penn state university phd admission

Ph.D. Admission Information

Ph.d. admission, admission to graduate study.

With leading researchers in economic theory, econometrics, international economics, and macroeconomics, the Economics Department at Penn State is an outstanding department (faculty areas of interest may be found here) .  Students who receive a Ph.D. from Penn State and whose doctoral research is excellent have been recruited and sought after by leading academic and research institutions: our Ph.D. students have obtained tenure-track positions at Chicago, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Northwestern, NYU, UPenn and many more.  Our recent placements of students at different universities may be found here . 

There are several reasons Penn State has excellent placement, and is a special place to do graduate school. Graduate student training and placement are priorities for the department, and therefore, our faculty members across fields are widely accessible to graduate students. In addition to many elective classes, there are reading groups within each field, with active involvement from students and faculty. The Department takes very seriously its mission to train the excellent students admitted to our PhD program.

Penn State is located in a pleasant college town setting in the geographic center of Pennsylvania. Although it is in a small town, it is not isolated intellectually. There is an active program of visiting speakers in five separate workshops. In addition, the department hosts conferences across several fields. There is a twice yearly joint Penn State-Cornell conference at which graduate students make about half the presentations. The Department also encourages students to present their work at external conferences, and our students present at Meetings of the Econometric Society and other conferences.

Grad School Policy Statement

• Applicants may apply for admission to only one program at a time.
• For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or (2) a postsecondary degree that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution.
• Ordinarily, an entering student must have completed in a satisfactory manner a minimum of course work in designated areas, the specific courses and amount of work depending upon the intended field of advanced study.
• Admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the graduate program in which the student plans to study. The establishment of standards by which applicants are admitted is the responsibility of the graduate program. Individual program requirements for admission are included in the Graduate Bulletin.
• Although the Graduate School has no fixed minimum grade-point requirement for admission, an applicant is generally expected to maintain a junior-senior grade-point average of at least 2.50 on Penn State’s grading scale of A (4.00) to D (1.00). Individual graduate programs often establish higher grade-point average requirements and use other criteria to judge candidates for admission.
• In exceptional cases, graduate programs may also approve admission by reason of special backgrounds, abilities, and interests.

Further Information

GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students

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Ph.D. Graduate Application

Application timeline.

•   June 15: Graduate applications open
• December 15 : Final deadline for applications, including test scores, recommendation letters and supplemental application materials.
• January : The Graduate Recruiting Committee begins reviewing applications.
• February-April : Admission offers are sent via email. Only those applicants with a complete application will be sent an offer.
• April 15 : Reply deadline for admitted applicants.
• April 30 : Notices of non-acceptance are sent via email.

Start Your Application

How to Apply

• Complete the online application to The Graduate School at Penn State. All applicants must satisfy the requirements for graduate admission .
• Upload a 1-3 page Research Interests and Preparation Statement describing 1-2 specific research problems that interest you.
• Arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted. Using the electronic application, applicants will enter the references' contact information. The Graduate School will contact the reference with instructions on how to upload a letter of recommendation.
• Upload a complete resume or curriculum vitae, which should include current positions and publications.
• Upload a Portfolio which includes 2-3 examples of your best work you have done to this point in your career. This may include essays, publications, technical reports or other work.
• Upload official transcripts from each institution attended. Upon acceptance of an offer of admission, hard copies of official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution(s) attended to The Graduate School for verification. International applicants should submit transcripts in English and their native language.
• International applicants must arrange for TOEFL iBT scores to be sent electronically from ETS to The Graduate School (institution code 2660). Please visit the Graduate School website for English proficiency exceptions. The College of IST will accept IELTS scores, but TOEFL iBT scores are preferred.
• Reference our Ph.D. Frequently Asked Questions for inquiries about the admission and application process.
• Check the status of your application throughout the admission process.
• Contact the College of IST’s Office of Graduate Programs for assistance.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering

Do research that makes a difference.

The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in chemical engineering is a structured yet versatile program tailored to individual research interests. Students are challenged to become experts in their area of research, aiding advancements in areas such as:

• fuel and energy production,
• sustainability,
• bimolecular energy,
• nanotechnology,
• and many others.

Our program is ideal for engineers who wish to gain an expert understanding of the principals and philosophies of chemical engineering and learn the skills to become confident and independent researchers. Strong interdisciplinary research ties at Penn State also allow students to interact with experts in nearly every field.

