How to Apply: Ph.D. Program

Application Period Opens:
October 1, 2026

Applications will be accepted only for Fall 2027 admission (no spring starts).

Deadlines

  1. Complete Cal State Apply: December 1, 2026
  2. Submit transcripts & English proficiency (if applicable): December 15, 2026
  3. Complete the Program Online Application via Slate SDSU: December 15, 2026
  4. Complete UC San Diego component via Connect: December 16, 2026

 

Application Process

Complete the SDSU via Cal State Apply 

  1. All applicants must fill out the application on Cal State Apply and pay the required fee.
  2. Within two weeks of submitting your Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email from San Diego State University that includes your SDSUid. Your SDSUid is an identifier to securely access many campus IT services, including my.SDSU, the official online portal for student admissions, student records, financial aid, tuition and fee payment, and more. Create your my.SDSU account promptly upon receipt of this email and use it to check on the status of your application and to see a to-do list for action items that may still be required to complete all application steps.
  3. Submit Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended and, if required, Proof of English Proficiency to Graduate Admissions after submitting Cal State Apply and by the deadline above. Follow the College of Graduate Studies Fall 2027 Steps to Apply instructions and monitor your my.SDSU account for outstanding requirements.
  4. Applicants with international coursework should review and complete the steps at SDSU Admissions, including country-specific document and English-proficiency requirements.
  5. The GRE is not required for applications to our graduate degree programs.
  6. Complete the SDSU Program Online Application via Slate. Within 72 hours of submitting your initial application to Cal State Apply, you will receive an email with a personalized link to Slate to submit your SDSU program application.
  7. Complete the UC San Diego component of the application. Select “Chemistry (JDP)” as your Program of Interest. The UC San Diego application may be completed concurrently with the SDSU application process.
  8. Your application will only be reviewed once both Slate and Cal State Apply are complete.

Your application is not complete until all required SDSU and UC San Diego application components have been submitted.

 

Required Materials in Slate

  • Statement of Purpose / Research Statement (1-2 pages, PDF).
  • Resume / CV.
  • Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended.
  • Optional: publications, abstracts, or posters.
  • Recommender contact information.
  • Any supplemental departmental forms, if requested.

The unofficial transcripts uploaded to Slate do not replace the official transcripts required separately by SDSU Graduate Admissions.

 

Letters of Recommendation

  • 3 required; a 4th optional. At least 1 should be from a research mentor (faculty or supervisor).
  • Letters must be on letterhead and signed (digital acceptable).
  • Recommenders should address the applicant’s potential for growth, intellectual ability, research and professional skills, leadership and mentoring/teaching skills, written and oral communication skills, work ethic and persistence, potential for success in graduate school, character, ethics, and any demonstrated ability to overcome adversity.  
  • Research mentors must explicitly address the applicant’s specific role on any published papers, manuscripts in progress, and/or patents; any work presented at local or national conferences; the applicant’s commitment to rigorous, ethical science, and strengths and areas for growth.

Statement of Purpose / Research Statement

(1-2 pages, PDF; see below)

  1. Motivation — your interest in chemistry and graduate study.
  2. Research Experience — projects (goals, your role, techniques, outcomes, lessons learned).
  3. Research Interests & Fit at SDSU — areas you wish to pursue, SDSU faculty whose research aligns with your interests, and how the program’s resources and research support your goals.
  4. Professional Goals — near- and long-term objectives and how a Ph.D. from the SDSU/UC San Diego program will help you to achieve them.
  5. Personal Qualities — your motivation for graduate study, your experience of collaborative work, and optional discussion of your resilience through challenges.
  6. Conclusion — summarize your fit and enthusiasm for doctoral study at SDSU.
    • Use specific examples and quantify contributions when possible.
    • Submissions must reflect your personal voice and unique perspective. Avoid generic statements.
    • Proofread and seek feedback before submission. AI tools are restricted to grammar correction and proofreading. Using AI to generate sentences is prohibited.
       

 

Financial Support

Most admitted Ph.D. students receive teaching or research assistantships, depending on available funding.

 

Contact & Questions

For questions on funding and teaching assistantships, international student requirements and visas, application submission, or other general inquiries, please contact: [email protected] or 619-594-5595

For questions on Ph.D. degree requirements, curriculum, and other graduate program details, please contact: Doctoral Program Advisor: Byron Purse, Ph.D.