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.
Graduate Admissions Requirements | Requirements | Detail |
| Fall Deadline | December 15 |
| Spring Deadline | September 1 |
| Summer Deadline | December 15 |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not Required.* |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency). |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS and PROCESS
Degree: Most applicants have a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Students with a Bachelor of Science in other engineering or physical and natural science disciplines will be considered for admission. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree.
GPA: The Department of Mechanical Engineering prefers a 3.2/4.0 GPA. The minimum GPA to be reviewed by the admission committee is 3.0/4.0.
Advisor selection process: Applicants are required to seek out and secure their own faculty advisor. International students must complete this process as part of the application process, before an offer of admission may be granted. To seek out a faculty advisor please review the department Research and People websites. Only those faculty listed with titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, can serve as graduate advisors. Do not contact Emeritus faculty, Lecturers, Research Scientists, or Faculty Associates. You are encouraged to inquire about possible funding opportunities. If a faculty member offers to be your advisor, ask them to email their acceptance to megradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
Each application must include the following:
- Graduate School Application
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Resume/CV
- Three letters of recommendation
- English Proficiency Score (if required)
- Application Fee
All applicants must satisfy requirements that are set forth by the Graduate School. Upon acceptance, students without Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science degrees may be required to complete one or more courses in addition to degree requirements to satisfy any deficiencies (this requirement cannot be determined prior to admission).
DEADLINES
To apply to the Mechanical Engineering program, complete applications, including supportive materials, must be submitted as described below and received by the following deadline dates:
- Fall Semester—December 15
- Spring Semester—September 1
- Summer Session—December 15
ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT
Within the online application, upload the undergraduate transcript(s) and, if applicable, the previous graduate transcript. Unofficial copies of transcripts will be accepted for review, but official copies are required for admitted students. Please do not send transcripts or any other application materials to the Graduate School or the Department of Mechanical Engineering unless requested. Please review the requirements set by the Graduate School for additional information about degrees/transcripts.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
In this document, applicants should explain why they want to pursue further education in Mechanical Engineering and discuss which UW faculty members they would be interested in doing research with during their graduate study (see the Graduate School for more advice on how to structure a personal statement).
RESUME
Upload your resume in your application.
THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
These letters are required from people who can accurately judge the applicant’s academic, research, and/or work performance. Letters of recommendation are submitted electronically to graduate programs through the online application. See the Graduate School for FAQs regarding letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are due by the deadline listed above.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY SCORE
Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. The UW-Madison Graduate School accepts TOEFL or IETLS scores. Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.
For more information regarding minimum score requirements and exemption policy, please see the Graduate School Requirements for Admission.
APPLICATION FEE
Submission must be accompanied by the one-time application fee. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or debit/ATM. Information about the application fee may be found here (scroll to the ‘Frequently asked questions).
Fee grants are available through the conditions outlined here by the Graduate School. Applicants who do not qualify for a fee grant as explained above, may seek out a Mechanical Engineering faculty advisor and discuss the fee grant option with that individual. If the faculty advisor is able and willing to pay the application fee for the applicant, the faculty advisor should contact the ME Associate Chair for Graduate Studies or the ME Graduate Admissions Team for assistance.
QUESTIONS:
If you have questions, please contact megradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
RE-ENTRY ADMISSIONS
If you were previously enrolled as a graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, have not earned your degree, but have had a break in enrollment for a minimum of a fall or spring term, you will need to re-apply to resume your studies. Please review the Graduate School requirements for previously enrolled students. Your previous faculty advisor (or another ME faculty advisor) must be willing to supply advising support and should e-mail the ME Graduate Student Services Coordinator regarding next steps in the process.
If you were previously enrolled in a UW-Madison graduate degree, completed that degree, have had a break in enrollment since earning the degree and would now like to apply for another UW-Madison program; you are required to submit a new student application through the UW-Madison Graduate School online application. For ME graduate programs, you must follow the entire application process as described above.
CURRENTLY ENROLLED GRADUATE STUDENT ADMISSIONS
Students currently enrolled as a graduate student at UW-Madison, whether in ME or a non-ME graduate program, wishing to apply to this degree program should contact the ME Graduate Admissions Team to inquire about the process and deadlines several months in advance of the anticipated enrollment term. Current students may apply to change or add programs for any term (fall, spring, or summer).
QUESTIONS:
If you have questions, please contact megradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.