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Admission Information
We thank you for your interest in our graduate program and we encourage you to apply for admission. What we offer is high quality education and experience of cutting edge research. Our graduate program consistently ranks in the top three in the nation and the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois provides unparalleled access and training on the world-class instrumentation you will need for your research. New materials and processes underlie countless recent advances in communications, information technology, medicine, transportation, and energy production. With a graduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois, you will be exceptionally well-positioned to contribute to these and other exciting technological fields that depend on advances in synthesis, processing, and characterization of materials.
Applicant Background
Graduate students have undergraduate degrees in a number of scientific and engineering disciplines, i.e., Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics or Mechanical Engineering. Admission to graduate study in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Illinois is based on undergraduate performance, standardized test scores, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
Admission Requirements
Requirements for admission to the PhD program in Materials Science and Engineering are: a B.S. degree or equivalent and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 (4.0=A). Please note that successful applicants to our program generally have a much higher grade point average. The Graduate Records Exam (GRE) general aptitude test (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical) is required, and for international applicants, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is also required. There are no minimum score requirements for the GRE and subject tests are not required, however average percentiles are 86% for Quantitative, 90% for Analytical, 72% for Verbal and 51% for Writing Assessment. The Department requires a minimum TOEFL score of 613 (paper-based test), 257 (computer-based test), or 104 (internet-based test). The TOEFL requirement can be waived if the applicant has completed at least two years of full-time study (4 semesters) or has earned a graduate degree at a U.S. college or university, or has studied in or resided in a country where English is the official language and the primary medium of instruction. The Department does not require the TSE for admission. The University of Illinois institution code for reporting test scores is 1836. The program code is 00.
Students may apply directly to the Ph.D. program with a B.S. degree. All applicants to the Ph.D. program are automatically considered for financial support in the form of a research assistantship. A research assistantship in the Materials Science and Engineering Department currently pays $20,020/year for an 11-month appointment. A full tuition waiver and a partial fee waiver are also included in the total assistantship package. Funding is not available to support Master's only study.
Application Package
The following requirements must be met in order for an applicant to be considered for admission and financial support.
- Transcripts and certificates of degree
- One-page statement of purpose
- Resume
- Three letters of reference
- GRE score
- TOEFL score (international)
- Non-refundable application processing fee ($50 domestic/$60 international) Note: The fee for applications to the Fall 2008 term will increase to $60 domestic/$75 international
International applicants receiving financial assistance from the department are not required to complete the Financial Certification Form. International applicants who are admitted with outside financial assistance (government scholarships, corporate support, or personal funds) are required to submit the Financial Certification Form. The Department does not grant requests for application fee waivers. Applications that arrive without the processing fee required by the University of Illinois are not considered for admission.
Application Deadline
Graduate applications are accepted for the spring and fall semesters, however a spring applicant is admitted only by request of a MatSE faculty member. Fall applicants are admitted at large and choose an advisor after arriving on campus and interviewing with professors who have openings for new students. The deadline to apply for the spring term is September 10 and for the fall term is January 10. The review of applications typically begins prior to the deadline and early offers of admission may be extended to outstanding applicants. Late applications will be given full consideration based upon available research funding.
Apply Online
http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/admissions/apply/
The Program Code for MS study is 10KS0130MS; Ph.D. study is 10KS0130PHD. Applicants must indicate their field of specialization or area of research interest. By using the online system, your application is available to us immediately upon completion of the payment transaction. Please read all instructions carefully before starting the application process.
Supporting application material that is not submitted online should be mailed to:
Graduate Admissions
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1304 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Please do not send copies of your online application to the Department and, in consideration of space constraints, if publications are included with the supporting material, please send the title page only.
Student Visits
Applicants who are admitted to the graduate program and reside in the United States will be invited to participate in a paid weekend visit on scheduled dates, typically in March. The visit weekends include faculty research presentations, facility tours, interviews with faculty members, campus and apartment tours, and social activities coordinated by current graduate students. Additional information on graduate study at the University of Illinois is available from the Graduate College.