Programs

Ph.D. Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants holding an MS degree in Chemistry from a university of recognized standing may be admitted to the PhD program, provided they meet the Graduate School’s admission requirements. In addition, candidates are expected to demonstrate strong academic performance, research capability, and readiness for independent study. Preference may be given to applicants with relevant research experience, publications, or clear alignment with the department’s research priorities and faculty expertise.

Ph.D. Degree Plan (Direct / Regular Track)

The Ph.D. degree requires a total of 42 credit hours, distributed as follows:

  • Coursework (Core + Electives): 30 credits
  • Graduate Seminar (CHEM 699): 0 credits (Pass/Fail)
  • Pre-Dissertation (CHEM 711): 3 credits
  • Dissertation Research (CHEM 712): 9 credits

Ph.D. Degree Plan (Direct/Regular Track) — Chemistry Department

First Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 501 Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 3 0 3
CHEM 504 Advanced Analytical Chemistry 3 0 3
CHEM 5xx/6xx Elective 1 3 0 3
CHEM 699 Graduate (Ph.D.) Seminar 0 0 IP
Total 9 0 9

First Year – Semester 2

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 502 Chemistry of Coordination Compounds 3 0 3
CHEM 503 Organic Reactions: Mechanism and Reactivity 3 0 3
CHEM 5xx/6xx Elective 2 3 0 3
CHEM 699 Graduate (Ph.D.) Seminar 0 0 IP
Total 9 0 9

Second Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 5xx/6xx Elective 3 3 0 3
CHEM 5xx/6xx Elective 4 3 0 3
Free 5xx / Free 6xx Elective 5 3 0 3
CHEM 699 Graduate (Ph.D.) Seminar 0 0 IP
Total 9 0 9

Second Year – Semester 2

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
Free 5xx / Free 6xx Elective 6 3 0 3
CHEM 711 Ph.D. Pre-Dissertation 0 0 3
CHEM 699 Graduate (Ph.D.) Seminar 0 0 0
Total 3 0 6

Third Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 IP
Total 0 0 0

Third Year – Semester 2

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 IP
Total 0 0 0

Fourth Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 IP
Total 0 0 0

Fourth Year – Semester 2

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 9
Total 0 0 9

Total Credits Required: 27


Ph.D. Degree Plan (Continuing Students)

Continuation of the Ph.D. program requires completion of a total of 27 credit hours, in addition to the 15 credit hours waived for five courses, distributed as follows:

  • Coursework (Electives): 15 credits
  • Graduate Seminar (CHEM 699): 0 credits (Pass/Fail)
  • Pre-Dissertation (CHEM 711): 3 credits
  • Dissertation Research (CHEM 712): 9 credits

Ph.D. Degree Plan (Continuing Students with Course Waivers) — Chemistry Department

First Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 5xx / 6xx Elective 1 3 0 3
CHEM 5xx / 6xx Elective 1 3 0 3
CHEM 5xx / 6xx Elective 1 3 0 3
CHEM 699 Graduate (Ph.D.) Seminar 0 0 IP
Total 9 0 9

First Year – Semester 2

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 5xx / 6xx CHEM Elective 1 3 0 3
CHEM xxx CHEM Elective 2 3 0 3
CHEM 699 Graduate (Ph.D.) Seminar 0 0 IP
Total 6 0 6

Second Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 711 Ph.D. Pre-Dissertation 0 0 3
Total 9 0 9

Second Year – Semester 2

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 IP
Total 0 0 0

Third Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 IP
Total 0 0 0

Third Year – Semester 2

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 IP
Total 0 0 0

Fourth Year – Semester 1

Course Code Course Title LT LB CR
CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 IP
Total 0 0 0

Fourth Year – Semester 2

CHEM 712 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 9
Total 0 0 9

Total Credits Required: 27


Graduate (Ph.D.) Seminar (CHEM 699) Requirement

A Graduate Ph.D. Seminar Course is a special non-credit requirement in graduate programs designed to help Ph.D. students develop their research, presentation, and professional skills. All graduate Ph.D. students are required to participate in departmental seminars delivered by faculty members, visiting scholars, and fellow graduate students. Attending research seminars exposes students to current research trends and methodologies, enhances critical thinking, and deepens their understanding of how theoretical concepts are applied in practice. In addition, these seminars motivate students and assist them in selecting suitable research topics or pursuing advanced studies.

