Mechanical Engineering

Applications Summary

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Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
The MSME degree is intended for students with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field, such as Aerospace Engineering. Students’ undergraduate backgrounds should include Mechanical Engineering core cores courses in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics of materials, dynamics of mechanical systems, systems analysis, machine design, manufacturing, and design. This degree is intended for students presenting themselves as professional Mechanical Engineers, with academic backgrounds covering both the BSME and MSME curriculum. Students with an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering will need to make up deficiencies in undergraduate core areas in order to earn the MSME degree. If only a few deficiencies exist, these courses may be taken as part of the student’s MSME program. However, if the number of deficient courses is large (as many as ten courses can be required), the deficiencies will probably need to be made up before the student officially enters the graduate program. Non-ME courses presented to cover undergraduate deficiencies will be evaluated by the department.

Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)
Those students not wishing to make up undergraduate deficiencies may qualify for the MSE degree. The MSE degree has the same curriculum requirements as the MSME, but does not require the core professional undergraduate ME courses. Instead, it requires only the standard entry-level math, physics, and chemistry courses, along with introductory engineering courses such as statics, dynamics, elementary materials, circuit theory, computer programming, etc. The admission requirements are detailed here.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. is the highest earned degree granted by U.S. universities. It recognizes the presence of superior qualities of mind and the creation of a significant, original contribution to knowledge. The award of the Ph.D. is based on the attainment of these goals and not on completion of a specific program of studies. The student must demonstrate strong scholastic ability throughout the program to complete independent research and to contribute creatively to advanced developments in engineering. The degree is approximately 30% course work and 70% research. Ph.D. students can attend the University of Washington on either a full-time or part-time basis. About 95% of the Ph.D. students attend full time. The Department of Mechanical Engineering requires that students have an MS degree prior to entering the PhD program.

Application Deadlines

  Autumn Winter Spring Summer
International Nov 1 Sept 1 Jan 1 Not recommended
Applicants seeking support Feb 1 * * *
All Others July 1 Oct 1 Feb 1 May 1

*Departmental support (TA, Fellowship) normally only available for Autumn applicants.

Application Procedure Summary

All MSME, MSE and PhD from outside UW (i.e., those PhD applicants not continuing from a UW MS)

Applications must be submitted to both the Graduate School and the ME Department. The on-line Graduate School application will lead you through all the steps that follow. These steps are summarized here to provide you an overview of the process you will go through.

Graduate School: The Graduate School application starts here. Besides the on-line application, the Graduate School requires original transcripts for international applicants. For international applicants who do not qualify for an English waiver, the Graduate School requires an official TOEFL score.

Department of Mechanical Engineering: Hard copies to be delivered to the ME Department: We require (1) a printed and signed copy of the application for admission generated by the Graduate School online process, (2) official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, (3) a financial aid/fellowship application for those seeking financial aid (form is on our website), (4) official GRE scores, and (5) official TOEFL scores (where needed). The PhD application form (available on our website) is required for PhD applicants. Submitted via the online application: Three recommendations and a personal statement. The personal statement should summarize your technical/research interests (so far as they are formulated at this point), eventual career goals, and how you envision your proposed degree contributing to these goals. This must be no more than one page in length.

PhD when a direct continuation of a UW MSME or MSE degree

Since your enrollment is automatically continued in the quarter following your MS, this is strictly an internal Mechanical Engineering process. We require the PhD application form available on the website. Also we require three letters of recommendation. One of these should be from UW faculty (preferably your MS advisor). The other two may be taken from your MS application file.

Admissions decisions are based on the following criteria

  1. Grade Point Average: The Graduate School requires applicants hold a GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the last 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours of graded undergraduate coursework to receive consideration for admission. The Department of Mechanical Engineering prefers an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2. In addition, the department prefers that PhD applicants have MS grade point averages of 3.5 or better.
  2. Quality and difficulty of courses taken and universities and colleges attended.
  3. GRE General Test: The Department of Mechanical Engineering requires the following minimum GRE scores: 450 Verbal (350 if English is not a native language), 650 Quantitative, and 4.0 Analytical Writing (3.5 if English is not a native language).
  4. Letters of recommendation.
  5. Statement of purpose.
  6. Professional experience, if applicable.
  7. English requirements for foreign nationals: The Department of Mechanical Engineering requires TOEFL scores for foreign nationals whose native language is not English, with a minimum score of 580 for the paper exam, 237 for the computer-based exam, and 45 for the TOEFLIBT.

The University of Washington provides equal opportunity in education without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University of Washington policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.