Fully Funded PhD in Geological Sciences at Arizona State University

About PhD Program,

Explore the processes and dynamics that shape the interiors and surfaces of the Earth and other bodies in the solar system. This is your opportunity to work with world-class faculty on NASA- and NSF-funded projects in state-of-the-art laboratories and in the field on any of the seven continents.

The PhD program in geological sciences is designed to develop creative scholarship in the terrestrial and planetary geosciences. Students are encouraged to cross subject boundaries and pursue new understandings of Earth and the solar system.

PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,   

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor’s degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in an applicable master’s degree program.

All applicants must submit:

1. graduate admissions application and application fee
2. official transcripts
3. statement of purpose
4. three letters of recommendation
5. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information

An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

PhD Funding Coverage,

The majority of students accepted into a School of Earth and Space Exploration research-based graduate program (MS or PhD in Astrophysics, MS or PhD in Geological Sciences and PhD in Exploration Systems Design) are offered financial support for the academic year (August-May) by means of a Graduate Assistant position. Research/Teaching Assistantships are considered for renewal as long as students remain in good standing in the graduate program and satisfy all requirements and obligations of their assistantships. MS students typically receive 2 years of guaranteed financial support and PhD students typically receive 5 years of guaranteed financial support. Financial support may extend beyond these timeframes pending availability of funds. Students not requiring financial support may elect not to receive an assistantship and should indicate this in their admissions application.

Application Requirement,

1. Basic application and fee: https://admission.asu.edu/graduate/apply
2. Statement of Purpose: Applicants must prepare a statement of purpose explaining the interest in our program, academic/professional goals and areas of interest. Applicants should also reference the names of faculty with whom they are interested in working or have already consulted. Statements are uploaded to the electronic application and are generally a few pages in length.
3. Three letters of recommendation: In the degree portion of the electronic application, applicants must provide email addresses for referees. Referees will receive automated requests to fill out the School of Earth and Space Exploration’s electronic letter of recommendation form where they can also upload a written letter of support. Once the electronic application is submitted, students may send reminder emails to referees and edit referee contact info through MYASU: https://webapp4.asu.edu/myasu.
4. Demonstration of English Proficiency: International graduate applicants whose native language is not English are required to show proof of English proficiency. More information can be found here: https://admission.asu.edu/international/graduate/english-proficiency. Official English proficiency test scores must be sent directly from the agency administering the test to the ASU Admissions. The ASU Institution code is 4007. Test results should not be sent directly to the School of Earth and Space Exploration.
5. Transcripts from all former institutions: Applicants must have one set of transcripts from every college and university attended sent to ASU. For more information about transcripts please visit: https://admission.asu.edu/graduate/apply. See the Graduate Admissions websitefor more details regarding application materials.
6. Academic Record form: Downloadable Academic Record form PDFand Word doc. This form is intended to highlight the coursework applicants have taken that is applicable to the degree for which they are applying. It is not a replacement for official transcripts and is required in addition to official transcripts. Applicants should fill out the academic record form as completely as possible. The form must be uploaded to the Academic Record section of the online application. Applicants who are unable to fill out the form electronically should fill it out by hand, scan it, and upload it to the Academic Record section of the application.

Application Deadline,

Dec 01, 2024

Application Fee,

$70: US Citizen, US Permanent Resident, In Application for Permanent Residency, DACA, International online student studying outside the U.S.

$115: International students on any non-immigrant visa type studying in the U.S. (e.g. F-1, H1-B, H-4, etc).