Students are required to register for the seminar course (CHEM 699) in their first semester and will continue to receive an IP (In Progress) grade in subsequent semesters until the course requirements are completed. Upon completion, students are no longer required to register for seminar courses.

Students who have not completed CHEM 699 but wish to register for CHEM 711 may do so by submitting a petition requesting simultaneous registration in CHEM 699 and CHEM 711.

  • The student enrolls in the first term and receives an IP grade each semester until course completion, when an NP grade is issued.
  • The student seminar presentation is typically delivered in the fourth semester
  • The student must maintain a minimum attendance of 80% before and after completing the seminar course.

Comprehensive Exam Requirement

The comprehensive examination is designed to provide graduate students with an opportunity to develop both breadth and depth in their program of study. The examination enables students to:

  • Synthesize and integrate knowledge, skills, and experiences across major topics within their academic discipline.
  • Contribute to disciplinary discourse by demonstrating original thinking and unique insights.
  • Develop and present critical arguments in support of a central thesis through effective analysis of texts, contexts, and scientific discourse.
  • Learn to formulate research questions that can lead to significant scientific discoveries.

The Chemistry Department conducts the comprehensive examination on the Thursday of the 7th week of each regular semester. A Ph.D. student is allowed a maximum of two attempts over the duration of the program to successfully pass the comprehensive examination. Students are required to attempt the full comprehensive examination for the first time according to the following schedule:

  • Direct/Regular Ph.D. students: During the third semester
  • Continuing Ph.D. students: During the second semester
  • Part-time Ph.D. students: Upon completion of 18 credit hours of coursework

If a student does not pass the comprehensive examination on the first attempt, the second and final attempt must be taken in the following semester.

Ph.D. Dissertation (CHEM 712)

Ph.D. Dissertation (CHEM 712) involves individual studies by students in the field of Chemistry. The work should be original and the concept, data and the conclusions should contribute new knowledge to the field of research problem. The quality of the work should reflect the student’s proficiency in research and creative thinking. Following preliminary studies and a literature survey on the thesis subject, each student will present his proposed thesis subject orally, and submit a written proposal to the College of Graduate Studies for approval. On satisfactory completion of his thesis work, the student is required to make a formal defense of his research thesis.

The main objective of the Ph.D. Dissertation (CHEM 712) is to enable the students to work on his Ph.D. Dissertation as per the submitted dissertation proposal, submit its final report and defend it in public. The student passes the course if the Ph.D. Dissertation committee accepts the submitted final dissertation report and upon successfully passing the Dissertation public defense.

Students are required to register for CHEM 712 and will continue to receive an IP (In Progress) grade in subsequent semesters until the course requirements are completed.

To process a course grade change (from IP to NP) in these courses, students must submit the following documents to the department:

  • CGIS approval of the final thesis
  • A PDF copy of the final version of the thesis, including the cover page signed by the Dean of CGIS.
  • The URL of the thesis on the KFUPM ePrints platform.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements and Policies

  • The Ph.D. program in Chemistry is available to students holding an MS degree and meets the requirements for admission to the University graduate program.
  • The student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at all times. Departmental requirements for the 42 credit hours (for Direct and Regular Track) and 27 credit hours (for Continuing Track) which are listed on the Ph.D. Degree Plan section.
  • Fifteen (15) credit hours should be in the major area, under which the thesis topic should be selected.
  • A Ph.D. student who obtained his MS from another department and/or from another university must take the four chemistry core courses (12 credits). Students with clear evidence of satisfying any of the core courses may replace it with an elective course.
  • Towards the end of their second semester in residence, students must select their field, research topic and advisor. Although not mandatory, students are strongly encouraged to identify and secure a supervisor during their first term.
  • Ph.D. students are required to present a seminar once during the program typically in their fourth semester, and attend all department seminars from the first semester.
  • A written comprehensive examination in the major area of specialization must be passed on completion of the second year of enrolment.
  • Twelve (12) credit hours of research work towards the preparation of a Ph.D. dissertation are required.
  • The candidate shall prepare a dissertation proposal on a topic under the guidance of his supervisor and dissertation committee. The proposal should then be approved by the department council, college council, and Dean of Graduate Studies/College of Graduate & Interdisciplinary Studies.
  • The Dissertation Committee examines the candidate on the dissertation.
  • The candidate, in consultation with his Dissertation Committee, and after approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies/College of Graduate & Interdisciplinary Studies, shall arrange a time and place for a public defense of the dissertation.
  • The candidate should complete his dissertation by the eighth semester of his study.

