MS/PhD Admissions FAQs
You can find answers below to many frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at mechse-grad@illinois.edu.
Explore even more FAQs about the Graduate College Application >>
What are the application deadlines?
Spring admissions deadline is October 1. Fall admissions deadline is December 1. All application materials must be submitted by the deadline in order to be reviewed. You can also find this information on our MS/PhD Requirements page.
Can I be considered for an application fee waiver?
Only the following students are eligible for an application fee waiver:
- U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents with a 3.5 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Current University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign MechSE undergraduate students with a 3.5 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Current University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign MechSE MS students who are applying to a MechSE PhD program
Unfortunately, we are not offering international students an application fee waiver at this time.
Do I qualify for MechSE admissions?
Due to the large number of applications we receive, we cannot review any application materials that are not formally submitted in the portal.
If you are ready to apply, you may do so here.
When will I receive an admissions decision regarding my application?
Time frames will vary from cycle to cycle depending on application volume. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it is difficult for us to provide individual status updates. You should not continuously email our office asking for status updates. You can login to your application at any time to check your status. All admission decisions will be sent via email. All admission decisions are final.
You must submit a new application and pay the application fee again. If you previously submitted letters of recommendation, you should be able to use the same reference letters and will have the option to select these when logging into your account. You can read more about this on the Graduate College's website.
May I submit more than 3 letters of recommendation?
Yes, however it is not encouraged to submit more than 3 letters of recommendation.
You can login to your application at any time to see if you are missing any materials. We highly encourage applicants to apply early and allow several weeks for official test scores to be received. Your application will not be considered complete until we receive official test scores. The admissions committee will not review any incomplete applications.
All applications meeting our program's minimum requirements are reviewed by the admissions committee. Reasons for denial can include several factors, including qualifications and available funding. Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback regarding the admission committees decision. All admission decisions are final.
I have previously applied to your program. Can I use the same recommendation letters?
Yes, you are welcome to use the same recommendation letters for your application. When you log onto your application, there should be an option to select those for your new application. You can read more about this on the Graduate College's website.
We currently require all applicants (including current students) to submit a new application for the program in which they are applying to. You must submit all application materials with your new application. You may review the requirements on our MS/PhD Requirements and Process page.
Do I need to secure a faculty advisor or research assistantship (RA) before applying?
Most of our admissions come from RA offers so we highly recommend applicants reach out to potential faculty members to see about openings. You can find a list of our faculty on our website. If a faculty advisor is not secured, all MS students will be admitted to our non-thesis program.