How to Apply? (PhD)

Apply online at the University of Minnesota Graduate Admissions website. You can start an application and return later to finish, so don’t hesitate to create an account and start applying.

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Important Information for PhD Applicants

We accept students for the PhD program for the fall and spring semesters. Our priority deadline is December 1 for admission for the following fall semester. Our final deadline is March 1. The deadline for spring admission is October 1.
We will start reviewing applications after the deadlines to apply. Spring application decisions will start going out the first of November. Fall application decisions can take a couple of months to process.
The priority deadline of December 1 means applications submitted by December 1 can be considered for additional fellowships (the department has to determine nominations for fellowships by early December). Applications submitted after December 1 will be considered for full funding. No additional materials need to be submitted for funding consideration.
We strongly encourage international students to apply for the fall semester due to concerns about utilizing your Curricular Practical Training (CPT) opportunity. You must complete two academic semesters before you are eligible to work outside the University. If you start in spring, you will not be able to work off-campus during the following summer, which will limit your opportunities for funding your education. Learn more about Funding Opportunities. If you have questions about this and how it affects your application, please email our graduate program advisor Ann Rausch: [email protected]
Application fee waiver requests must be submitted through the ECE Application Fee Waiver Request form. The form will be open for spring admission fee waiver requests from September 1 through September 15. For fee waiver requests for fall admission, the form will be open from October 1 through November 15.
We will start reviewing applications for fee waiver after the deadlines to apply. They will take a few weeks to review.

Below is a list of items you will eventually need to complete your application. Please read through the list below carefully and include all the materials listed here:

1. Transcripts/Academic Records
Upload transcripts in “Academic History” section of the online application.

You must upload unofficial transcripts or academic records for each higher learning institution where you have earned credit, including partial or incomplete transcripts.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your curriculum vitae should include educational and academic background, teaching and research experience, publications, awards, presentations, honors, activities, and additional details.

3. Personal Statement
Your personal statement should include:

Professional and academic background, skills, and accomplishments
If you are an international student, please provide the rank of your undergraduate University compared with other engineering universities in your home country
Research interests
Future career goals

4. Three Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendations are required. You will need to list at least three email addresses on your online line Graduate application.

The online application includes a section for you to enter the contact information for your recommenders. Please notify the individuals you select as recommenders that they will receive an email from the application system with instructions on how to submit their letters.

It is okay to submit your application before your recommenders have submitted their recommendation to us. If a recommender is having trouble submitting their recommendation, they can email it directly to the ECE Graduate Program: [email protected]

Please ask your recommenders to write about your technical and academic abilities, and why they believe you will be successful in a graduate program.

5. English Language Test Scores
Please use the institution code 6874. Please read the information about each English language exam the University of Minnesota accepts. To learn if your scores have been received by the Graduate School, please check your application status.

6. GRE
GRE scores are currently not required for admission to our program. However if you earned your undergraduate degree at a lesser known institution, GRE scores could support your application and help us evaluate it.

7. Writing Sample
If you have no publications, submit a paper you have written for a class.

Please review our Program and admission FAQs for questions about your application or our admission process.
If you have any additional questions about our program or our admission process that are not addressed in the admission FAQ guide, please email us at [email protected]

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How to Apply? (PhD)

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