Graduate Attributes

University Graduate Attributes Chemistry Program Graduate Attributes
Globally Aware Knowledgeable
Scientifically Aware
Solution Oriented Problem Solver
Professionally & Socially Responsible Competent Experimentalist
Digitally Enabled Digitally Up-To-Date
Effective Communicator Effective Communicator
Self-Learner Research Initiator
Positively Interactive Effective Team Player
Professionally & Socially Responsible Responsible & Ethically Driven

List of Graduate Courses


Physical Chemistry Courses

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Quantum theory and spectroscopy. The origins of Quantum mechanics and the need for quantization. The development of Schrodinger wave equation and its properties. The application of Schrödinger equation to the particle in a box. The structure and spectra of hydrogenic atoms. Molecular structure and the Huckel approximation. Molecular spectroscopy and the rotational vibrational spectra. Statistical thermodynamics and applications. Reaction dynamics and surface catalysis.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Empirical rate law. Order of reactions. Elementary reactions. Complex reactions. Reaction mechanisms. Steady-state approximation theory. Transition state theory. Thermodynamic formulation of the rate constant. Homogeneous reactions. Heterogeneous reactions. Catalysis. Enzyme kinetics. Flash photolysis. Relaxation methods.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Principles of thermodynamics. Exact differentials and line integrals. Homogeneous functions. Equations of state of real gases; fugacity. Thermochemistry. Mixtures and solutions. Chemical and phase equilibria. Electrolytic solutions and electrochemical cells. Systematic methods of deriving thermodynamic equations. Statistical thermodynamics. Lagrange’s method of undetermined multipliers. The Boltzmann H-theorem. The Einstein crystal model and the Debye crystal model.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 501

Postulates of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger equation, simple quantum mechanical systems, atomic wave functions, angular momentum, orbital, molecular orbital theory, variation, perturbation theory. Application of quantum theory to bonding, and atomic and molecular spectroscopy.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Fundamentals of electron transfer at the metal-solution interface, advances in electrochemical corrosion techniques, types of corrosion: galvanic, pitting, crevice, bacterial, etc. Corrosion inhibitors and coating, materials properties and selection in different corrosive environments. Advances in monitoring techniques.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 501

An introduction to modern molecular spectroscopy with emphasis on the concepts and methods needed to understand the interaction of radiation with matter. Topics include atomic, rotational, vibrational and electronic spectra of molecules, and radio frequency spectroscopy.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 501

Implementation of the different theoretical models: Force field, semi-empirical, abolition, calculations to chemically related problems using latest PC-software packages. Emphasis will be placed on molecular modeling, simulations, and spectral properties of matter in its isolated or solvated form.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Fundamentals of renewable energy harvesting systems, advanced multifunctional semiconductor materials for various types of photovoltaic devices, photocatalytic and photo-electrochemical Hydrogen and Oxygen production. Electro-catalysts for Oxygen and Hydrogen generations reactions. Functional materials for photo, electro, and catalytic CO2 conversion into value added products. Nanostructured catalytic materials for fuel cells applications. Porous and high-performance nanomaterials for energy storage batteries and supercapacitors. Nanopiezoelectric materials. Nanocatalysts for biofuel production.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Topics of current interest in Physical Chemistry.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 512

The concept of ensemble and types of ensembles, quantum statistical mechanics, the partition function, equilibrium statistical mechanics. Thermodynamic Properties in the dilute limit. Applications of statistical mechanics to ideal gases, crystals and phase transitions.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Fundamental chemical concepts and basic ideas needed to calculate the difference between the bulk properties of matter and the properties of aggregates. Tools needed to probe matter at the nanoscale level. Examples of nanoscale materials such as monolayers, fullerenes, clusters, biomolecules etc., and their applications.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 501

Introduction to colloid and surface chemistry, sedimentation and diffusion, rheology of dispersions, adsorption from solution, colloidal structures and surfactant solutions, electrical double layer, electrophoresis, electrostatic and polymer-induced colloid stability.

