No. The master’s programs are separate programs that terminate with the master’s degree.

There are two types of master’s programs: Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.). The M.S.E. is available in all departments except Electrical Engineering and is typically funded (tuition and stipend). The M.Eng. is available in all departments except Computer Science and Operations Research and Financial Engineering.

If you are interested in obtaining a Ph.D., you should apply directly to the Ph.D. program in your field. Most departments offer a master’s degree “en route” to the Ph.D. (usually after your second year).

The school takes a “holistic reading process” approach to reviewing applications. All aspects of the application, including undergraduate coursework, test scores, research experience, and letters of recommendation, are considered.

Strengths in any of these areas may compensate for weaknesses in any other areas, and while it is not necessary to possess an impeccable record in all areas, strength in each is correlated with admission.

In short, there is no formula for gaining admission. Meeting even a small group of current students will help you realize the diverse backgrounds of our admitted students.

There are no cutoffs or targets pertaining to GRE scores and admission because departments in the School of Engineering generally do not require the submission of GRE scores; our departments are either test-optional or do not accept test scores. Applicants should consult the specific departmental website for their program to verify the current GRE guideline. If you choose to submit scores for a program that is test-optional, please ensure official scores are scheduled for delivery by the application deadline dates.

Not necessarily. It is not required that you contact faculty members at Princeton, nor is it clear that doing so will help you gain admission. The answer varies from one faculty member to another.

If you have a specific question about a faculty member’s research, you are welcome to send him or her an email. However, please keep in mind that faculty members are very busy, so you should not feel discouraged from applying if you do not receive a response.

In fact, some faculty have a policy of not responding to emails from prospective students to avoid issues of advantage or fairness. Please be sure to visit the faculty member’s web page first to see if he or she encourages emails from prospective students.

If you are planning to visit the campus as a prospective student, please email the graduate program administrator for your department to arrange meetings with faculty members with whom you would like to meet. Please see the department web pages for contact information for your prospective graduate program administrator.

No. Many of our students majored in other disciplines as undergraduates.

Since the school emphasizes both engineering and applied science, a large number of these students majored in the sciences and are now pursuing more applied work. Other students come from non-science fields.

All departments do, however, have core competency requirements that usually must be fulfilled within the first two years in the program. These requirements vary in terms of the background knowledge expected of incoming students.

Please consult the departmental web sites and graduate program administrators for specific information.

Not a specific research question but, yes, you should generally know your research area. A Ph.D. is fundamentally a research degree where you apprentice with a faculty member to advance the field. Therefore, selection is heavily based on your academic and research preparation along with the alignment of your research interests with those of the faculty. It is highly beneficial to describe the general areas of research that interest you and to name a few faculty members whose work might align with your interests. That said, you are not required to have a specific research question finalized for admission.

Generally, yes. Your personal statement should detail why you would like to attend Princeton Engineering for graduate school and should indicate that you are aware of the research opportunities available in your program and have considered faculty members and research groups that are a good match for your background and interests.

Often this information is used by departments to ensure that appropriate faculty members have a chance to review relevant applications and to help in making decisions such as first year advisor assignments. However, it is also important to be selective and show thoughtfulness. Simply listing the names of every professor in your program or division will not impress anybody.

It is a two-semester, course-based Master of Engineering degree.

No courses taken while an undergraduate may count toward the M.Eng. degree, and no courses may be retaken to count toward the M.Eng. degree.

Those admitted to candidacy for the M.Eng. degree must demonstrate full external financial support – typically provided by an employer or through an external fellowship.  The M.Eng. program does not admit self-supporting applicants. Princeton does not offer institutional funding for students in this program.

Eligibility requirements will vary by department. Some departmental programs are only open to Princeton students from designated majors. You are advised to read carefully each department’s graduate application webpage for eligibility requirements, deadlines, and submission materials.

Questions about specific requirements such as GPAs, or from non-BSE Princeton students, should be directed to the departments of interest.

Applications from BSE students and non-BSE students in departments other than the one for which they are applying will be assessed to determine level of preparation for completing graduate coursework.

The graduate application can be found at: https://gradschool.princeton.edu/admission/applying-princeton/apply.

Final decisions and official notifications will be sent by the graduate school in March, and admitted applicants will have until April 15 to accept the offer of admission.

You can find information on the application fee waiver on the Graduate School’s Deadlines and Fees Page.

You apply for a fee waiver in the graduate application itself. As you fill out the application for admission you will offered the opportunity to request a fee waiver based on one of several criteria: 

Financial Hardship

If you request a waiver based on financial need, you will be asked to submit documentation to support your request. To allow time to process your request, be sure to submit your application 2-3 days early. Students should not try to apply on the night of the deadline for admission and a fee waiver based on financial need.

