Masters students have been successful in obtaining summer internships in the relevant chemical or pharmaceutical industries, which can be accommodated in the form of CPT (curricular practical training) for international students. 

Apply Here

This program is only open to students receiving their BS degrees in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers-New Brunswick.

• Online application form
• Brief (one page) personal statement outlining your professional goals, attached to the application form
• At least one recommendation letter, e-mailed to the graduate program director
• Send an e-mail to the Graduate Program Director indicating that your application has been submitted for faster response

TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants whose undergraduate education was completed in a non-English speaking country. Scores must be current within 2 years of the applied semester. The minimum Paper based TOEFL score is 550. The minimum Computer based TOEFL score is 213. The minimum IBT-internet based TOEFL is as follows: Writing 22, Speaking 23, Reading 21, Listening 17. The acceptable IELTS score is bandwidth 7. The admissions decisions are made by a committee and are based on the applicant’s entire admission packet, not just scores and grades.

For more information on language exam requirements, visit the School of Graduate Studies.

The Graduate Program in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering regularly welcomes students with diverse educational backgrounds into our department for advanced study. More information can be found here.

All US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for part-time study and non-matriculated/non-degree study.

Part-time study is very popular with many of our Master's students who are employed full-time in local industry. Our graduate courses are offered in the evening which makes it convenient for part-time students to take one or two classes per semester.

Non-matriculated/non-degree study is an option to take up to four courses without being enrolled in a graduate degree program. After completing four courses, a student must then enroll in a degree program should they wish to continue study. All coursework previously completed is transferred to the degree at that point

The application fee is managed by the School of Graduate Studies, and not by CBE. Fee waivers are not normally given, but more information is available at this link.

The Big Ten Academic Alliance provides the FreeApp Program for prospective students to request a graduate application fee waiver for Ph.D. programs at Rutgers. FreeApp is a collaborative program for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in graduate education, including racial and ethnic minorities, women in STEM, first-generation college students, and individuals who have faced adversity, such as societal, economic or academic disadvantages. The definition of underrepresented is determined by each university in the Big Ten Academic Alliance and whether to award a fee wavier is wholly within the discretion of each university. More information is provided here.