Graduate Admission FAQs

The University of Minnesota only accepts applications online through the Graduate School online application. 
Complete application instructions are available on our admissions page.

We encourage you to begin early in order to prepare all the documents needed to support your application. The key steps/documents are as follows:

• The GRE is not required for admission.
• Obtain unofficial copies of your academic transcripts from all institutions you have formally studied at.
• Contact three of your professors, research supervisors, or work supervisors regarding letters of recommendation (only one letter is required for the course-only MSME Plan C application). Please give letter writers ample time to complete recommendations. Recommendations are submitted online directly by the recommender — you only need to enter their names and e-mail addresses. The e-mail address used for each recommender must be an official e-mail address from their institution of employment; recommendations submitted from personal e-mail addresses will not be considered.

• If required, take either the TOEFL or IELTS. It is University of Minnesota policy that non-native speakers of English must have an English Language Proficiency (ELP) rating in order to be eligible for a teaching assistantship.

  • An ELP score of 1 is awarded if the TOEFL speaking section score is 27 or higher, and permits a TA appointment without further English instruction.
  • A speaking score of 24–26 leads to an ELP score of 2, and permits a TA appointment with concurrent enrollment in GRAD 5105.
  • A speaking score of 23 or lower leads to an ELP score of 4, and a TA cannot be provided without first completing GRAD 5102.
  • If you are an international student and received your degree from a domestic university, the TOEFL is not required.

• Write the required application statement(s). Be honest and clear in your statements.

ELPs are determined by your score on one of the following assessments:

• The internet-based TOEFL (speaking subscore — see conversion above)
• The SETTA (Spoken English Test for Teaching Assistants)
• The final exam taken after coursework in the International TA Program (GRAD 5102 and GRAD 5105)

Learn more about the SETTA and International TA course offerings through the Center for Education Innovation.

No, the fee must be paid before an application will be processed.

The personal statement should succinctly describe (1.5–2 pages) your reasons for applying to Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, your preparation for the PhD/MSME program, academic and research interests, future career plans, and other pertinent aspects of your background. Clearly state one to three areas of interest from the sub-disciplines below.

Stronger personal statements make clear why you're interested in the noted research areas; statements specific to Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota are strongly encouraged.

Areas of research emphasis within Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota include:

• Biotransport, Biopreservation, & Biotechnology
• Control Systems, Robotics, and Mechatronics
• Combustion & Engines
• Computational Physics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Fluid Power
• Heat Transfer & Thermal Energy
• Machine Design
• Materials Science & Solid Mechanics
• Medical Technologies & Devices
• Multiphase Systems: Plasmas & Particulate Flows
• Nanotechnology, Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS)

Specific research openings are posted online. These are examples for this year's incoming students and may not be actual openings next year. At the end of your personal statement, please indicate up to three specific research openings you're interested in.

The Personal Statement and all other statements can be completed through the Graduate School online application.

You only need to complete the personal statement and diversity statement.

Supporting the development of a diverse student body is central to the University of Minnesota's mission. Please write a statement that identifies the distinctive characteristics and/or life experiences — such as successfully overcoming obstacles or hardships — that you would bring to your graduate program and how that could contribute to the education and perspective of fellow students.

Applications are evaluated holistically: GPA, prior academic institutions, research experience/productivity, degree of difficulty in courses taken previously, letters of recommendation, and TOEFL scores (if applicable) are all considered. There are no minimum requirements for any particular section — that said, admission is extremely selective for both the PhD and MSME programs.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is committed to having a diverse student body, and all qualified students independent of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin are encouraged to apply.

Due to the large volume of applications and inquiries received each cycle, we cannot comment on an individual applicant's chances in person, over the phone, or via e-mail. Applications are evaluated on the basis of application materials only; additional meetings with staff or faculty are not considered in admission decisions. Admissions decisions are made by the admissions committee only after a complete application, including all supporting documents, has been received.

We admit new graduate students for the fall semester only. Admitted students are expected to participate in fall orientation activities and enroll in courses prescribed by faculty during orientation. Current University of Minnesota students interested in a non-traditional start time are encouraged to contact the director of graduate studies.

