Graduate Program Application Deadlines
| Program | Application portal opens for Fall entry | Application deadline for Fall entry | Application portal opens for Spring entry | Application deadline for Spring entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS/PhD |
August 1 |
January 20 - final deadline (December 15 - priority deadline) |
June 1 (if day lands on the weekend then applications will open the following weekday) |
October 1 |
| M.Eng.ME | August 1 (if day lands on the weekend then applications will open the following weekday) |
Once all application materials have been received including letters of reference, applicants can anticipate receiving a decision in 4-6 weeks. (January through May) FINAL DEADLINE: May 1 (if seats remain). International students are encouraged to apply by April 1 to enable ample time for visa and travel planning. |
June 1 (if day lands on the weekend then applications will open the following weekday) |
October 1 |
Please note:
- Due to the large number of applications we receive each year, it is difficult for us to respond to routine requests to check the status of your application.
- You will receive your admissions decision via email.
- Admissions decisions will not be given by phone or in person.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible. You do not have to wait for your letters of recommendation to be submitted before you submit your application.
- All materials, including PDFs from ETS (for GRE/TOEFL scores) or scanned IELTS reports of official test scores and any required letters of recommendation, are due by 11:59 PM Central Standard Time on the deadline date.
Eligibility
Applicants should have or be in their final year of a BS in Mechanical Engineering or a closely-related field from an accredited college in the United States or an approved institution of higher learning abroad. Other Engineering disciplines, Math, and Physics are considered closely-related fields.
Students do not have to have a Master’s degree to apply to the PhD program.
Applicants who already hold a master’s degree may not apply for a second master’s degree in the same field.
Application Requirements
All application materials may be uploaded online during the application process. Please DO NOT send official copies of transcripts, diplomas, reference letters, or scores. Applicants will be contacted if additional materials are required.
- Online application with the Graduate College.
- Submit all required materials and any optional additional materials you wish to submit.
- Application fee of $70
- Transcripts: Transcripts must be uploaded to your online application. The transcript can be unofficial and should include the name of the institution, the applicant’s name, course titles, and course grades. Please enter your BS institution as School #1. If you hold an MS, please list the MS institution as School #2.
- Resume/CV: 2 pages maximum.
- Academic Statement of Purpose: 1,000 words maximum. Please see how to write a Statement of Purpose here.
- Two Personal Statements: Each statement 250 words maximum. When you start your application, you will see 4 questions. 2 of these questions are mandatory and two of them are optional.
- Letters of Recommendation – The application requires 3 online letters of recommendation. Please contact mechse-grad@illinois.edu if any technical problems arise for you or your letter writers.
GPA + GRE + TOEFL/IELTS Requirements
GPA Minimum Requirements for
MS/PhD applicants
Previous Undergraduate Study: 3.25/4.0
(or equivalent)*
Previous Graduate Study: 3.5/4.0 (or equivalent)
GRE Requirements
Currently the GRE is not required for the admission application, but a student may elect to submit their scores. Please note that submitting your scores does not make you more competitive/ advantageous among the other applicants.
TOEFL/IELTS Minimum Requirements
for Non-Native English Speakers
Full Status Admission
TOEFL iBT Total Score: 103
IELTS Total Band Score: 7.5
Limited Status Admission**
TOEFL iBT Total Score: 90
IELTS Total Band Score: 6.5
*for the last 60 semester hours or the last 90 quarter hours of undergraduate study
**Limited Status Admission is offered to applicants with outstanding academic records who do not meet the requirement for full status admission. Limited Status Admission indicates the need for further English study. An English as a Second Language Placement Test (EPT) will be required upon arrival at the University. Based on these results, new admits are generally required to enroll in non-credit "English as a Second Language" courses and take a reduced academic load in their first semester at Illinois.
Please do not mail any paper materials to the Department. Official transcripts can be mailed to the Graduate College.
A resource that explains the difference between a statement of purpose for graduate study and a personal statement can be found at The Princeton Review.
Questions? Email mechse-grad@illinois.edu
Or check out our Frequently Asked Questions >>
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