This internal process is for currently enrolled UW Mechanical Engineering master’s students seeking to transition directly into the Ph.D. program in the immediately following quarter, without a break in enrollment.
This is a good fit for students who have been working consistently with a faculty member who is supportive of their transition to the Ph.D. program.
UW students who wish to transition from the MSME program to the Ph.D. program need to submit a limited set of materials for consideration. Although many students apply during the final quarter of their M.S. degree, applications may be submitted earlier if a faculty advisor has agreed to supervise the student's Ph.D. research.
Application requirements
- Submit the internal Ph.D. application form
- Obtain one letter of recommendation from the faculty member who will be your Ph.D. advisor. Your recommender can choose to use the departmental recommendation form.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! You can still receive your master’s degree once you have fulfilled all MSME requirements while being enrolled in the Ph.D. program.
The internal application requires only one recommendation letter from the faculty member who will become your Ph.D. advisor rather than the three required for an external application. Because of this, you must already have a faculty advisor committed to supervise your Ph.D. research.
No. You do not need to wait until your final quarter to begin the transition process. You may apply once you have secured a faculty advisor, as faculty support is one of the key requirements of the internal application process. Once approved, the transition to the Ph.D. program can take effect in any subsequent academic quarter.
No, project-based, independent study, or M.S. thesis course credits cannot count towards ME 800 credits.
No. This internal application process is available only to students currently enrolled in the UW MSME program. Students enrolled in other UW departments should apply to our Ph.D. program through the standard Graduate School online application process.
Have additional questions?
Please reach out to megrad@uw.edu or schedule an appointment for Ph.D. advising.