MS/PhD Domestic Applicants

Graduate Program Application Deadlines

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.