DEGREE Industrial Engineering, PhD

Admissions

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

*See application steps below.

Applicants from any discipline that provides foundations for research in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) topics are encouraged to apply. For example, applicants may come from industrial, electrical, or mechanical engineering, or mathematics, statistics, computer science, psychology, or economics. Applicants are strongly advised to review the prerequisites for each area of specialization at the department website.

Each application is judged on the basis of previous academic record, Graduate Record Exam (GRE)* scores for the general test, three letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose. Admission is very competitive and application deadlines are extremely important.

Reentry Applicants

Reentry applicants must notify an academic advisor and apply by the following application deadlines for the appropriate term. Read more information about the additional reentry information.

Although we accept summer applications, we recommend applying for fall or spring as there are not many courses offered in the summer.

• Fall: December 1
• Spring: September 1

Application Requirements

Application deadlines are strictly enforced and ALL application materials including transcripts and English proficiency test scores MUST be included and submitted by the application deadline.  (Unofficial scores accepted for department review).

*Note that our office does not provide feedback to applicants as to their potential for admission. Applicants should review both the Industrial and Systems Engineering (I SY E) department and Graduate School requirements for admission and if you feel you meet the necessary criteria for applying, please do so.

1. Applicants must first meet all of the minimum requirements of the Graduate School. 
2. Applicants must also meet department specific requirements as outlined below:
   1. BS degree or equivalent

Application Steps

1. Complete an online application through the Graduate School website.
2. List three recommenders and their contact information as part of the online application. 
   1. ​An email will be sent to the recommender, asking that they submit their letter online using the Graduate School’s recommendation form. Applicants can log back into their online application to re-send the email request if the recommender loses the email. Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically.
3.  Submit a statement of purpose with your online application. 
   1. In this document, applicants should explain why they want to pursue further education in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) and discuss which UW faculty members they would be interested in doing research with during their graduate study. 
4. Submit English Proficiency test scores.
   1. ​All international degree-seeking applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. 
   2. For more information, visit the Graduate School Requirements page. Note that exam information must be valid at the start date of the semester that you are applying for (nonexpired).
5. Submit * GRE Exam information 
   1. GRE required if applying for Spring or Summer 2027 PhD program start.  There are no specific scoring guidelines for the exam as the GRE is only one part of consideration for admission into the program.  GRE exam information must be valid at start date of the semester that you are applying for (nonexpired).
   2. Starting Fall 2027 term, GRE exam will be considered if available but no longer be required for admission consideration.
6. Electronically submit one copy of your unofficial transcript with your application.  
   1. Unofficial copies of transcripts are used for departmental review.
   2. When the department recommends an applicant for admission, they will receive an email from the Graduate School requesting official transcripts that will include instructions on how to submit.
   3. Do not send transcripts or any other application materials to gradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
7. Upload your resume in your application.
8. Pay the Application Fee.
   1. ​Submission must be accompanied by the one-time application fee. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (MasterCard or VISA). By state law, this fee can only be waived or deferred through the conditions outlined here by the Graduate School.

Do not send materials/documents to the Industrial and Systems Engineering (I SY E) Department or Graduate School until you are recommended for admissions. All documents should be uploaded with your application.

Questions

Check out the Admissions FAQ or contact us at iegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.

Tuition

Tuition and segregated fee rates are always listed per semester (not for Fall and Spring combined).

View tuition rates

Funding 

Graduate School Resources

The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Financial Assistance

If you choose to attend UW–Madison and plan to pursue funding on your own, the following sites could be very helpful:

• Graduate School Funding Resources
• Graduate School Costs and Funding

Program Resources

Students admitted to the graduate program are provided financial support in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. Support is dependent on availability of funds and students maintaining satisfactory progress towards their degree.

For information specific to graduate assistantships within the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, please consult the department’s graduate program handbook. 

Additional Resources

Federal Loans

Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may be eligible to receive some level of funding through the federal direct loan program. These loans are available to qualified graduate students who are taking at least 4 credits during the fall and spring semesters, and 2 credits during summer. Private loans are also available. Learn more about UW-Madison financial aid here.