Inorganic Chemistry Courses

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Theories of bonding in coordination compounds. Structure, reactions and mechanisms. New trends in coordination chemistry, modern synthetic methods and applications.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Theory and applications of physical methods used for characterization of inorganic and organometallic compounds including selected topics from modern aspects of theoretical methods, magnetic resonance methods, vibrational, rotational, electronic and Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetism, ionization methods and X-ray diffraction.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

General properties of organometallic compounds, metal-carbon and metal-hydrogen bonds. Ligand substitution reactions, complexes of π-bond ligands, oxidative addition and reductive elimination, insertion and elimination, nucleophilic and electrophilic addition and abstraction. Homogeneous catalysis. Characterization of organometallic compounds, carbenes, metathesis and polymerization, activation of small molecules, and applications to organic synthesis.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Theory and hands on experience on single crystal and powder X-ray diffractometry. Crystal symmetry and lattices, X-ray diffraction, diffraction data from single crystals, reciprocal space, structure factors, data collection, structure solution and refinement, diffraction data from powders, indexing powder patterns, phase identification, structure determination from powders, Rietveld refinement, interpretation and presentation of results.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Crystal structures, crystal defects and non-stoichiometry. Solid solutions. Phase diagrams. Bonding in Solids. Synthesis, processing and fabrication methods. Modern characterization techniques. Electrical, magnetic and optical properties. Structure-properties correlation.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 502

Review of fundamental concepts of chemical kinetics. Physical methods for the determination of reaction rates in inorganic systems. Ligand substitution reactions, Associative and dissociative mechanisms. Stereochemical change, racemization, isomerization. Reaction mechanism of organometallic systems, oxidation-reduction, and photochemical reactions.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Topics of current interest in Inorganic Chemistry.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 502

Fundamentals of adsorption, characterizing catalysts and their surfaces, the significance of pore structure and surface area, solid-state and surface chemistry, poisoning, promotion, deactivation and selectivity of catalysts.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Transition metal complexes: stability and reactivity, reaction mechanisms, steric and electronic influence of the ligands. Survey of the industrial homogeneous processes including polymerization, hydrogenation, carbonylation, coupling, metathesis, oxidation etc. New developments and new applications.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 502

Bioinorganic chemistry and the biogeochemical cycles, metalloproteins, special cofactors and metal clusters, transport and storage of metal ions in biological systems, hydrolytic chemistry, electron transfer, respiration, and photosynthesis, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur metabolisms, metalloenzymes, metal ion receptors and signaling, biominerals and biomineralization, metals in medicine.

