The Cost of Applying to Graduate School
There is a $75 application fee for all applicants to the PhD program. We offer application fee waivers to domestic applicants who meet our requirements. For further information please visit the Application Fee Waiver section. If you are interested in receiving a fee waiver, you must apply for one before the application deadline; once the fee waiver has been paid for, it is not possible to refund.
Unfortunately, the Chemistry Department can only waive the $75 application fee for international applicants if they have already applied and paid an application fee for another PhD program at MIT in the same admission cycle.
Applicants whose primary language is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS exam and report their official scores. The MIT reporting code is 3514, and the department code is 62. We can waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement for international applicants who have completed 3 or more years in a degree-granting program instructed exclusively in English, or who consider English to be their primary language.
The Cost of Attending Graduate School
Once the application fees are behind you, there are still some costs associated with attending graduate school, such as:
- Tuition, fees, & insurance
- Room & Board (on- or off-campus)
- Conference, training, and research travel costs
- Cost of living
All students admitted to the PhD program receive full tuition coverage along with a monthly stipend for the first academic year, either through Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, or fellowships. Students must be eligible to work in the United States in order to receive funding. After the first year, continued funding is provided for the duration of the PhD program, subject to the availability of funds for that purpose, as long as students remain in good academic standing.
All admitted Chemistry students receive:
- Base stipend for 12 months. Current stipend rates are available online.
- 100% tuition waiver.
- 100% health insurance subsidy for the Extended Insurance plan. Basic student health insurance is included in tuition; all PhD students receive Extended Insurance support. Students will be responsible for paying for spouses, dependents, co-pays and other fees for services.
Students are responsible for paying the Student Life Fee each term. Information about the current Student Life Fee is available online. This helps fund student clubs, organizations, and the sports and fitness center. This fee covers students’ unlimited access to the gym, fitness classes, student organization events, and trips.
Cambridge/Boston Area Cost of Living
Living costs in the Cambridge/Boston area are among the highest in the United States. It is important to carefully consider your living expenses prior to arrival.
Some resources to consider are below:
MIT Grad Admissions Estimated Living Expenses
MIT GSC Cost of Living Analysis
Grad Students & Family Housing
MIT ISchO: Cost of Living Information for Scholars Coming to MIT
More information about Cambridge/Boston culture and resources are below: