Prospective Students

Photo credit

Patrick O'Leary

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a four-year B.S. degree in engineering, science, or mathematics with a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Students without an engineering background should consult with the AEM Director of Graduate Studies prior to applying.

GRE scores are not required and are no longer allowed on AEM graduate applications.

Students whose native language is not English are required to achieve the minimum score on one of the following exams:

TOEFL -- 79 Total Score, Internet based (Writing Subscore: 21, Reading Subscore: 19)
MELAB -- 80 Total Score
IELTS -- 6.5 Total Score (Writing Subscore: 6.5, Reading Subscore: 6.5)

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Requirements

Application

Submit your application and supporting materials through the UMN Graduate School's online application. (Do not mail any materials or application information to the Department.)

Information you will need:

Term Selection
Personal and Biographical
Research
Academic History
Test Scores (Self-Reported)
Employment
Personal Statement*
Diversity Statement*
Three Letters of Recommendation

*explanation below

Fees

Pay this fee through the online application.

Fee Information, Amount & Payment Tips

Unofficial Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts.

If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of your transcripts or academic records.

Transcripts & Credentials

Letters of Recommendation

Letter should be requested from three persons familiar with your performance in an academic or non-academic (i.e. work) setting and who can comment on your potential for success in graduate school. Preference is for recommenders from academia. AEM does not have a specific form or format for letters of recommendation.

Recommendation Letters

Unofficial English Language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)

The TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS is generally required of all applicants whose first language is not English, regardless of U.S. Citizenship status.

International Student Resources

Unofficial GRE Scores

GRE scores are not required and are not allowed on the graduate application.

Additional Materials

You may upload your CV or resume. Please list any publications and awards on your CV, but do not upload any publications or awards.

If you need to upload additional materials after you have submitted your application, please contact the department (aem-dgs@umn.edu).

Personal Statement

This is your opportunity to speak to the selection committee in your own voice, to tell them who you are, why you study AEM, what you would like to do with your life, and why you need to complete this particular graduate program along the way. Ask yourself, and begin to answer important questions about what matters most to you, and why. Think largely about what you are capable of, and perhaps come to some important conclusions about the contribution you would like to make to the world, whether you are accepted to our program or not. Writing a personal statement can also be the occasion for substantive conversations with your faculty mentors and advisors.

Diversity Statement

The main purpose of a diversity statement is to demonstrate how you will contribute to the diversity of the organization, program and/or the profession in general. It is your opportunity to discuss what about you may be unique from other applicants. It is important to be genuine and express your real life experiences and beliefs related to diversity.

Potential areas to address may include: hardships you've faced, family background, multilingual abilities, international travel, geographic diversity, exceptional community involvement, non-traditional attributes, special talents, first generation college student, and anything unique you would like the program to know about you.

Review & Decision

Once your application is submitted and all supporting materials received, we will begin our review. For applications submitted by December 15, we typically have admit/deny decisions by mid-February.

Admission decisions are communicated through the online application system.

Deadlines

If you wish to be considered for financial aid, you must apply by December 15. Applications received after December 15 will be considered on a space available basis.

We admit graduate students for Fall semester only. Very rarely will students be allowed to begin their studies at another time during the academic year.

May 15 is the final application deadline, though we strongly urge applicants to submit their application well before this deadline.