There are specialty labs for catalysis, coal characterization, reaction engineering, particle science, fluidization, bioreaction engineering, in vivo microscopy, rheology, surface analysis, and thin-film growth. The financial aid program for M.S. and Ph.D. candidates includes competitive fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Graduate fellowships and other awards are available on a very competitive basis. Partial and fully tuition scholarships are also available. A limited number of University-owned apartments, both furnished and unfurnished are available for graduate students.
Most graduate students opt to live off campus at a slightly higher price.
Currently 31 full-time graduate students and 102 undergraduate students in the department. With this student population, the department can offer a highly personalized education. Small class sizes provide personal instruction, and a low student-teacher ratio means research advisers spend more time consulting with tstudents on their research projects. The College of Engineering and Mineral Resources currently has graduate students. Location West Virginia University is located in Morgantown, a universtity community with a population of approximately 45,000.