Organic Chemistry Courses

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Reaction mechanisms. Conformations and structure reactivity relationships. Aromaticity. Carbanions and carbocations. Organic reaction types including substituent effects and stereochemistry: substitution, addition, elimination, hydrolysis, electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Pericyclic reactions.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Multi-step organic syntheses. Retrosynthetic analysis. New reagents and concepts. Stereospecificity, Stereoselectivity and regioselectivity. Chiral reagents. Protecting groups. Selected examples of total synthesis of natural products.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Physical basis of the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). NMR spectra of organic molecules. Experimental aspects of NMR spectroscopy. Chemical shift and spin-spin coupling as a function of structure. The analysis of high-resolution NMR spectra. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Dynamic effects on NMR. Selected experimental techniques of NMR, carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy and solid state NMR.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Raw Materials – natural and associated gas and crude oil, – their composition and processing. Thermal, catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming. Hydroprocessing, catalysts, operation variables and reaction mechanisms. Catalysis by transition metal complexes.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Identification and structural analysis of organic compounds by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, ultraviolet and mass spectroscopy. Discussion of instrumentation, sample handling and basic theory of each technique with emphasis on their practical applications for structure determination.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Types of polymerization reactions. Kinetic and mechanistic studies of addition and condensation polymerization by ionic, free radical and coordination initiators and catalysts. Ring opening polymerization, stereochemistry of polymerization.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Classification of natural products. Physico-chemical data, structural determination, syntheses, biosynthesis and physiological activity of several classes of natural products including terpenoids, steroids, carbohydrates, aromatic, aliphatic, alkaloids and non-alkaloid nitrogen compounds.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Topics of current interest in Organic Chemistry.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Application of physical methods to the determination of the structure of polymers. Physical chemistry of macromolecules. Principles of experimental techniques and application. Correlation between structure and physical macro-properties.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Design and development of natural and synthetic biocompatible polymers for fabricating a drug delivery agent or other medical devices, including hydrogels, drug delivery scaffolds, soluble polymer drug conjugates, polymeric vesicles and micelles, microspheres, and nanoparticles. Explore the use of polymers and factors involving encapsulation of biologics within microspheres for the delivery of gene therapy for incurable diseases.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Fundamentals of organic materials for electronics. Design and development of organic semi-conductors/conductors. Electronic interaction and structure. Organic and polymer nanostructures, nanoparticles, nanowires, nanobelts and nanofibers. Organic functionalization of graphene, carbon nanotubes, graphite and carbon. Applications of organic materials in photovoltaic, bio and chemical sensor devices.

Analytical Chemistry

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Fundamentals and Methods of Analytical Chemistry. The principles of classical and modern analytical methods. Theory and practice of spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and analytical separation.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : CHEM 504

Advanced treatment of the electroanalytical techniques and methodology with emphasis on the modern techniques. Basic principles, kinetics, and mechanisms of electrode reactions and surface phenomena. Potentiometry, ion-selective electrodes and voltammetry.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Topics of current interest in Analytical Chemistry.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Principles and theory of atomic and molecular spectroscopic methods in chemical analysis. Atomic Spectroscopy (Absorption, Flame and Plasma Emission, Arc and Spark Emission, and Fluorescence). Molecular Spectroscopy (UV-Vis Absorption, Luminescence “Fluorescence, Phosphorescence, and Chemi- & Bio-luminescence”, Infrared Absorption, and Raman Spectroscopy). Recent Spectroscopic Techniques (Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, Laser Spectroscopy, Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy (SPR), X-Ray Spectroscopy, etc.).

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Topics of current interest in Analytical Chemistry.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Basic Statistics, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Computer Software (Mat Lab for Windows), Principles of Experimental Design, Factorial Designs and Analysis, Fractional Factorials, Response Surface Methodology, Second-order Designs, Application of the chemical Optimization by simplex.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

The principals and applications of modern electrochemical-based biosensors. Different transduction modes. Various recognition elements. The interface of possible bio-recognition layers with physical transductions. A wide range of practical clinical, environmental and security applications.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Theories behind materials and nanomaterials characterization and analysis. The theories behind advanced microscopic techniques, and optical spectroscopic techniques and other characterization techniques. The components and configuration of these techniques. Advance techniques used for the characterization and surface chemistry of materials and nanomaterials.

General Graduate Courses and Requirements

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 1-0-0 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Attendance of all departmental seminars and delivering a seminar on a timely research topic. This course gives the student an overview of recent research topics, familiarity with the research methodology, journals and professional societies. The student will be graded on a pass/fail basis.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 3-0-3 / Prerequisite : Prior arrangement with an instructor

This course is intended to allow the student to conduct research in advanced problems in his M.S. research area. The faculty offering the course should submit a research plan to be approved by the Graduate Program Committee at the academic department. The student is expected to deliver a public seminar and a report on his research outcomes at the end of the course. Graded on a Pass or Fail basis.

