Graduate Students

If you are a Prospective Graduate Student…

… here are just a few of the things that make Mechanical Engineering at UConn a great choice for graduate education:

  • Excellent Faculty: 29 faculty members, including 4 endowed chair and named professors, and many recipients of such prestigious awards as the National Science Foundation CAREER, Office of Naval Research Young Investigator, Army Research Office Young Investigator, NIH Trailblazer Award, and Presidential Young Investigator.
  • Exciting Research Programs: Students choose from a broad range of research projects funded by federal agencies and major national and international corporations.
  • Growing, Energetic Department: Our department continues to grow with the addition of new faculty members working in exciting and emerging areas.
  • Top Graduate Students: Our graduate students come from leading national and international educational programs. Most are supported through fellowships, teaching and research assistantships that provide an attractive stipend, health insurance, and full tuition with the total package worth over $33,500/year.
  • The University of Connecticut is one of the top 20 public universities in the nation. In 2017, UConn was ranked 18th.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How and where do I apply for a graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering?

Can I apply directly to the Ph.D. program without an M.S. degree?

  • Yes.

Can I apply to the program if I do not have a degree in Mechanical Engineering?

  • Yes, if your previous coursework relates to specific research areas in the department, such as a background in physics or math.

How many letters of recommendation are required, and is there a standard form?

  • Three letters of recommendation are required, one of which should be from your major advisor (if in previous graduate studies). Letters of recommendation must be uploaded into the graduate school application database from your recommenders.

What are the application deadlines?

  • Recommended deadlines for submitting the completed applications are as follows: 
    • For both full-time M.S. and Ph.D. applications, January 1st for Fall semester admission and August 1st for Spring semester admission. Applications will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis until all openings are filled or the admission deadline set by the Graduate School has been met. Please find here the important admission deadlines.  
    • Part-time Master’s applicants are considered bi-monthly.

Are GREs required, and what is the required score? Is a GRE subject test required for admission?

  • The GRE subject test is not required by our department.

Are TOEFL scores required for all international students?

  • TOEFL scores are required of international students whose native language is not English. In particular, applicants who have not received a university degree from an English-speaking country are required to submit official TOEFL or TSE scores.

What are the Institution and Department Codes for GRE and TOEFL reporting?

  • For the GRE: UConn’s institution code is: 3915. The department code is: 1502. For the TOEFL: UConn’s institution code is: 3915. The department code is: 68. The Country code is: 592.

May I defer payment of the application fee until after I am admitted?

  • The application fee is required in order for the Graduate School to process your application. We cannot waive or defer the fee.

What criteria does the admissions committee use to evaluate applicants for admission?

  • The admissions committee considers the balance of your: academic preparation, undergraduate GPA, transcripts, personal statement, research experience (research statement), letters of recommendation, and test scores in making an admission decision. The decision is not based on any one category.

Where do I send my supporting documents?

  • All supporting documents should be sent to the Graduate School or uploaded into the Graduate School Application database by the applicant.

Can I defer my admission?

  • Admission can be deferred for up to one year. A deferred admission is granted by the Graduate School and may only be done at the request of the department.

Are there any Fellowship Opportunities for Incoming Graduate Students?

Is there funding available for students admitted for the Spring semester?

  • The vast majority of financial support (teaching assistantships) are awarded for the Fall semester. Many faculty members have active grants that continually support graduate research assistants through the Spring and Fall semesters. Contact them here for availability.
  • Teaching assistantships are limited and are usually offered in the Fall to graduate students for a period of two academic semesters, with preference given to new graduate students.