FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about CEGE graduate programs admission

We encourage you to begin early and prepare all materials needed to support your application. 

Contact three of your recommendation providers regarding your letters of recommdation. 

The GRE is not required, so please don't submit it as it will not be looked at when making a decision on your application. 

It is the University of Minnesota policy that non-native speakers of English must have an English Language Proficiency (ELP) score in order to get issued an I-20. To see the methods to demonstrate this go here.

To find the tuiton cost and fees for graduate school, you will need to look at the Finances tab on the One Stop Student Services, Twin Cities website. 

No, you can only apply online. 

No, the application fee cannot be waived.

Exception: If you are an active duty member of the United States military deployed overseas, you can get a waiver. Active duty applicants should contact the Graduate School regarding waiver of the application fee when your application is ready for submission.

*Please note although application fees can't be waived, applicants may request that their application fee be paid by the CEGE Department. 

All requests will be evaluated using competative and needs-based criteria. To ensure equitable access, additional consideration will prioritize students who have been traditionally underrepresented in graduate education, including individuals who have faced adversity, such as societal, economic, or academic disadvantages. 

No, the application fee cannot be deferred. All offers of financial support depend upon completion of your application for admission, including payment.

No, we can't review any materials through email and the fee must be paid before an application will be processed and reviewed. 

Due to the amount of applications and inquiries we receive during our admissions cycle, we can't evaluate the potential success of each applicant. Admission decisions are made by the admissions committee after an application is complete (submitted, fee paid, all materials turned in). Once the application is submitted, it is considered complete. No changes, additions, or updates will be accepted after submission. 

TOEFL: Official TOEFL scores must be sent electronically from ETS to the University of Minnesota. The ETS institution code for the Twin Cities campus is 6874. 

IELTS: Official IELTS scores can be sent electronically to the Graduate Admissions Office. When prompted, please select University of Minnesota Graduate Admissions All Campuses from the drop down menu. Official IELTS can also be sent by physical mail the Graduate Admissions Office. When prompted, please enter the following address: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Graduate Admissions 309 Johnston Hall 101 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455. 

Duolingo: Refer to the Dulingo Instructions for submitting your scores to the University of Minnesota. 

PTE Academic Score: Request official score reports from the appropriate testing center using the following mailing address: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Graduate Admissions 309 Johnston Hall 101 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

Cambridge C1 Advanced: Request official score reports from the appropriate testing center using the following mailing address: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Graduate Admissions 309 Johnston Hall 101 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

Yes, photocopies of the TOEFL are acceptable. You must upload a PDF of your score reports or a PDF of a screen shot from the ETS website into the application system. 

The Graduate School requires a minimum score of 79 for the TOEFL IBT. TOEFL scores expire two years after the test is taken. The department requires the same as the Graduate School.

Exception: You are exempt from this requirement if you have taken 16 credits as a full-time student at a recognized institution in the U.S. within 24 months of entering the Graduate School. More information can be found on the Graduate School web site.

GRE scores are not required. 

Once your applications is submitted, it is considered final. No further changes, additions, or updates will be accepted after submission.

Financial Certification Form: If you are offered admission to the program and accept it, you will then be required to complete the Financial Certification Statement for your I-20 document. Once your I-20 is issued, the Graduate School Admissions Office will notify you that the I-20 is ready by an email notification. You'll access and download a PDF copy of your I-20 from your application portal. 

International Student Resources

To avoid delays in processing your application, recommendation letters MUST be submitted online through the application system. If you or your referee have any questions please email cegesps@umn.edu.

Information on Recommendation Letters

No, do not mail materials to the department. Hard copies are no longer accepted for initial review. Transcripts or academic records must be uploaded directly to the application system in the Educational Background section of the application. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material. The transcript must include your full name.

Official Transcripts and Credentials

Unofficial Transcripts and Credentials 

No. The only application required is the online application in the application system. Financial support will be considered as the application is reviewed.

Depending on the time of year, it could take several months for a decision to be made. Decisions for fall admission with financial aid are generally made between mid-February and mid-April. 

Decisions for spring admissions are generally made between October and November.

Applicants receiving an offer of admission will receive from the Graduate School Admissions Office a request to complete an enrollment form. 

Applicants who were offered financial assistance have until April 15 to accept or decline the offer and to complete the enrollment form. 

Applicants who received an offer of admission without financial assistance should fill out the enrollment form by June 1. 

We understand that plans may change and you may decide to attend the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering (CEGE) for a semester othere than the one for which you were admitted. Common reasons for deferral are for work, travel, military service, religious observance, medical reasons, not being offered funding, or some other opportunity. If you wish to join CEGE in a future term, please read the following. 

You may defer your enrollment for up to one academic year, if requested before the start of the term for which you originally applied. For example: You were admitted Fall 2023. You may defer to spring 2024 or fall 2024. If you need to defer your entry term beyond one year, you must reaply at that time and submit all materials all over again. Please note, any financial offers you receive with your initial admission offer may not carry over. 

Deferral Procedures

To request a deferral the student must: 

1. Email the graduate program coordinator at  that they would like to defer their admission. cegesps@umn.edu
2. Let them know which term to defer to.  Remember, you can only defer up to one year. 
3. This email should be sent 3-4 weeks before the semester starts for processing and planning.  

One Stop and Graduate School sites are excellent resources. In addition, you will also find maps, information on financial aid, important deadlines, and the University directory are located at these sites.

Yes. Anyone who is not admitted to a school or college at the University of Minnesota can register as a non-degree seeking student. If you want to take courses that can later be transferred into a civil engineering graduate program and you are willing to pay Graduate School tuition rates, you can request graduate credit for the course by completing the Registration Request for Graduate Credit Form. Include a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) and copies of your transcripts. 

Non-Degree Student

Your first point of contact is the Graduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering. If necessary, your questions may also be directed to the department's Director of Graduate Studies or the Graduate School. For specific questions concerning one of our five research areas, contact the relevant graduate studies committee member.

Contact information