Apply to Our Graduate Program

Degrees Offered

The Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Masters of Science (M.S. Plan I and III) degrees. The primary emphasis of the graduate program is on the Ph.D. track. Financial aid is given to those students intending to pursue the Ph.D. option. A full description of the separate degree requirements is provided here.

Application Fee Waiver

The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology offers graduate school application fee waivers for domestic and international applicants. To be considered for an application fee waiver, please fill out this form. Please note you will need a Google account to complete the form. To apply for the application fee waiver, you will need: 1) CV, 2) Unofficial undergraduate transcripts, 3) English Test Scores for international applicants, and 4) Letter of Intent. We will inform you if your application qualifies for a fee waiver within approximately two weeks after you have submitted the form.

 If you are applying for a fee waiver, do not submit your application on the UNM portal before hearing from us regarding the status of your application. We stress that the fee waiver cannot be given after you have submitted your application on the UNM portal.

 If you have any questions regarding the fee waiver application process or issues accessing the form, please email ccbgrad@unm.edu.

Application Process

Create an account and fill out the application form by clicking the appropriate link below, follow the instructions, and upload all required documents. Instructions for required documents can be found below as well as here.

For domestic students, click here.

For international students, click here

 Components of the Application

BS in Chemistry or a Related Field

  • Degree must be completed prior to starting graduate studies
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Official transcripts

Letter of Intent

This letter will vary greatly from one person to another. Generally, the Admissions Committee would like to know a little about you as a person and a scientist, and you should identify at least one faculty member (from the list above) whose research particularly interests you and be sure to note if you have corresponded with them. Other questions you can consider addressing include: Why are you interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Chemistry and Chemical Biology? What research experiences have you had and how have they influenced you? Why do you believe UNM is a good place to pursue this degree?  What are your career aims after you complete your degree? This letter should be around one to two pages long.

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

These letters should be from faculty or employers who can speak to your academic achievements or research experience. Your letter writers will be emailed a form to complete once you have submitted your application.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

There is no required format for this document. It should highlight your academic and profession experience and achievements.