Level: Graduate/ Credit:0-0-6 / Prerequisite : CHEM 599

Involves individual studies by students in the field of Chemistry. The work should be original and the concept, data and the conclusions should contribute new knowledge to the field of research problem. The quality of the work should reflect the student’s proficiency in research and creative thinking. Following preliminary studies and a literature survey on the thesis subject, each student will present his proposed thesis subject orally, and submit a written proposal to the College of Graduate Studies for approval. On satisfactory completion of his thesis work, the student is required to make a formal defense of his research thesis.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 1-0-0 / Prerequisite : Graduate Standing

Attendance of all departmental seminars delivered by faculty, visiting scholars and graduate students. Additionally, each Ph.D. student should present at least one seminar on a timely research topic. This course gives the student an overview of recent research topics, familiarity with the research methodology, journals and professional societies.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 0-0-3 / Prerequisite : Prior arrangement with an instructor

This course is intended to allow the student to conduct research in advanced problems in his Ph. D. research area. The faculty offering the course should submit a research plan to be approved by the Graduate Program Committee of the Chemistry Department. The student is expected to deliver a public seminar and a report of his research outcomes at the end of the course.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 0-0-3 / Prerequisite : Prior arrangement with an instructor

This course is intended to allow the student to conduct research in advanced problems in his Ph. D. research area. The faculty offering the course should submit a research plan to be approved by the Graduate Program Committee of the Chemistry Department. The student is expected to deliver a public seminar and a report of his research outcomes at the end of the course.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 0-0-3 / Prerequisite : Ph.D. Candidacy, CHEM 699

This course enables the student to submit his Ph. D. Dissertation proposal and defend it in public. The student passes the course if the Ph. D. dissertation committee accepts the submitted dissertation proposal report and upon successfully passing the Dissertation Proposal Public defense. The course grade can be NP, NF or IC.

Level: Graduate/ Credit: 0-0-9 / Prerequisite : CHEM 711

This course enables the students to work on his Ph.D. Dissertation as per the submitted dissertation proposal, submits its final report and defends it in public. The student passes this course if the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee accepts the submitted dissertation report and upon successfully passing the dissertation Public Defense. The course grade can be NP, NF, or IP.

Prospective Students.jpg

Welcoming Statement

Welcome to the Ph.D Chemistry Program at KFUPM, where academic excellence, innovation, and impactful research come together. We warmly invite aspiring scientists to join a vibrant and collaborative environment dedicated to advancing knowledge in chemistry. Our program offers rigorous training, access to modern facilities, and opportunities to work on cutting-edge research addressing global challenges in energy, materials, and sustainability, preparing graduates for successful careers in academia, industry, and beyond.

Online Admission System

  • The online graduate admission application through this link: https://cgis.kfupm.edu.sa/ or https://apply.kfupm.edu.sa/
  • You must fill all the mandatory sections.
  • Referees should submit the recommendation letter electronically.
  • Once you select “Submit”, you cannot make any changes to the application. Thus, be sure before you select this button.
  • You can always check the status of your recommendation letters and application.
  • You should NOT create more than one application for the same semester.
  • If you need to make some changes after you have submitted the application, send an email via gs-admissions@kfupm.edu.sa or d-cgs@kfupm.edu.sa who make the changes accordingly.

Mandatory Documents for Application (Without Which Application Will Not Be Processed)

  • Copy of identification (Passport for international applicants/National ID for Saudi nationals / Iqama for residents of Saudi Arabia).
  • Complete official transcripts for BS and MS degree.
  • Statement-of-Purpose (a one-page essay focusing on career and research goals at KFUPM). This essay includes a brief description of yourself, explaining your academic goals and how you aim to contribute to improving your community and the world.
  • Recommendation Letters from academic referees (2 referees) through the online recommendation system after submitting the online application, preferably from the faculty who taught the applicant graduate courses.
  • Certificates for BS and MS degree if degrees granted

Other Supporting Documents (needed for final decision)

  • TOEFL iBT score (min. is 79 for Ph.D), IELTS score (min. is 6.5 for Ph.D), and Duolingo score (min. is 120 for Ph.D).
  • CV/Resume, relevant certificate(s), and publication(s)
  • Upon approval, original/certified copies of degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) are to be sent through postal mail.

For any queries or further clarifications, please feel free to contact us at d-cgs@kfupm.edu.sa or Telephone: +966-13-860-2800, or check our website at: https://cgis.kfupm.edu.sa/

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