Admissions

Graduate application deadlines

All application materials must be completed by the dates below:

Spring application

• August 1: Open date
• August 31: Submission deadline

Fall application

• October 1: Open date
• December 15: Ph.D. submission deadline
• January 15: M.S. submission deadline 

Application requirements

In order to apply, applicants must submit the following:

• Application Form
• Statement of purpose: Applicants have the option to either upload their statement of purpose and resume or enter them directly into the online application as text.
• Resume: Applicants provide their academic and professional experience and qualifications.
• Three recommendation letters (online submissions): Once applicants access the online application, they will be required to enter the names, titles, and email addresses of their three recommenders. Their recommenders will then receive a link to the online recommendation form. All recommendations must be completed online. Any hard copy letters mailed to the ECE Admissions Office will be discarded.
• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts and score reports must be uploaded to the online application. This is what the Admissions Committee will use for review purposes. The ECE Admissions Office will only require an official hard copy of your transcript if you are admitted and decide to accept your offer of admission. In order for transcripts to be considered official, they must be received directly from the university in a signed and sealed envelope.​
• GRE General Test: The GRE General Test is optional for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 admission cycle. There are no minimum score requirements; your scores will be evaluated in the context of your entire application packages. 
• English Language proficiency test: All international applicants whose native language is not English must take an English Language proficiency exam. The scores must be received by the application deadline for the semester in which applicants are applying. An English Language proficiency test is not required if the applicant will have graduated from a U.S. university by the time of enrollment, or if the applicant is a CMU student or alum. Applicants must take one of the following tests and submit official electronic score reports to the ECE Admissions Office:

  • TOEFL Exam–A minimum overall score of 86 is required, with minimum sub-scores of IBT-R 22, IBT-L 22, IBT-S 20, and IBT-W 22 are required. These requirements must be met from a single test date–we currently do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores. Please request ETS to send your scores to CMU institution code 2074. We will accept any CMU department code, as long as the institution code is correct.

  • IELTS Exam–A minimum overall score of 7 on the IELTS is required, with minimum sub-scores of Reading-6.5, Listening-6.5, Speaking-6, and Writing-6. In order for IELTS to verify that the scores are going to the correct college/department, IELTS requires a physical address. Applicants should use: Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, 431 Hamerschlag Drive, ANSYS Hall, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 

  • Duolingo English Test–The minimum overall score of 115 is required, with minimum sub-scores of Literacy-105, Comprehension-115, Production-90, and Conversation-95. Please send your scores to Carnegie Mellon University, College of Engineering.

• Non-refundable application fee of $75: Applications submitted without the fee will not be processed.

Applicants should not mail any paper documents to the CMU ECE Admissions Office or CMKL University, including a resume/CV, publications, financial documents, or certificates, as they will not be included in the applicant's files for review by the admissions committee. The only hard copy document that should be mailed to the Admissions Office is your official transcripts, and these should only be mailed if you are admitted and decide to accept your offer of admission. If applicants have publications that they would like the admissions committee to review, they should link to them in their online resume. Any additional hard copy material mailed to the Admission Office will be discarded.

Also, please note that the Admissions Office will not accept application material submitted by third party consulting companies. It is expected that each applicant will complete his or her own application. Exceptions to this policy include application material submitted by a fellowship/scholarship organization, World Education Services, or ETS.

Applicants interested in the Carnegie Mellon – CMKL | Thailand M.S. and Ph.D. programs must be able to participate full-time. Carnegie Mellon – CMKL | Thailand degree programs require a significant amount of time and dedication from students to complete the coursework and related research.

Financial aid

Financial aid is awarded upon admission in the form of research assistantships based upon university resources and available openings. If available, financial aid is awarded for both the fall and spring semesters. There is not a special financial aid form.

Virtually all graduate students in our research-intensive Ph.D. program receive financial aid for the duration of five years from our industrial sponsors in the form of fellowships that cover tuition, technology fees, and reasonable living expenses for the entire year. Thus, students can concentrate on course work and research without financial concerns or interruptions. All applicants are considered for financial aid. No special form is required. All full-time students in the Ph.D. program engage in research under faculty guidance.

Availability will be based on the partner’s conditions. Partners may require the students to have a work contract for the company after graduation.

Fellowships and scholarships are available for M.S. students.

Statement of Assurance

Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state or local laws or executive orders.

Inquiries concerning the application of and compliance with this statement should be directed to the university ombudsman, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-1018.

Obtain general information about Carnegie Mellon University by calling 412-268-2000.

Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus security and fire safety report describing the university's security, alcohol and drug, sexual assault and fire safety policies, and containing statistics about the number and type of crimes committed on the campus, and the number and cause of fires in campus residence facilities during the preceding three years. You can obtain a copy by contacting the Carnegie Mellon Police Department at 412-268-2323. The annual security and fire safety report also is available online at www.cmu.edu/police/annualreports.

Information regarding the application of Title IX, including to admission and employment decisions, the sexual misconduct grievance procedures and process, including how to file a report or a complaint of sex discrimination, how to file a report of sexual harassment, and how the university responds to such reports is available at www.cmu.edu/title-ix. The Title IX coordinator may be reached at 5000 Forbes Ave., 140 Cyert Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; 412-268-7125; or tix@cmu.edu.

For more information regarding the statement of assurance please visit www.cmu.edu/policies/administrative-and-governance/statement-of-assurance.html.