Financial support available

In addition, we offer full financial support to all Ph.D. students making satisfactory progress toward their degree. This financial package includes tuition and fees, a stipend for living expenses, and healthcare benefits.

Outstanding students may qualify for a waiver of the application fee. Please contact us at [email protected] if interested in learning more.

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The department is built upon the fundamentals of academic integrity, innovation in research, and commitment to the advancement of industry.

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Application Process

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department accepts online applications only.

Graduate School Online Application

*Please note: If you intend to apply to a graduate program in environmental engineering, please select the ENV ENG application, not the CIVIL ENG application.

Items uploaded as part of the application process: 

Official report of graduate record examination (gre) scores.

• GRE scores are not required, but are strongly recommeded. 
• GRE Institution code is 2660, Department code is 1102.

A transcript from all institutions attended, both undergraduate and graduate

• Current Penn State students do not need to upload transcripts.

Applicants recommended for admission will be notified by the Graduate School that official/original transcripts/documents and their official English translation must be sent from the originating institutions for review by the Graduate School to finalize an admission decision. Notarized copies are not sufficient. This step is only required after the application has been reviewed and if the applicant is admitted.

Personal Statement (and résumé if desired)

Please prepare a personal statement that addresses the following items:

• Reason for pursuing your proposed degree
• Personal interests in the civil engineering specialty that you previous identified
• Specific areas of interest within the civil engineering specialty
• Potential faculty advisers
• Anticipated career plans upon completion of your degree
• There is no restriction on the length of your personal statement but do keep in mind we receive hundreds of applications. 

Three letters of recommendation

• The references you list in the online application will be given directions for submitting their letters.
• We will accept letters by mail in a sealed and signed envelope if your references choose not to submit their letters online.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)/International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for international students only

• TOEFL/IELTS Institution code is 2660, Department code is 65
• ALL international students from non-English speaking countries are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score
• A minimum score of 80 overall of the TOEFL is required.
• A minimum score of 19 on the speaking section of the TOEFL is required.
• A minimum of 6.5 is required for all sections of the IELTS exam.
• EXCEPTION: International students who have obtained a degree from an accredited university in the United States are not required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS score.
• International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a master's degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.
• Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements will be considered for admission on a Provisional basis and required to take an English-speaking course.

PLEASE NOTE: TOEFL and GRE scores are to be sent to Penn State electronically via the Graduate School Online Application.

Once documents for an application have been received by Penn State, they officially become a University document and cannot be returned to applicants.

Please do not submit information with your application that cannot be used in the admission decision process, i.e., Individual Education Plans (IEP), medical records, statement from physicians or psychologists, or legal documents. Such information will be destroyed and will not be included in the application packet.

The Penn State Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering accepts graduate applications on a continuous, rolling basis. For strongest consideration of funding, the following deadlines apply:

Master of Engineering degree applicants:

• May 15 for admission in fall (only)

Master of Science and Ph.D. degree applicants

• December 15 for full financial consideration for admission in fall, otherwise March 15
• September 15 for admission in spring

Completed application packages received before mid-December or mid-September will be reviewed for competitive College of Engineering Fellowships and College of Engineering Recruitment Funds; and will receive preferential consideration for Graduate Research Assistantships and Graduate Teaching Assistantships. Applications received after mid-December (for fall) or mid-September (for spring) will be considered for assistantships on a waiting list basis only. A completed application package consists of all items listed on the Graduate Application page. Applicants are advised to begin the application process early to make sure that the application and supporting documents arrive in time for the deadlines.

Incomplete applications lacking any of the listed application items will not be reviewed by the admissions committee and will not be considered for funding.

Notification

Applications completed by the December deadline (fall) will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and decisions emailed during early March. Applications completed after the December deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions emailed as the reviews are completed.

Applications completed by the September deadline (spring) will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and decisions emailed during mid to late October. 

When an application is approved by the Admissions Committee, the following occurs through different Penn State offices.

• A letter of recommended acceptance is sent to applicants by electronic mail. An admission recommendation is also forwarded to the Penn State Graduate School by the Civil and Environmental Engineering department.
• The Graduate School must approve the department's recommendation of acceptance. If approved, applicants will be notified by the Graduate School.
• International applicants will then be notified by the International Student and Scholar Advising Office (ISSA), which will issue an I-20 form. Any questions regarding visas, I-20, etc., must be directed to the ISSA office . The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is unable to assist with international student visas.
• All applicants are considered for research or teaching assistantships and applicable fellowships. Applicants will be notified by the Department of any assistantship offers or fellowships at the time of admission.

