Instructions For Applying to Graduate Programs in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

Information is provided here regarding deadlines for graduate applications, the application procedure, and admission requirements.

Deadlines for graduate applications are as follows:
For admission in Fall Semester, applications must be received in complete form by January 15th of the preceding Spring term. For admission in Spring Semester, applications must be received in complete form by September 15th of the preceding Fall term.

Applicants should submit a completed application form on-line at MSU Graduate Admissions along with an application fee of $50.

ECE Department Program codes for the MSU application:
Electrical Engineering MASTERS = 2348
Electrical Engineering DOCTORAL = 2349
GRE Department Code = 1201
GRE University Code = 1465
TOEFL Department Code = 66

In addition to submitting the application, the following 5 items must be submitted to the address listed below. *NOTE: If a paper application is used instead of an on-line application it must also go to the department address along with the fee.
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Attn: ECE Graduate Application Processing
Michigan State University
2120 Engineering Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1226

Note that items 1 through 5 below, along with the application form and the application fee, are required for a complete application to be considered for admissions. We do not waive these requirements, nor can the application fee be waived.

1. Three Recommendation Forms must be completed by instructors or supervisors familiar with the applicants work. The e-mail address of the recommender must be provided on the form. Please provide a copy of the recommendation form to the recommender. For applicants from international schools, this form must be accompanied by letters of recommendation on official stationery from the recommender's institution.
2. An Engineering Supplemental Application, through the Graduate Information Management System site, must also be filled out and submitted. (Note that this is an on-line form that is transmitted to the Graduate Admissions Secretary when submitted.)
3. Two official copies of transcripts from all previous universities attended.
4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude scores are required for all International Applicants and for all other applicants with an undergraduate degree from an international school. The GRE is recommended for all other applicants. GRE test scores must be provided to us directly by the Educational Testing Service.
5. TOEFL Scores are required for all international applicants who are on an F-1 visa from a non-English speaking country. TOEFL test scores must be provided to us directly by the Educational Testing Service.

Financial Support:
All applicants are automatically considered for financial support in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. Admission into the Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering is generally linked to the availability of such support. For M.S. applicants, support is only considered for those who enroll in the M.S. plan with thesis.

Department Admission Process:
Our admission process is a two-step process. First, the Admissions Committee reviews the applications with regard to background. If the background is considered compatible with a good experience in our graduate program, then the application goes to the second step. In the second step, the application is reviewed for support. Admission to the department is linked to the availability of support in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship, research assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship. For international students, support is generally in the form of a research assistantship. The Admissions Committee reviews the applications to decide whether an application is considered qualified for admission if support is available. Then the research faculty review those applications to decide to whom an RA will be offered. This decision is made by the individual faculty who have funding for RA's.

Admission Requirements:

• Students should have a four-year bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
• A graduate assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship should be available to the applicant.
• Successful domestic applicants are highly ranked in their bachelor's class. Most successful domestic applicants have GPA's of 3.5 or better. Domestic applicants with GPA less than 3.2 are generally not considered for admission.
• A general profile of a successful international student applicant is as follows.
  • Graduate of a highly ranked school.
  • In the upper 10% of their class.
  • TOEFL scores typically range from 600 to 650, paper, or 250-270, computer. (Paper TOEFL scores less than 570 or computer scores less than 230 will generally not be considered acceptable.)
  • GRE scores are generally above 750 for the quantitative portion. (Verbal GRE scores less than 400 and analytical scores less than 4.0 will generally not be considered acceptable.)

Some specific further notes regarding successful applicants from China and India are noted below.

• Additional profile attributes of a successful applicant from China.
  • Graduates from Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiatong University, or the Huazhong University of Science and Technology with a GPA of 85 or better.
  • Graduates from other Chinese universities, with a GPA of 90 or better.
• Additional profile attributes of a successful applicant from India.
  • Graduate from an Indian Institute of Technology with a GPA of 8 or higher.
  • Graduate from a Regional Engineering College, or comparable school, with grades of 80% or higher.