Graduate Admission Requirements

Visit our How to Apply page for admission deadlines and procedures. Answers to frequently asked admissions questions can be found on our Graduate Admission FAQ page.

Admission to the PhD Program:

At the doctoral level, an applicant will meet the minimum admission requirements for full graduate standing if all of the following are satisfied:

  • Grade point average (GPA) in the applicant’s master’s program is at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited institution.
  • Three satisfactory letters of recommendation are submitted, with one letter coming from the applicant’s master’s degree advisor.
  • A record of independent research or project work has been demonstrated.
  • Performance in the master’s oral examination was satisfactory.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are competitive (minimum scores: verbal – 146, quantitative – 155, analytical writing – 3.5)

* UPDATE: The GRE test score requirement will be waived for all 2024 applicants.

  • An international PhD applicant has a competitive English Proficiency Score:
    • TOEFL score – 18 or higher in each section with a total score of 80 in all four sections).
    • IELTS score – 6.5 or higher on each section
    • DUO Lingo score  – 110 or higher

Funding is offered with admission to the PhD program. For students who hold a BS in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering and are interested in immediately pursuing a doctoral degree, please review the requirements for entry into the Direct-to-PhD (d-PhD) program.

 

Admission to the Master’s Program (On-Campus):

At the master’s level, an applicant will meet the minimum admission requirements for full graduate standing if all of the following are satisfied:

  • Overall grade point average (GPA) is at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited institution.
  • Undergraduate major is in a technical area which satisfies the prerequisites for graduate coursework in MAE. If you do not hold a BS degree in ME or AE, see the section below, Additional Admission Standards for Non-Majors.
  • Three satisfactory letters of recommendation are submitted.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are competitive (minimum scores: verbal – 146, quantitative – 155, analytical writing – 3.5)

* UPDATE: The GRE test score requirement will be waived for all 2024 applicants.

  • An international MS applicant has a competitive English Proficiency Score:
    • TOEFL score – 18 or higher in each section with a total score of 80 in all four sections).
    • IELTS score – 6.5 or higher on each section
    • DUO Lingo score – 110 or higher

Funding is not offered with admission to the master’s program, however, other funding opportunities may be available. Domestic students can find funding information here, and International Students can review options here.

NCSU MAE undergraduate students interested in our 5-year BS/MS program should review the requirements for entry into the Accelerated BS/MS Degree program in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering. Contact your MAE undergraduate academic advisor for additional information regarding this program.

 

Admission to the Distance Education Master’s Program (Engineering Online):

For the distance education program at the master’s level (non-thesis only), an applicant will meet the minimum admission requirements if all of the following are satisfied:

  • Overall grade point average (GPA) is at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited institution.
  • Undergraduate major is in a technical area which satisfies the prerequisites for graduate coursework in MAE. If you do not hold a BS degree in ME or AE, see the section below, Additional Admission Standards for Non-Majors.
  • Three satisfactory letters of recommendation are submitted.

 

Additional Admission Requirements for Non-Majors Seeking the Master’s Degree

Applicants with accredited BS degrees in other areas of engineering, physics, and math may be admitted to our department. If admitted, students are often expected to take one to three remedial courses to make up for any deficiencies depending on his/her area of interest and background. These courses are typically taken in the first two semesters alongside first semester courses or before the student begins taking the graduate courses. This information is covered in more detail on the MAE Graduate Admission FAQ website (Applications General section).

Provisional admission into the graduate program may be granted while the student completes all needed 400-level courses, with full status generally conferred upon satisfactory completion of the remedial coursework.  Note that university regulations prohibit a graduate student from holding an assistantship or fellowship while on provisional status.

Applicants cannot be admitted into the graduate program until all of the necessary 300-level undergraduate prerequisite courses (or equivalents) have been satisfactorily completed.