The Penn State Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering receives many more applications from qualified students than can be advised or funded for a master of science (M.S.) thesis. Thus, a certain number of master's applicants may be admitted into the non-thesis program master of engineering (M.Eng.), which would require that the student be able to provide self-support for the 30-credit M.Eng. degree.

The Admissions Committee carefully reviews each application and discusses the potential of each applicant. As such, the decisions of the Admissions Committee are final and not subject to further review.

• For strongest consideration of funding, the following deadlines apply:

The Penn State Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, established in 1881, is internationally recognized for excellence in the preparation of undergraduate and graduate engineers through the integration of education, research, and leadership.

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Clinical (Adult and Child)

Our PCSAS 1  and APA 2  accredited Clinical Science program is designed to train graduate students to produce and disseminate cutting edge knowledge that moves the field of clinical science forward. The program simultaneously provides outstanding applied training in assessment and intervention, which prepares students with the educational background needed to pursue subsequent professional licensure 3 .

The overall goal of the training program is to provide a seamless integration of clinical science and practice.  We provide students with the highest quality science-centered education and training in both research and application. Our graduates demonstrate competence: (a) to conduct research relevant to the promotion of mental health, and the assessment, prevention, treatment, and understanding of psychopathology; and (b) to apply clinical science to design, develop, select, evaluate, deliver, supervise, and disseminate empirically based assessments, interventions, and prevention strategies.

The structure of tomorrow’s health care system should be determined based on the best scientific evidence available. Penn State’s graduates are playing leading roles in this future — designing, building, overseeing, delivering, and evaluating the science-driven health-care system of tomorrow.

In addition to course work, students are expected to engage in both research and practice throughout their graduate training. Students generally complete course work during their first three to four years, and complete their dissertation in the fifth year. Most students complete their predoctoral internship in the sixth year. The program includes courses in clinical psychology, neuroscience, personality, research design, psychopathology, psychotherapy, clinical assessment, and statistics. Students must also meet APA Discipline Specific Knowledge requirements covering biological bases of behavior, cognitive bases of behavior, affective bases of behavior, social bases of behavior, and developmental lifespan psychology.  The main clinical training practica occur in the departmental  Psychological Clinic and its community and school based services, as well as occasional externship placements. Several specialized clinical courses and seminars, focused on the interest areas of the faculty, are offered regularly

The adult clinical track has a clinical science focus with areas of research specialization in psychotherapy process and outcome, personality assessment, personality disorders, multicultural factors in psychopathology, clinical neuropsychology, anxiety disorders and PTSD, intimate partner violence, and addiction. Faculty labs employ a range of advanced research methods including brain imaging, longitudinal studies, ecological momentary assessment and experience sampling, psychophysiological assessment, and direct clinical interviews. The Psychological Clinic includes a Practice Research Network, allowing students streamlined access to clinical populations for research and promoting the seamless integration of science and practice. Students gain intensive research experience usually in close collaboration with one faculty mentor, and typically have several publications upon program completion. Students also gain extensive clinical experiences in cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic therapies, clinical neuropsychology, diagnostic assessment, and crisis management. 

The child clinical track also has a clinical science focus. It lies at the interface of developmental and clinical psychology, and emphasizes intervention and research with individuals ranging in age from infancy to young adulthood. Students in this track obtain specialized training in: (1) research in developmental psychopathology, including understanding the effects of biological, cognitive, social, emotional, family and community contexts on typical and atypical development, and research on translating knowledge to interventions to foster early school age mental health and coping with the stresses families and children face; and (2) mental health services to children and families, including evidence-based intervention, school-based consultation and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Specific areas of expertise in the child track faculty include infant and toddler emotional development, neuropsychology of disruptive behavior disorders, child abuse, anxiety and mood disorders, and prevention programs. In addition to the general clinical requirements, the child track specialization includes core courses in Child Psychopathology, Clinical Child Intervention, and Clinical Child Assessment. Students can also choose to complete either a minor in Developmental Psychology or the Specialization in Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN).

