Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate Degree Requirements:

Hold the equivalent of a 4-year US accredited baccalaureate degree in chemistry or biochemistry (or a closely related field).

Earn an undergraduate GPA greater than 3.0/4.0 (the average for those admitted is 3.4/4.0).

Prospective Chemistry Department graduate student applicants are strongly encouraged to major in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, molecular biology, or a similar field. If a student majorsed in different discipline, we recommend that the student entering the program have a combination of the following classes:

• One year of general chemistry (with lab)
• One year of organic chemistry (with lab)
• One semester of physical chemistry
• One semester of biochemistry
• One semester of inorganic chemistry
• One semester of chemical analysis or analytical chemistry
• Optional: Cell biology and genetics

Ecclesiastical Endorsement:

Prospective students should be aware of the Honor Code. BYU undergraduates and graduates alike must strive to maintain campus morality, although students need not be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Applicants who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints need to complete an ecclesiastical endorsement interview with their local bishop and stake president. Currently enrolled BYU students and full-time BYU employees must also complete a new ecclesiastical endorsement with both their bishop and a member of their stake presidency.

Applicants who are not members of the Church will need to complete an ecclesiastical endorsement interview with their local religious leader and a phone interview with the BYU Chaplain. Please carefully read the BYU Honor Code prior to your interview.

As a student, you will also have an annual interview with a leader of the LDS Church, the campus chaplain, or your own local clergy member to ensure compliance with the Honor Code.

To complete an Ecclesiastical Endorsement, go to endorse.byu.edu.

English Proficiency (international students):

Generally, all applicants are required to demonstrate an acceptable level of English language proficiency in order to satisfy the university requirements for graduate admission. Only applicants who are citizens of the United States, Canada, the U.K., the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia (or those applicants who have received their bachelor's degree or higher, from said countries, within the previous 24 months of the intended start date of their respective graduate program) are 'exempt' from this requirement.

All other applicants are either required to 1) obtain the required minimum English language proficiency scores for the E3PT, IELTS, or TOEFL tests; or 2) obtain an English language proficiency 'waiver' from their respective Graduate Program, in order to be eligible for graduate admission. More information on these exams can be found here. 

Minimum Scores on English Proficiency Tests

• E3PT
  
  • An overall minimum score of 79 (with minimum speaking, reading, and listening scores of 21, and a minimum writing score of 16).
• IELTS
  
  • An overall minimum band score of 7.0 (consisting of minimum band scores of 6.0 in each module).
• TOEFL (paper-based test)
  
  • 580
• TOEFL iBT (internet based test)
  
  • Minimum subscores of 22 (Speaking) and 21 (Listening, Reading, & Writing respectively) comprising an overall score of at least 85.

GRE:

The GRE general exam is optional. Although, results of the GRE general exam are required in order to be considered for fellowships.

Other Test Scores: The GRE Subject (Chemistry or Biochemistry) exam is recommended. We appreciate this complete unofficial information, however, you need to order your official scores to be sent directly to Brigham Young University by ETS (Educational Testing Service, code 4019).

Letters of Recommendation:

• 3 letters are required for all programs (except MBA and EMBA which only require 2).
• Letters should be written by professors or professional acquaintances who can evaluate their potential as a graduate student at BYU.
• Letters of recommendation must be uploaded via the application system well in advance of the applicable application deadline.
• Recommenders must provide their name and email address in order to submit their letters.
• Electronic reminders to submit letters can be sent to recommenders by the applicant directly through their application portal.
• Applicants may also edit their recommender's information, remove and add recommenders.

Statement of Intent:

In writing the Statement of Intent, submit a single-page, double-spaced document. We emphasize the importance of this statement and ask you to be as specific as possible in discussing

1. What are your research interests and how do they relate to current research efforts at the BYU Chemistry Department?
2. What experiences have most strongly impacted your life, and how?
3. Any special explanations that you might wish to make about your preparation for graduate work.
4. Why do you wish to attend BYU for graduate school instead of any other university?
5. What are your career plans and goals after you complete graduate studies?

Resume:

Our department requires a specific layout for applicant resumes. Please see example below.

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Transcript:

Upload unofficial copies of all transcripts to your application. Official transcripts will be required after a recommendation for admission. Expediency in having the official transcripts sent to BYU* upon notice of being recommended for admission is important. Admission will not be complete until official transcripts are received and verified. More information can be found here.

Writing Sample:

A writing prompt will be given in the supplemental section of the application. The writing task assesses your ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate arguments and convey your evaluation in writing. The task consists of a brief passage in which the student makes a case for an interpretation of a study by presenting claims backed by reasons and evidence. The applicant will discuss the logical soundness of the author's case by critically examining the line of reasoning and the use of evidence.

RIVS Video Interview:

After submitting your text application, the applicant will receive an email with detailed instructions about a video interview. The department uses a company known as RIVS to collect the video interview. Graduate program applications will not be considered by the department until the RIVS interview is completed.