How to Apply to CEGE Graduate Programs

Application Submission: Once you submit your application, you will not be able to get back into your application and it will be considered final. No changes, additions, or updates will be accepted after submission.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester: December 3 is the application deadline for the fall semesters. After this date, applications are still accepted on a rolling basis, however, financial assistance may not be available.

Spring Semester: August 31 is the application deadline for the spring semesters. Admissions for spring generally come with no financial assistance.

Required Materials

All materials must be submitted directly through the online Graduate application system by the deadline. For further instructions visit the Graduate School's Application Instructions page.

Applications will not be reviewed by the admissions committee until all required materials have been submitted according to the following instructions.

Materials:

How to Submit:

Application for Graduate Admissions

Go to the University of Minnesota online Graduate application system to log in or create a new account.

Online Graduate Application

Complete all required fields:

  • Program Selection
  • Term Selection
  • Biographical Information
  • Personal Background
  • Academic History
  • Employment
  • Test Scores (only English Language test requirements should be submitted, GRE scores are not required and will not be reviewed by the admissions committee)
  • Civil and Geo- Engineering Supplemental Material
  • Materials
  • Recommendations
  • Signature
  • Review
  • Payment

All materials must be submitted into the online application. Once you click Submit, your application will be considered final. You will not be able to get back into your application. No changes, additions, or updates will be accepted after submission. 

Application Fee

$75 for U.S. applicants, $95 for international applicants.

The department cannot waive or defer the application fee. This is not a departmental fee. This is a University fee.

Read more about the Graduate School Application Fees

*Please note that although application fees cannot be waived, applicants may request that their application fee be paid by the department. All requests will be evaluated using competitive 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. Applicants must meet or exceed CEGE Admission Prerequisites and upload all application materials into the application and be ready to submit the application. 

Qualifying applicants are invited to complete this form to request that their application fee be paid by the CEGE Department.
Your waiver request must be submitted by 9:00 am CT on November 1st to allow time for processing.
 
Requests must be made and approved prior to submission of an application. The department is not able to pay an application fee if you have already submitted your application and paid the fee directly.
Applicants who receive confirmation that their fee request has been approved will be advised by November 20th on submission steps to enable the department to pay the application fee directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. 
Questions about this form or the fee payment process can be sent to: Tiffany Ralston, Graduate Program Coordinator at cegesps@umn.edu

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts or academic records must be uploaded directly to the online application. How to upload transcripts

International students should also upload an English translation if the transcript is not in English. International transcripts and credentials

Please do NOT mail in paper copies of your transcripts, as this may cause serious delays in the processing of your application!

There is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material. See the Graduate School’s Application Information for more details.

GRE test scores

Not Required

NOTE: GRE scores will not be reviewed by the admissions committee if submitted.

English Language test scores 

(required of international students)

English Language Proficiency scores are required for all international applicants. Note, that scores expire after two years.

Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through one of the following methods: 

  • Education (if your country is on the exemption list, then you satisfy the basic English language proficiency requirements and do not need to submit a test score)
  • TOEFL -- Total Score: 79 (Writing Subscore: 21, Reading Subscore: 19)
  • IELTS -- Total Score:  6.5 (Writing Subscore: 6.5. Reading Subscore: 6.5)
  • DUOLINGO -- Overall Score: 115 or above (Literacy Subscore: 115 or above)
  • PTE ACADEMICS -- Total Score: 59 (Writing Subscore: 59, Reading Subscore: 59)
  • CAMBRIDGE C1 ADVANCED -- Total Score: 180 (Writing Subscore: 180, Reading Subscore: 180)

For more information about getting an English proficiency exemption waiver, to see what tests are accepted, minimum scores accepted, or how to send in your official score report, see English Language Proficiency 

To submit your test results, enter your scores in the test scores field in the application AND upload the score sheet or a screen shot of your scores from the ETS website into the test scores section of the application.

Official scores will appear in your application AFTER you submit the application and pay the fee. 

Read more on minimum English language assessment scores

Statement #1

(Required)

Provide a statement outlining your immediate educational goals and long-range career objectives in relation to your chosen field.

If there is a particular faculty member with whom you wish to study, please give that person's name and explain why you want to study with that person.

You may also wish to include other information, such as any undergraduate research, internships, or other experiences to document your preparation for advanced study in your chosen field.

Typically, statements are one to two pages in length, double spaced. 

Statement #2

(Recommended)

International applicants should not submit statement #2. Note: For US Citizens and Permanent Residents Only. Statement #2 will be used to determine an applicant's eligibility to be nominated by the admissions committee for a Diversity of Views and Experiences Fellowship (DOVE Fellowship). 

Enrolling and graduating a diverse student body is central to the University of Minnesota's mission. Please write a statement that identifies the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and life experiences you would contribute to your graduate program and to the education of fellow students at the University of Minnesota. You may wish to include examples that address your contribution to the diversity of the student body and illustrate your motivation to succeed by setting high standards for accomplishing intellectual and other goals, overcoming obstacles to achievement, and/or helping others to gain access to the resources necessary for success. If applicable, nominees should mention hardships or obstacles that they have overcome to complete their undergraduate education.

Potential areas to address include: 

  • hardships you have faced and overcame
  • family background
  • first-generation college student
  • your diverse identities (examples: ethnic, racial, economic, or educational backgrounds and experiences, gender identity, sexual orientation)
  • your commitment to working toward achieving equity and enhancing diversity within the fields of civil engineering, environmental engineering, geoengineering, STEM, or within your community
  • geographic diversity
  • community involvement
  • multilingual skills
  • international travel that changed your perspective 
  • special talents 
  • anything unique you would contribute to the program

Description of Research or Work Experience

Do not upload a separate document in this field.

Your work or research experience should be included in Statement #1, after your immediate and long-range career objectives.

Writing Sample

Writing samples are not required by our program and should not be uploaded.

Resume or CV

Upload your resume or CV in PDF format. 

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  All letters must be submitted via the online Graduate Application. Paper copies will NOT be accepted. 

Acceptable recommendations will come from current or former professors who can assess your potential for graduate work. Additional referrers, such as employers, are also acceptable. 

Your recommendation providers will receive an email from "gradappinfo@umn.edu" that will contain a secure link to the recommendation portal for your application. The subject line will include your name and the words "Recommendation for the University of Minnesota." 

Please ask your recommendation providers to include this email address"gradappinfo@umn.edu") in their contact lists and to check spam or junk mail folders if they don't receive the message. 

Recommendation providers can submit their recommendations anytime, both before AND after you submit your application.