1 Questions related to the program’s PCSAS accredited status should be directed to the PCSAS

Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System Joe Steinmetz, Executive Director 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 402 Washington, DC  20036-1218  USA  Phone: (301) 455-8046 Web:  http://www.pcsas.org  

2 Questions related to the program’s APA accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation  American Psychological Association  750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002  Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail:  [email protected]    Web:  www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

3 Many US states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the  Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.   Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System

Joe Steinmetz, Executive Director 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 402 Washington, DC 20036-1218 USA Phone: (301) 455-8046 Web: http://www.pcsas.org

Contact the Clinical Area

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Additional Informational Downloads

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In This Section

Upcoming deadlines for admissions:, spring 2025 admission for ph.d. and thesis-based m.s. degree program application deadline: , thursday, august 29, 2024, fall 2025 admissions for ph.d. and thesis-based m.s. degree programs application deadline:, friday, january 3, 2025, fall 2025 admissions for accelerated m.s. in materials science and engineering (non-thesis) application deadline:, wednesday, march 5, 2025 - students requiring visa, thursday, may 1, 2025 - student not requiring visa, spring 2026 admission for ph.d. and thesis-based m.s. degree program application deadline: , thursday, august 28, 2025.

To apply for admission to the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program (IGDP) in Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE), please submit letters of reference, your resume, supplemental material (e.g. research papers) via the graduate application website:  Graduate School Online Application (Penn State no longer accepts mailed paper applications).

International students should review the  admissions eligibility by their home country .

Please refer to the University Graduate School's  How To Apply page for application procedures and fees.

GRE and TOEFL/IELTS Scores

Scores for the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are optional, not required for admission . Penn State only accepts electronic GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS scores. Select "Penn State University" as the destination for test scores. The following code should be used when applying:  Institution Code: 2660

Transcript Information

As part of the online application process, applicants are required to electronically upload copies of transcripts (or equivalent documents for institutions outside the U.S., e.g., degree/study certificates, diplomas, etc.) from all post-secondary institutions attended, in the language of instruction (and copies of an official English translation if English is not the language of instruction). Applicants recommended for admission who accept an offer through the online graduate admission system will be notified by the Graduate School that official/original transcripts/documents must be sent from the originating institutions in the official language of the institution(s) attended (and if the language of instruction is not English, an official English translation must also be sent). 

Tips for a Successful Application

If appplicants are submitting Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (which are optional but not required for admission) and either  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores (non-US residents only) as early as possible. For the narrative, applicants should focus primarily on professional and academic experiences, including research, student leadership, or co-curricular activities that develop a strength or had a significant impact on others.

Successful applicants typically have a Jr/Sr GPA greater than 3.3/4.0 and combined verbal and quantitative GRE Scores of 1150 (old system) / 308 (new system) or higher, with average quantitative metrics. Incoming classes exceed these values. 

It is very helpful to be as specific as possible in declaring future interest in a general research area for thesis research. For guidance on what research areas are available at Penn State, please visit our  IGDP Faculty Directry .

Financial Assistance

The IGDP is a research-driven program. Most Ph.D. and thesis-based M.S. students are supported by research assistantships that provide both a stipend and tuition. Offers for research assistantships are frequently made in coordination with faculty members who have identified a student for a particular research project. Therefore, direct communication with faculty members during the admissions process is encouraged.

Opportunities to teach are provided to interested graduate students later in their careers, but teaching assistantships are not a source of long-term support or a mechanism by which students can obtain support at the time of admission.

Learn More about Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships

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Ph.D. in Kinesiology

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Kinesiology prepares graduates for careers in research and teaching at universities as well as for careers in industry.

Doctoral students in our program investigate fundamental questions about kinesiology and gain broad understanding of the research methods used to answer these questions. Students pursuing the Ph.D. will attain a significantly greater depth of knowledge in the chosen area of emphasis than would be encountered in the M.S. program. All Ph.D. students complete a dissertation that typically several original works of research leading to multiple publications in one of six interdisciplinary areas of study:

Dual-Title Ph.D. Opportunities

Dual-title degrees give doctoral students the opportunity to receive significant training in two different programs and thus broaden the scope of a doctorate in Kinesiology.   Upon graduation, the Ph.D. degree carries the designation of  Kinesiology as well as a secondary program. Students in dual-title degree programs complete an integrated curriculum that goes beyond a Kinesiology degree with a minor in another field. Two dual-title Ph.D. programs are currently offered:

• Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Bioethics
• Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Clinical and Translational Sciences

Applying to the Ph.D. Program

To learn more about applying to the Ph.D. program, please see the Application Instructions and our Graduate Admissions FAQ .

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Graduate Degree Programs in Computer Science and Engineering

Computer science and engineering doctor of philosophy degree.