International Student Services Funding and Scholarships

For information on international student funding and scholarships, visit the ISS website.

The UW-Madison Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is a national leader in research funding. At the cutting-edge of industrial engineering and systems research, the department offers state-of-the-art facilities for faculty, staff and students to work in. Our faculty are leaders in their fields, respected nationally and internationally for their research.

View our research

Minimum graduate school requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Curricular Requirements

Required Courses

Students choose one of the following Industrial and Systems Engineering (I SY E) research areas for their PhD program, course and research planning in consultation with their faculty advisor.

Students in the PhD program must complete the following additional program requirements:

Research Area Breadth Requirement 

The purpose of the breadth requirement is to ensure PhD students achieve minimum competence in multiple areas of industrial and systems engineering. Students must take at least two ISyE courses (6 credits) in Methodology² and two ISyE courses (6 credits) in Application³ areas selected by the student and approved by their advisor. Courses used to meet this requirement must be 300 level or higher. A student must receive a grade of B or higher to use a course for this requirement.  Courses used to satisfy the breadth requirement must be completed by end of the semester the student is completing their preliminary examination.

Graduate School Breadth (Doctoral Minor Requirement)

Students must complete the Graduate School’s breadth (minor) requirement by completing a cohesive group of courses outside of the major. These courses should help students in their research preparation. Every student seeking a PhD degree must choose between an Option A minor in another department and an Option B Distributed minor.  Students must consult their advisor before deciding how to fulfill this requirement.

Research Colloquium / Seminar Series Requirement

Students must attend the I SY E 961 Graduate Seminar in Industrial Engineering – ISyE Research Colloquium Series for at least three semesters. Completion of requirement must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor when the student submits their PhD Program Preliminary Exam Warrant request. 

Teaching Assistant (TA Requirement)

Recognizing the importance of instructional training to our PhD students, each student in the PhD program is required to serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for at least one semester during their PhD program.  TA requirement must be completed prior to requesting of students final PhD degree warrant.  Requests for a partial or full waiver of this requirement should be submitted in writing to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and will be reviewed by the Academic Affairs Cluster. 

Operations Research, Optimization, and Analytics Pathway¹

The following is a list of recommended courses to prepare for the research area’s qualifying examination.

¹

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Health Systems Engineering Pathway¹

The following is a list of highly recommended courses to complete in this research area.

¹

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

²

Topics vary for this course. Obtain advance approval from your faculty advisor.

Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial AI Pathway ¹

The following is a list of courses students may choose to complete in this research area.

¹

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

²

Topics vary for this course. Obtain advance approval from your faculty advisor.

Human Factors and Ergonomics Pathway¹

Students in this research area must complete a depth requirement, which includes coursework and exam components. Students may use prior coursework to satisfy the coursework requirement to be eligible for the qualifying exam. HFE PhD students must complete an additional coursework and exam component.

Human Factors and Ergonomics Course Requirement

¹

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

²

Topics vary for this course. Obtain advance approval from your faculty advisor.

³

HFE 700+ Seminar/Special Topics Course Requirement: Prior to completion of the PhD Preliminary Exam (typically 3rd – 4th year of PhD program), Human Factors PhD students must complete at least six seminar / special topics courses totaling a minimum of at least 12 credits.

•  All courses must be numbered 700 and above
• At least 3 of the courses must be in the Human Factors and Ergonomics area (totaling in at least  6 credits)
• Students may use courses numbered 700 and above level seminar/ special topics courses also as breadth courses if courses are not Human Factors focused
• Other courses may qualify. Students should consult with advisor for approval and if questions. Students may submit courses to the HFE Area Convenor for consideration also.

Graduate Student Services
iegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu
Room 3182 Mechanical Engineering Building
1513 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

Kaibo Liu, Professor and Associate Chair of Graduate Affairs
assoc.chair.grad@ie.wisc.edu