Admission to the ME Graduate Program is granted on a competitive basis. Since the ME Department normally receives many more qualified applications than it can accept, admission standards each year may be higher than the minimum requirements listed below. In general, however, admission is dependent upon the following items:

• Undergraduate GPA and other activities;
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (international students);
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students);
• Area of interest; and
• ME faculty members’ availability to advise students in a particular area of interest.

When a student is admitted, the department expects that the student will graduate in a timely manner. Since admitting a student requires a significant commitment on behalf of the ME faculty, the department believes that it is better to deny admission to a qualified student rather than admit him/her and then be unable to offer the support necessary to succeed in graduate school. On the other hand, when a student is admitted, the faculty members in the ME Department are committed to helping him/her develop the skills needed in the field of mechanical engineering.

     Application Procedure

For general information about Graduate School admission procedures, see the General Admissions information provided by the Graduate School (http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/).
Prospective students should apply online directly through the Graduate School website. In general, the following items will be required:

• Graduate School application form;
• Application fee;
• Copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
• Official report of the GRE general test scores (international students);
• Official results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System(IELTS) (international students);
• “Statement of Purpose” identifying immediate and ultimate degree objectives, technical areas of interest, and career objectives; and
• Three letters of recommendation.

All of the forms may be downloaded from the NDSU Graduate School website (http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/). Note that the Graduate School only processes applications accompanied with the application fee. Once the complete application materials have been received, they will be forwarded to the ME Department for consideration.

      Admission Deadlines

Fall Semester
Application deadline for full consideration of available assistantships: Feb. 15
Notification of admission/assistantships: March 15
Student response required: April 15
University requirements: Applications from U.S. students must be received 1 month prior to registration and by May 1 from international students

Spring Semester
Application deadline for full consideration of available assistantships: Sept. 15
Notification of admission/assistantships: Oct. 15
Student response required: Nov. 15
University requirements: Applications from U.S. students must be received 1 month prior to registration and by August 1 from international students

Applications received after the deadline will be considered for available assistantships, but preference will be given to those submitted by the deadline.

      Minimum Admission Requirements

M.S. Applicants: The minimum requirements for admission to the M.S. Program are as follows:

• B.S. degree in mechanical engineering or a related field from an institution recognized by NDSU. Students who do not have a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering may be admitted into the ME Graduate Program, but may be required to complete some undergraduate coursework prior to enrolling in graduate courses.
• U.S. students with a B.S. degree from an accredited university must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on scale of 4.0) for admission at full standing. Students with a GPA below 3.0 may be considered for conditional admittance.
• International students with a B.S. degree must have:
• an equivalent GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale),
• GRE test taken PRIOR to August 1, 2011: a minimum GRE score of 1100 (combined quantitative and verbal) with a minimum quantitative score of 700.  
• GRE test taken AFTER August 1, 2011: a minimum GRE score of 300 (combined quantitative and verbal) with a minimum quantitative score of 155.
• Minimum scores on the TOEFL or IELTS exam as listed in the table below.

Note that TOEFL/IELTS requirements for Graduate Teaching Assistantships may exceed those listed below, in accordance with the NDSU English Language Proficiency requirements found in the NDSU Graduate Bulletin.

Note: If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of graduate student positions available, the requirements to gain admission may exceed those listed above.

In special circumstances, a student not meeting the requirements listed above may be conditionally admitted if he/she is supported by a faculty member and satisfies the minimum admission requirements set forth by the NDSU Graduate School.

Ph.D. Applicants: The minimum requirements for admission to the Ph.D. Program are as follows:

• B.S. degree in mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Satisfying one or more of the following criteria:
• earning at least a 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) GPA as an undergraduate, or
• earning at least a 3.0 GPA over the past two semesters of graduate studies at an accredited institution, or
• earning a M.S. degree in engineering, math, physics, or a related field. Students who do not have a degree equivalent to the NDSU B.S. degree in mechanical engineering may be admitted into the Ph.D. program, but may be required to complete some undergraduate coursework prior to enrolling in graduate courses.
• International students must meet the same requirements for GPA, GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores as listed above for M.S. applicants.

Note: If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of Ph.D. positions available, the requirements to gain admission may exceed those listed above.

      Graduate School

The Graduate School has a variety of campus-wide policies and procedures that apply to all students enrolled in a graduate program. Graduate School applicants should initially contact the Graduate School to submit their applications. Admission letters will be issued by the Graduate School.

Graduate School Forms:
The following forms may be downloaded from the Graduate School website (http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/current_students/forms/)

• Master of Accountancy Plan of Study
• Master of Business Administration Plan of Study
• Master of Music in Music Education Plan of Study
• Request for Change: Plan of Study or Advisory/Supervisory Committee
• Request to Schedule Examination
• Master's Examination Packet
• Doctoral Examination Packet
• Continuation of Program/Degree Objective Change
• Request for Delayed Enrollment
• Request for Reactivation
• Request for Leave of Absence
• Application for Graduate Degree (students NOT requiring dissertations, theses and papers)
• Verification of Certificate
• Verification of College Teaching Certificate
• Commencement Participation
• Request to Withdraw from Graduate School

Visit the North Dakota State University Graduate School Homepage at http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/ to apply online or find more information.