HomeGraduate Admissions
| Programs and Degrees | |
| Application Procedures | |
| Application Requirements | |
| Application Deadlines | |
| Fellowships and Financial Aid | |
| Master's Submatriculation | |
| Questions | |
| Online Application | |
| Contacts |
Programs and Degrees
The Department offers the Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or Telecommunications and Networking and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD degree in Electrical & Systems Engineering.
The MSE Program
The MSE program is structured to develop in the student a strong theoretical base for either engineering practice or research. The MSE degree requires the successful completion of 10 course units. Electrical engineers complete at least six courses in electrical engineering or telecommunications and take up to four electives. Systems engineers take four core courses and are required to choose a focus for the remaining six courses. Students with special interests not treated by the formal curriculum may pursue faculty-supervised independent study for up to one course unit. Please note, applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, beginning on the first deadline, November 15th and continuing until March 15th (final deadline for international applicants) or May 15th (final deadline for for U.S. citizens and permanent residents).
The PhD Program
The PhD program is focused on the develeopment of research skills to prepare the student for a life of scholarship in his field of interest. The heart of the course of study is the thesis research which culminates in the doctoral dissertation, a work of substantial original research which contributes to the body of knowledge available in a field. Additional coursework to continue the process of strengthening the command of the chosen discipline and to add to the inventory of mathematical skills is also required. The PhD degree requires a minimum of 20 course units including thesis research. Up to 8 courses may be transferred from prior graduate work; this is subject to the approval of the Graduate Chair. Prior graduate work is not a prerequisite to PhD application. Please note, the application deadline for the Ph.D. program is December 15th (for matriculation in the following fall term).
Application Procedures
Please visit the Graduate Admissions FAQ page at www.seas.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/admissions-faq.php
Application to a graduate program in the Electrical & Systems Engineering Department is made via ApplyYourself, the University's online graduate application. Paper applications are no longer available. ApplyYourself allows applicants to begin, renew, or change information at any stage of an open application. It also allows applicants to check the status of an application using a web browser. If your recommendations are submitted online you do not need to send paper copies. Recommenders are stronghly encouraged to submit their recommendations online- this is the quickest and most efficient process of submitting the recommendation.
Documents not submitted online should be sent to:
University of Pennsylvania
School of Engineering & Applied Science
Graduate Admissions
111 Towne Building
220 S. 33rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6391
Application Requirements
GRE
Required for all graduate students- Master's and PhD applicants. Our institution code for submitting scores is 2888 (no department code is needed). Minimum scores of 700 quantitative and 400 verbal are recommended. Applications are evaluated as a whole portfolio and not on a single criterion. Thus, we do not adhere to strict minimums pertaining to test scores.
TOEFL/IELTS
International students and permanent residents whose native language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency. This may be done in the following ways:
- Completion of three full years of course work (prior to matriculation) in an academic program at a college or university in the U.S., Canada, U.K., New Zealand, or Australia;
-Submission of an official TOEFL score;
A total score of at least 600 is recommended for the paper-based exam.
A total score of at least 250 is recommended for the computer-based exam.
A total score of at least 100 is recommended for the internet-based exam.
Our TOEFL Institution Code (University of Pennsylvania, Engineering & Applied Science) is 2888 (no department code is needed). Information about the TOEFL can be found at www.toefl.org. Applications are evaluated as a whole portfolio and not on a single criterion. Thus, we do not adhere to strict minimums pertaining to test scores.
-Submission of an official score report for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 7.5. Information about the IELTS can be found at www.ielts.org/default.aspx;
Recommendations
Two (2) letters of recommendations are required, at least one of which must be from a faculty member who is familiar with the applicant's academic record. Electronic and paper-based recommendations are accepted; paper-based letters must arrive in envelopes signed and sealed by the recommender. Further instructions are within the electronic application.
Transcripts
One transcript is required from each post-secondary academic institution attended for two or more terms. Transcript must be offiicial documents delivered signed and sealed by the pertinent institution's registrar.
Statement of Purpose
A discussion of academic and career objectives. PhD applicants must specify a Research Area.
Application Fee
A non-refundable fee of $80 must accompany every application.
