Prospective MS/PhD

Grad students in Dr. Kane's lab

See the Graduate Programs Brochure

We are recognized as one of the best chemical engineering programs in the nation. And we still have big ambitions. We want to be the best – to produce the best engineers, to conduct the most influential research, and to solve the world’s toughest problems.

With faculty members who are leaders in their fields, state-of-the-art research facilities, and numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, our Graduate Programs will position you at the leading edging of innovation.

PhD Program

The PhD program in ChBE forges a close professional relationship between graduate students and faculty members. Working together on cutting edge research, you and your faculty mentors will develop an academic program tailored to meet your individual needs. Although the typical program takes about five years to complete, you may finish the requirements in slightly less, or more, time.

For more information on demographics, admissions, and time-to-degree for doctoral students in our program, go to Doctoral Student Statistics. Enter the search criteria for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Funding Sources

We offer financial assistance to all of our PhD students, providing exceptional opportunities to extraordinary people. Our current ChBE graduate stipend for a graduate research assistant is $32,964, which provides a base stipend of $29,500 plus the cost of student fees. Additional information about Graduate Assistantships, fellowships, loans, and off-campus employment options is available on the Office of Graduate Studies site.

MS Program

The MS program in ChBE is a coursework-based, non-thesis degree designed for students who want to develop a deeper knowledge of the fundamentals and learn about emerging applications. It is ideal for students who plan to enter industry or who are returning to school after working in industry. The MS program requires 31 hours of coursework, which can be completed in two or three semesters (see the schedule below), depending on the student's pace and the availability of elective courses of interest. Applicants who do not have a ChBE or equivalent BS degree should read the information at the bottom of the MS Degree Requirements page, under "for applicants without a B.S. chemical engineering degree."

Students admitted to the MS ChBE program do not do thesis research and are not eligible for ChBE graduate research assistant positions or tuition waivers. Thus, it is a self-paying program. Just like PhD students, MS students can take advantage of Georgia Tech's Career Services, which hosts career fairs and connects students with the large number of employers that come to Georgia Tech seeking talent.

General Timelines

For PhD Program

Fall Year 1

  • Take five core ChBE courses (6003, 6100, 6200, 6300 and 6500)

  • Take ChBE 8801 - Research Methods & Ethics

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Meet with faculty to select six advisor options

  • Advisor assignment finalized (Oct.)

  • Prepare for qualifying exams (Oct. - Dec.)

  • Qualifying exams info session (Nov.)

Spring Year 1

  • Take final core CHBE course (6260)

  • Take elective and/or minor courses

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Take qualifying exams (Jan.)

  • Retake qualifying exams if required (May)

  • Begin research

  • Consult with advisor to select courses for minor

  • Possibly serve as a TA

Fall Year 2

  • Take elective and/or minor courses

  • Retake core ChBE courses if necessary for "B" or better grade

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Continue research

  • Select thesis committee

  • Possibly serve as TA

Spring Year 2

  • Take elective and/or minor courses

  • Retake core ChBE courses if necessary for "B" or better grade

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Continue research

  • Complete thesis proposal (deadline: summer)

  • Defend thesis proposal

   

Fall Year 3

  • Take elective and/or minor courses

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Continue research

  • Practical training (write papers and present at conferences)

  • Possibly serve as TA

Spring Year 3

  • Take elective and/or minor courses

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Continue research

  • Complete thesis proposal (deadline: summer)

  • Defend thesis proposal

  • Possibly serve as a TA

Fall Year 4

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Continue research

  • Practical training (write papers and present at conferences)

  • Present at ChBE 4th Year Colloquium

  • Possibly serve as TA

Spring Year 4

  • Attend weekly research seminars

  • Continue research

  • Practical training (write papers and present at conferences)

  • Present at ChBE Grad Student Symposium

  • Possibly serve as TA

For MS Program

Fall Year 1

Take five core ChBE courses:

  • 6003 Safety

  • 6100 Advanced Thermodynamics

  • 6260 Advanced Mass Transport

  • 6300 Advanced Kinetics and Reactor Design

  • 6500 Advanced Mathematical Modeling

Spring Year 1

Take remaining core ChBE course (6200 Advanced Fluid Mechanics)

Take elective courses (variable to suit individual plan)

  • 67xx ChBE elective

  • Free elective 1

  • Free elective 2 (can be deferred to fall term*)

  • Free elective 3 (can be deferred to fall term*)

  • Free elective 4 (can be deferred to fall term*)

* Graduate electives generally are not available during the summer terms.

Fall Year 2

Take remaining elective courses (depending on previous courses taken)

  • Free elective 2

  • Free elective 3

Graduate in December

 

Stefani Kocevska, Georgia Tech PhD Student

Stefani Kocevska describes her experiences as a PhD student in Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

GT-EQUAL Bridge Fellows Program

GT-EQUAL Bridge Fellows Program