Graduate Student Admissions

The Application Process

The following admission process applies to all students interested in getting their M.S. degree or Ph.D. Degree from the ECE Department at the University of Utah.

Application Deadlines

Date	Description	Domestic/International Students
Fall Semester
January 15th	Application Deadline	Domestic and international students
Spring Semester
October 1st	Application Deadline	Domestic students only (No international student admissions for spring semesters.)

The Online Application

The following information is required to complete the online application:

Item	Description	More Information
Degree Program	Options include: M.S. Coursework M.S. Project M.S. Thesis M.S./M.B.A Dual Degree Ph.D. More degree program information is available on the ECE website.	Minimum GPA required: 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.5 International students should see the FAQ for percentile comparisons.
Potential Advisers	List professors in the department with whom you share research interests.	ECE Professors organized by research area
Education History	All post-secondary schools attended: Name of Institution Dates of attendance Degrees earned/expected GPA	Two translated (if not in English) copies of the student's transcripts must be sent to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department directly from the issuing schools to the Graduate Coordinator: Lori Sather 50 S. Central Campus Dr Rm 3280 Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9206 USA
GRE Scores	The GRE is required of all applicants, and scores should be sent from ETS directly to the University of Utah (ETS code: 4853) ECE Department (ETS code: 1203)	Applicants must score 158 or above in the Quantitative area; the Analytical area must be 29 or 3.5, depending upon the type of testing; and the Verbal area must be above 150. GRE Preparatory Materials
TOEFL or IELTS	International applicants only: Either TOEFL or IELTS scores must be submitted. TOEFL: Send to the U. of Utah ETS code: 4853 IELTS: Submit University of Utah address to center where the test was taken.	TOEFL:The minimum acceptable score is 600 in the paper-based testing scheme, 250 for the computer-based scheme, and 100 in the new Internet-based scheme. IELTS: The minimum acceptable score is 7.5.
Personal Statement (Statement of Purpose)	One- to two-page statement describing the applicant's background, research interests, and reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in the ECE Department.	How to knock our socks off
Resume or CV	The online admission system will request a resume or curriculum-vitae (CV) detailing your relevant work history and research experience.	Student resume samples
Three recommendation providers	All recommendations must be completed online. Only contact information for each provider is necessary. We will contact them directly to submit a recommendation on your behalf through our online system.	Recommendations should come from current or former professors who have direct coursework or research experience with the applicant, or a direct supervisor who from a field related to electrical and computer engineering.
Application Fee	The $55 Domestic / $65 International application fee may be paid online during the application process.	The application will not be complete until the application fee has been received.

When the above information is ready, you may begin the ECE Department's online application for the graduate program using the appropriate link below.

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The Online Application - Domestic Students

The Online Application - International Students

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The Graduate Program Coordinator

Supporting documents and further questions should be directed to:

If You Get Accepted

Welcome to the ECE Graduate Program at the University of Utah! The following steps summarize what to expect after completing the online application.

• Applicants can check their application status online to ensure we have received support documents. Please do not contact the Graduate Coordinator to check on the status of your application - your status will update in the online application system as soon as we receive documents.
• Applicants will receive an email stating that their decision letter is available online.
• New students accepted into the program will be given further instructions in the decision letter.
• Students must notify the department whether or not they will attend the ECE Graduate Program at the University of Utah.
• International students must also submit bank and sponsor statements to show proof of sufficient financial funds for their first year's expenses in order to be issued the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility. (This "Affidavit of Support" form is on the Admissions Office website at http://www.sa.utah.edu/admiss/appdownload/Affidavit.pdf.)
• The ECE Department does not normally admit students to the M.S. thesis option or Ph.D. programs without a research adviser and/or research project. If you are not selected by an adviser, we will admit you to the coursework-only M.S. program. Coursework-only M.S. students may transfer into the M.S. thesis program or Ph.D. program within the first two or three semesters if they are able to find a research thesis adviser.
• Non-accredited ECE degree or a degree from an allied field requirements: Applicants with a non-accredited ECE undergraduate degree or a degree in an allied field are to contact the Graduate Coordinator for information on additional requirements.

Frequently Asked Application Questions

Is there a GPA cutoff?

Yes, a minimum GPA of 3.2 in undergraduate work is required by the ECE Department. Most students accepted into the graduate program have GPAs well above that level.

Is there a minimum percentile score?

Yes. Applicants from India should have a minimum percentile score of 80, and applicants from China should have a minimum percentile score somewhat higher.

Is the GRE required?

Yes, the GRE General Exam is required for all applicants. Applicants must score 730 or above in the Quantitative area; the Analytical area must be 700 or 3.5, depending upon the type of testing; and the Verbal area must be above 450.

Is there a TOEFL or IELTS score cutoff?

Yes, the minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is: 600 in the paper-based testing scheme, 250 for the computer-based scheme, and 100 in the new Internet-based scheme.

The minimum acceptable score for the IELTS is: 7.5.

If my GPA and/or test scores are slightly below the cutoffs mentioned above, can you look at my record and tell me if I should apply?

No, we do not pre-evaluate records. After reading our application information, applicants must make their own decision about whether or not to apply.

Can either the department or the university application fee be waived?

No. Applications which are submitted without the application fee will not be considered. The application fee cannot be waived under any circumstance.

Will my application be considered if it is not complete?

No, no application will be considered by the ECE Graduate Committee unless the application file is complete. All application materials must be received in the ECE Department Office by the application deadline.

Where can I get more information on the ECE Department?

Detailed information about the ECE Department, faculty's research interests, ongoing research projects, and recent technical papers are located at www.ece.utah.edu. Applicants should check the website regularly for updated information.

Do I have to contact a faculty member to support my admission?

Please do not contact faculty members prior to being accepted into the program. The application will clearly ask you which research areas interest you and with whom you might like to work. Students may list any ECE faculty members here. Applicants will be considered for assistantships based on the faculty member(s) and/or research interests indicated on the online application. Applicants may contact a research group website with coursework questions. Sending multiple emails to faculty asking for support before admission does not advance the process of their application or help in funding decisions.

Can you provide information on previous admission levels?

No, this information is not available.

What are you really looking for in an applicant?

We are looking for applicants with strong academic backgrounds who have demonstrated a potential to perform creative and innovative research in the research areas represented by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Lori Sather, lori.sather@utah.edu, the Graduate Coordinator.