Documents/Evaluation
All materials needed to complete the application - transcripts, test scores, recommendations, personal statement, etc. - should be submitted online to insure accuracy and a swift completion of the application dossier.
One official transcript from each university or college attended and any materials not submitted online should be sent to:
University of Pennsylvania
School of Engineering & Applied Science
Graduate Admissions
111 Towne Building
220 S. 33rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6391
USA
International applicants are not required to provide proof of financial support at the time of submission of an application to the ESE graduate program and should not submit this information with the application..
International applicants may wish to provide an evaluation of their transcripts provided by the World Education Services - www.wes.org/
Candidates who wish to have their papers, abstracts, talks, portfolios, etc., reviewed as part of the application dossier should not send hard copies; please link these materials on your web page and list the appropriate urls in your personal statement.
The online application allows the applicant to determine what materials have been received.
It is not possible to evaluate a candidate's potential for admission to the graduate program until the application is complete: transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, test scores, application fee, etc. - have been submitted.
Applications will not be reviewed until complete. Test scores, grades, recommendations, etc. are all considered equally in the evaluation for our graduate programs.
Application Deadlines
All applications must be received by the following dates:
PhD Applicants
PhD applicants must submit their complete applications no later than December 15 to be considered for matriculation in the following fall term. Applications that are full and complete will be reviewed after the December 15 deadline.
Master's Degree Applicants
Prospective master's degree student have the ability to submit to any of three application cycle deadlines for fall matriculation: November 15, March 15* and May 15**. The deadline to apply for spring matriculation is November 1.
* To ensure international applicants have enough time to apply for student visas, all international applicants must submit their full and complete application by March 15.
** The May 15 deadline is only available to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents.
Applications that are full and complete will be reviewed after each cycle has ended. Completed master's applications are generally reviewed on a rolling basis. All applications are reviewed, and applicants notified of the decision, as expeditiously as possible.
All Graduate Applicants
Applicants may check their status online and should actively ensure that their applications are complete. Due to the large numbers of applications received there can be some delay in response; we ask that applicants be patient. When an application is complete, it is evaluated by faculty who render a decision.
Candiates are notified by email of admissions decisions by the Associate Dean for Academics of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Financial awards to PhD students are announced by the ESE Admissions Chair.
Please note that decisions cannot be revealed by telephone.
Fellowships and Financial Aid
Master's of Science in Engineering students at the University of Pennsylvania receive no financial aid or scholarships from the School Of Engineering and Applied Science or the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering. Some applicants may be eligible for various loans; for further information, please contact Student Financial Services.
PhD applicants compete for a limited number of Research Assistantships offered by individual faculty; the number of assistantships available varies from year to year. All offers of admission to the ESE PhD program include one-year assistantships which include full tuition and a living stipend. RAships for subsequent years of study are contingent upon satisfactory performance. Admission without offers of funding may be made only if a student is externally funded as by a corporation or government. For information on Fellowships, please contact the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences' Academic Programs Office at 215-898-7246.
Campus and Departmental Visits
Prospective M.S.E. Applicants planning to visit the Philadelphia area are encouraged to arrange a University of Pennsylvania campus tour. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applicants for the M.S.E. programs, we cannot offer special tours or faculty visits.
PhD applicants planning to visit the Philadelphia area are also encouraged to arrange a University of Pennsylvania campus tour and to contact the Graduate Coordinator about their visit date and interests. The department can not guarantee faculty availability, so please notify the Graduate Coordinator before planning your visit and with adequate notice.
Master's Submatriculation
Qualified students may be permitted to begin a graduate program while still completing their undergraduate program. With the permission of the responsible undergraduate and graduate faculty, a student admitted to a graduate program may take up to three graduate courses for both undergraduate and graduate credit while registered as an undergraduate student. Only candidates for the BSE degree may apply for submatriculation in the SEAS Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) program, and these students must have a GPA of 3.0 or above.
Application for admission as a submatriculant must be completed before the end of the student's junior year. To apply for submatriculation, fill out the submatriculation form (also available at the Graduate Coordinator desk in 203 Moore) and obtain the required approvals. The student then applies to the graduate program following the regular graduate application procedure. The submatriculation form should accompany your application material.