Applicants who received their undergraduate degree at a U.S. institution should calculate and report GPA using all coursework from each institution attended. Applicants with degrees from outside the U.S. should calculate and report GPA but should not convert to the U.S. 4.00 scale — we evaluate transcripts based on your country/institution's grading scale.

All applicants are encouraged to upload a resume/C.V. International applicants with a known class rank should include it on their resume and upload an official document from their university certifying that rank.

Three letters are required for PhD and MSME Thesis (Plan A) applications. Only one letter is required for the course-only MSME Plan C application. Ideally, letters come from:

• Professors at universities with whom you've completed research
• PhD research staff at national laboratories with whom you've completed research
• Professors who were the lead instructor for courses you completed (letters from tenure-track faculty are weighted more heavily)

One letter from a former employer will also be accepted, though these are weighed less heavily — particularly for PhD applications. Please give letter writers at least one month to complete the letter and ensure all letters are submitted by the application deadline.

No — if you are accepted, we will inform you of what's needed and send the necessary forms. Do not send financial statements in advance.

Yes, you may apply directly to the PhD program without a master's degree, straight from undergraduate studies. In fact, if the PhD is your ultimate goal, we strongly encourage applying directly to the PhD program.

No. The department does not require GRE scores, nor will they be used in evaluating applications.

ETS does not send scores directly to the department — you must upload them with your application. If you don't have an official copy, take a screenshot of your available scores and include it in your Transcript PDF. If admitted, official scores must be supplied to the Graduate School Admissions Office (not the department).

The minimum TOEFL score required by the University for graduate admission is 79; applicants below this cannot be admitted. To be eligible for a teaching assistantship, a minimum speaking-section score of 23 is also required.

The minimum IELTS score required is 6.5.

Yes — the Graduate School Admissions Office sends a confirmation email once your online application is submitted, and you can track status through the online portal. If any departmental materials are missing, you'll receive an email once your application reaches our department. It's your responsibility to ensure all supporting documents, including letters of recommendation, are received by the deadline.

PhD applicants admitted in the first round may hear as early as late January. After that, admissions are completed on a rolling basis, and all applicants are notified by e-mail.

You may contact John Gardner, the department's graduate program manager, at [email protected]. Please note he is not involved in admission decisions and cannot expedite processing times. Do not contact the University Graduate School Admissions Office directly.

You'll receive a request from the Graduate School Admissions Office to complete an Enrollment Form. Once complete, you'll be eligible to register for classes. We appreciate notification via email to either the director of graduate studies or John Gardner as well.

All PhD applicants completing their application prior to December 1 will be considered for department-level fellowship support and a teaching assistantship in their first year. Fellowship support typically covers tuition, health insurance, and (if awarded for the full year) a stipend in excess of $29,000.

Thesis and Project Plan (A) MSME applicants completing their application before December 1 are also eligible for financial support in the form of TA/RA positions — but only after accepting admission, and department-level support for MSME students is rare. Course Plan (C) MSME applicants are not eligible for any form of departmental financial support and should plan to cover the full cost of their education.

Application status is tracked through the Graduate School, not the department. Contact the Graduate School Admissions Office at [email protected] regarding your status.

Yes — if not offered direct admission to the PhD program, you'll be considered for the thesis-based MSME Plan A. You'd then have the option to re-apply to the PhD program after one year of graduate study, and all MSME credits taken would count toward the PhD degree.

The mechanical engineering graduate student handbook lists degree requirements for the PhD and MSME degrees, along with details on the PhD qualifying exam, written and oral preliminary exams, PhD dissertation defenses, and MSME Plan A thesis defenses.

First-year students in both the PhD and MSME programs are encouraged to follow the flowcharts developed by our faculty, covering Heat Transfer & Thermodynamics; Fluid Mechanics; System Dynamics and Controls; Design & Manufacturing; and Reactive & Particulate Flows. Course descriptions are available via the University of Minnesota course catalog.

The department webpage lists all faculty able to serve as a primary advisor for PhD and MSME Plan A students. This links to detailed research descriptions, and many faculty also maintain active research websites, Google Scholar profiles, and/or ResearchGate pages. Applications geared toward a specific faculty member's research program are typically considered stronger applications.