All students in the Ph.D. program are required to take Research Experience in Computer Science and Engineering and the course must be completed within the first two regular semesters after entering the Ph.D. program with a grade of B or higher, and to pass a written candidacy examination within the first three regular semesters, offered at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. The examination tests the student’s background preparation and problem-solving ability.

Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering

The Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering programs requires the completion of 30 credits. Students interested in an M.S. in CSE should have already successfully completed Operating Systems Design and Construction, Introduction to Computer Architecture, Programming Language Concepts, Data Structures and Algorithms, and Logical Design of Digital Systems or Introduction to the Theory of Computation.

Please click here for a comprehensive list of all CSE graduate courses. Note that not all classes are available every semester.

One-year Master of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering

The one-year intensive master’s degree program is meant to prepare students for work in industry. As such, there is no thesis required, although a final paper is required during the last semester of the program.

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Dept. of Department of Statistics

Applying to the statistics graduate program, degree admission.

Degree admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the graduate program. Each program has its own procedures for evaluating applications. An applicant must apply for admission to a particular program of study. Applicants may apply to only one graduate program at a time. The Graduate School will not consider concurrent applications for admission to more than one program and does not act upon an application without a program's recommendation. Please note:

• U.S. applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution to apply for admission.
• International applicants must have a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree to apply for admission. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
• You may only apply to one graduate program and campus at a time.
• If you currently hold a doctorate, you are not encouraged to apply for a second doctorate.

How to Apply: The Degree Application Process

Applying for graduate admission is a two-step process. Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School and the program. When the Graduate School receives your degree application, your information will be made available to the program to which you are applying. The program reviews your program application and supporting documents and makes a recommendation to the Graduate School. Upon receiving the nonrefundable application fee and a recommendation from the program, the Graduate School reviews your file to verify that the minimum admission requirements have been met. The Graduate School does not act on your application without a recommendation from the program committee. Questions regarding the completeness or status of your application should be directed to the program. To begin the application for any of our programs, click on the button below.

Begin Application

Application Deadlines

The Statistics Department offers several graduate programs. Please note the specific application deadlines and additional instructions for each program.  

Graduate Research Programs:

Applications are due by January 7th each year for the Doctorate in Statistics .  We do not admit students outside of Penn State directly to the Master of Science in Statistics.

When completing your online application please choose Statistics as your Major and your choice of degree (M.S. or Ph.D.).  

For more information on Graduate Research Programs and a review of frequently asked questions, please read Frequently Asked Questions or email [email protected] .

Graduate Professional Program

Please note: The GRE requirement will be waived for those submitting an application to MAS program to start in the Fall 2022 semester.

Master of Applied Statistics (Resident program at University Park) 

Applications are due by  February 1 of each year for summer and fall admission.

Late application deadline (if space available) :

•      May 1 for summer admission
•      July 1 for fall admission.

For more information on the Master of Applied Statistics at University Park, please read  Frequently Asked Questions , or email Dr. Mosuk Chow ( [email protected] ). To apply to the resident program, visit: https://gradschool.psu.edu/admissions/how-to-apply .

Online Master of Applied Statistics Program (World Campus)

Application instructions and deadlines are different for our online program. For information on applying and the application deadlines please visit: www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/applied-statistics-masters/apply .

Ph.D. Program

For general information, click on how to apply .

If you are ready to proceed to the application but have NOT read the Graduate School requirements, please visit  https://gradschool.psu.edu/admissions/prepare-to-apply#Minimum-Requirements . If you have read the Graduate School requirements and are ready to apply, you may proceed to the application at  https://gradschool.psu.edu/admissions/how-to-apply .

• Three letters of recommendation are required for admission. Your references will be contacted electronically to complete a recommendation for you. In addition, they should copy and paste a formal letter of recommendation into the comments section of the electronic form.
• A resume or curriculum vitae should be uploaded when completing the online application.

Graduate Minor

For more information on the Graduate Minor in Statistics, please visit:

>> Graduate Minor in Statistics

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Ph.d. degree.

The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for research careers in academia and industry. At KAUST exceptional students are paired with leading faculty from around the world to work on some of the most challenging problems facing humanity today. This removes the inference that we do the matching, and replaces it with a new inference that only exceptional students get paired with our best faculty.

Through this program, our students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with world renowned faculty on real-world projects, access to leading-edge tools, and learn in-demand techniques from many different disciplines. With access to our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities – including one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world -  KAUST the ideal environment to take the next step in your career.

We offer a Ph.D. across 16 different subjects which are 4 years in duration (eight Semesters and four Summer Sessions).”

