Admissions

Undergraduate application instructions

Please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admission to learn about the undergraduate admission requirements.

Graduate application instructions

Deadlines

Most applications are due by the following dates:

• Spring admission: September 15
• Fall admission: December 15 (for early review)

GRE test

The GRE General Test is required of all applicants.

TOEFL test

All international applicants whose “native” language is not English must take the TOEFL Exam. A minimum overall score of 84, with minimum sub-scores of IBT-R 22, IBT-L 22, IBT-S 18, and IBT-W 22 are required. These requirements must be met from a single test date - we currently do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores. The scores must be received by the application deadline for the semester in which students are applying. The TOEFL is not required if the applicant will have graduated from a U.S. university by the time of enrollment, or if the applicant is a CMU student or alum.

Financial aid

Financial aid is awarded upon admission in the form of research assistantships based upon departmental resources and available openings. If available, financial aid is awarded for both the fall and spring semesters. There is not a special financial aid form.

Virtually all graduate students in the research intensive Ph.D. program receive financial aid, in the form of fellowships, that cover tuition, fees, and reasonable living expenses for the entire year. Thus, students can concentrate on course work and research without financial concerns or interruptions. All applicants are considered for financial aid. No special form is required. All full-time students in the Ph.D. program engage in research under faculty guidance.

Students in the Professional M.S. program are ineligible to receive departmental fellowships that cover tuition and living expenses. Students in this course-intensive program are primarily self-supported, but may be eligible to receive partial financial support in the form of hourly wages to support the teaching and research missions of the department. Students in the Professional M.S. program must complete at least two academic semesters before they may be admitted into the Ph.D. program. Only students in the Ph.D. program can be considered for departmental financial support in the form of tuition and stipend.

Application fee

Please note that a non-refundable application fee of $75 is required of all applicants and only those applications received with the fee will be processed. Applications received without the fee will not be processed and the application fee cannot be waived.

Questions?

Please see the FAQ.

Accommodations for applicants from Iran

Due to the current situation in Iran, the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is willing to waive the application fee for applicants who are living in Iran and currently experiencing challenges.  To request a fee waiver, please reach out to Jessica Tomko, Senior Admissions Coordinator.

Please note that we are also willing to be flexible with regards to the deadline. All applications must be submitted by the final deadline (December 31), but we can continue to accept supporting materials (test scores, letter of recommendations, etc.) after the deadline. If you have taken the GRE or TOEFL already, please enter your self-reported scores into the application. We will need the official scores in order to admit, but we can begin to review your application with the unofficial, self-reported scores.