Recruiting Event Attendee

The application form will show you a list of recruiting events eligible for fee waivers. Click any that you attended.

Participation in a Program

The application form also will show you a list of programs designed to help students prepare for applying to graduate school. Students with past or present participation in one of these programs are eligible for fee waivers. Only programs from the listed are accepted.

For example: Princeton Engineering offers two such programs: Hidden Curriculum or Pathways to Graduate School. Applicants should do the following:

1. Select YES for Applying for a Fee Waiver
2. Select Participating Program
3. In the selection box, scroll down to Program Name and select it
4. Enter the date you attended the webinar
5. Click continue

Deferral of admission to a future year is not possible; seniors who apply and are accepted are admitted for the following academic year only.

Princeton does not provide institutional funding to support MEng students and applicants must demonstrate full external financial support.  If you would like to explore possible sources of funding, Princeton University subscribes to a comprehensive funding database where you can source graduate funding opportunities.  In the search bar type in “graduate student fellowships” or “graduate student scholarships,” or similar.

Applicants should not apply for University graduate housing, as it will not be available to students in this program.

Students seeking off-campus housing can find listings and roommate search options on the Off-Campus Housing site: https://offcampushousing.princeton.edu. The contact for students with questions is Sarah Major who is the manager for Off-Campus Housing: smajor@princeton.edu; Phone:  609-258-5897 

Some departments may have information about available sublets provided by prior students. If you need assistance with housing, please check in with your department for available resources.

• M.Eng. students are eligible to purchase student meal plans https://dining.princeton.edu/meal-plans/faqs and https://dining.princeton.edu/meal-plans/dining-programs
• Contact Campus Dining to sign up: dining@princeton.edu

Students are permitted to take courses in addition to those required by their degree programs and they need not be in a STEM discipline. Students planning to take additional coursework are recommended to advise their department of these plans to ensure they are on track to meet degree requirements.

Graduate students are allowed to audit courses as long as they get permission from individual instructors teaching the courses. It is highly recommended that students advise their departments of plans to audit additional courses to ensure they are able to meet department requirements.

General examinations, or “generals,” vary by department, but are essentially comprehensive examinations intended to assess expertise in a field. They may be written, oral, or a combination of both and may include both undergraduate and graduate material.

Depending on your department, they are usually taken in the first or second year of the Ph.D. program. Most graduate schools have similar examinations, though the titles may vary – they can also be referred to as “qualifiers,” “A-levels,” or “prelims.”

Please consult the individual department web pages for specific details about general exams within each department.

Absolutely! That’s one of the perks of being a Princeton graduate student.

With a few rare exceptions, such as visual and performance arts, you are free to take courses in any department in the university and the tuition is still covered. In fact, you are encouraged to take courses in other departments that are related to your research.

Engineering graduate students often take courses for personal interest, whether for credit or not, in a variety of programs in the humanities, arts, and social and natural sciences.

Princeton is unusual in that the Graduate College, or “GC,” serves as a focal point for graduate student residential and social life.

The social life of Princeton graduate students is a communal, supportive environment, with much camaraderie among students. They benefit from a small school atmosphere in which most graduate students know most others.

Most single first-year graduate students live in the GC, which is a dormitory-style complex, and enjoy plenty of opportunities to meet through living and dining with each other.

Some students elect to live in one of the on-campus apartments, yet still enjoy the wealth of social events that the GC provides. These include weekly social hours, movie nights, intramural sports, and activities ranging from canoeing in the Pocono Mountains to trips to the Jersey shore.

Most graduate students, especially incoming students, live in University housing, either in dorms at the Graduate College or in apartments in Lawrence or Lakeside Communities.

Housing for students with families is available in all of the apartment complexes. Assignment to university housing is based on a lottery system, with priority allocated based on year in the program.

For more information, please consult the university’s official graduate student housing site.

Princeton is a vibrant college town with a rich history that dates back to America’s colonial era.

The town offers many restaurants, shopping areas, and cultural activities. It is a safe area, with a very low crime index, within an hour of both New York City and Philadelphia by train or car.

The proximity to these cities provides many opportunities for entertainment and convenience – both Newark and Philadelphia international airports, for instance, are less than an hour away. We encourage you to visit Princeton for yourself to find out more.

Approximately 55% of Princeton Engineering graduate students are international.

Please follow the instructions on the website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada. Please also see Princeton University’s Davis International Center for more information.

The office of Visa Services may be able to help you.