Key information

Program Benefits

Work with leading faculty.

At KAUST, you’ll have the opportunity to learn, work, and live alongside some of the best minds in their field.

State-of-the-art Research Facilities

Get access to cutting-edge facilities, equipment, expertise, and training.

Live in a Diverse, International Community

Join an international community of scholars and scientists living and working together in an all-inclusive campus.

Program Outcomes

When you earn a Ph.D., you're not just earning a degree—you're also earning a spot among an exclusive cohort of individuals who have the skills and knowledge needed to solve the world's most important problems.

A Ph.D. from KAUST opens doors in all kinds of industries: from research labs and consulting firms to pharmaceutical companies and government agencies. Our alumni have gone on to do amazing things at places like Google, Tesla, and Saudi Aramco. With the persistence, ambition, and motivation needed to achieve a Ph.D., you’ll be among a prestigious group of individuals who support each other with opportunities and inspiration. 

Entry Requirements

We’re looking for exceptional students from around the world to join us on our mission to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. To find out more about our entry requirements and how applications are evaluated, please visit our entry requirements page .

Cost of Study

Program Structure

The Ph.D. degree is an intensive research program designed to prepare students for esteemed careers in academia and industry. Students typically complete their PhD in eight Semesters and four Summer Sessions.

The below requirements listed below represent general university-level expectations. The specific details of specific degree requirements can be found on each discipline page.

Some degree programs may require an assessment entrance exam as the basis for admission, and students may be required to complete additional coursework. If the master's degree is from a subject other than the Ph.D. degree program, there may also be additional courses required and specified by the advisor. 

• Two or more courses at the 300 level
• Graduate seminar if required by the program

A full-time workload for Ph.D. students is twelve credit hours per semester (courses and 397) and six credit hours in summer (397 only).

Besides coursework (six or more credit hours), dissertation research (397) must be earned during the first (proposal preparation and defense) and second phases of the Ph.D. program.

The dissertation defense is the final exam of the Ph.D. degree. It involves a public presentation of the results of the dissertation research followed by a question-and-answer session.

The dissertation and defense committee consists of four members of which at least three must be KAUST faculty members and one an external examiner.

The result of the defense will be made based on the recommendation of the committee. There are four possible results:

• Pass : the student passes the exam, and the dissertation is accepted as submitted.
• Pass with revisions : the student passes the exam, and the student is advised of the revisions that must be made to the text of the dissertation.
• Failure with retake : normally this means the student must do more research to complete the dissertation. The student must revise the dissertation and give another oral examination within six months from the date of the first defense.
• Failure : the student does not pass the exam, the dissertation is not accepted, the degree is not awarded, and the student is dismissed from the University.

Winter Enrichment Program

Hosted annually in January, the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) is an academic, entrepreneurial, and cultural interlude session in KAUST's academic calendar whose primary purpose is to enrich and inspire students beyond their normal academic curriculum.

Students are required to satisfactorily complete at least one full Winter Enrichment Program.

Student Stories

"KAUST is a compact city exuding Southern California charm dedicated for scientific research and resident well-being, fostering an environment where inhabitants can fully focus on impactful scientific."

"KAUST embodies 'It takes a village to raise a child,' providing us with a supportive unique ecosystem and world class facilities. "

"KAUST opened my eyes to a lot of new and state-of-the-art research opportunities that could be done here. High-quality of research facilities, specialized labs, and available equipment is fascinating."

Bilal Maassarani

KAUST is a compact city exuding Southern California charm dedicated for scientific research and resident well-being, fostering an environment where inhabitants can fully focus on impactful scientific.

Yousef Algoos

KAUST embodies 'It takes a village to raise a child,' providing us with a supportive unique ecosystem and world class facilities.

Maria Alejandra Perea Barreto

KAUST opened my eyes to a lot of new and state-of-the-art research opportunities that could be done here. High-quality of research facilities, specialized labs, and available equipment is fascinating.

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A snapshot of excellence in graduate education at Penn State

Penn State offers thousands of students opportunities for mentorship at many campuses as they develop and build skills to effectively take on leadership opportunities in their future.

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Many Penn State graduate programs are ranked in the top ten of the 2024 U.S. News & World Report, “America’s Best Graduate Schools."

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Far-Reaching Ph.D. Job Placement

From 2016 to 2023, doctoral graduates found job placement in:

States (and Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico)

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View Graduate Executive Information Suite

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