First-Year Applicants
Students who wish to study at the A. James Clark School of Engineering apply for admission to the University of Maryland following the instructions available at https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/freshman-applicants. There is no separate application for engineering. When filling out the university application, you may choose mechanical engineering as your intended major. You may also apply as an undecided engineering major.
Engineering is an LEP (Limited Enrollment Program) and admission is highly competitive. For example, the fall 2016 freshman class for Mechanical Engineering had an average high school GPA of 4.439, and average combined SAT 25/75 Percentile scores of 1330/1448.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is not directly involved in the admissions process so it is best to contact an Undergraduate Admissions counselor for more information.
The following Clark School resources may help you get started on your application:
- Frequently Asked Questions: Confused about your admission decision or your future at the Clark School? Follow this link to help answer some of your questions and concerns.
- Information Sessions: Attend a virtual information session or an in-person facilities tour to learn more about Maryland Engineering.
- The First Year: Learn what your first year may look like as a student.
Transfer Applicants
UMD students not enrolled in the Clark School or those enrolled in another institution who wish to transfer into Maryland Engineering should follow the guidance available at https://eng.umd.edu/transfer and https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/transfer-applicants.
Applicants interested in earning an M.Eng. degree should visit the Maryland Applied Graduate Engineering admissions page.
For Fall 2025, we are offering a fee waiver to the first 200 PhD applicants to apply. There is no code or special instructions to follow to receive the waiver, simply submit an application to the PhD program.
Application Deadlines
Spring 2025 Applicants
- October 11, 2024 is the final deadline for U.S. Citizens and international applicants within the U.S.
- September 20, 2024 is the final deadline for international applicants.
Fall 2025 Applicants
- March 07, 2025 is the final deadline for international applicants
- May 09, 2025 is the final deadline for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents.
Minimum Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited college or university (or equivalent from a foreign institution)
- At least a 3.0 G.P.A. (on a 4.0 scale) in a program of study in engineering, math, or physical science.
Required Application Materials
Applications will not be reviewed until the Graduate School Application has been fully completed and the $75 application fee has been paid (the fee no longer applies if you have received one of the fee-waivers mentioned at the top of this page). All incomplete applications and applications from international students who are not cleared for admission will be withdrawn by June 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. Applicants who do not register for the semester for which they are admitted will also have their admission cancelled.
Information and resources required in the application include:
- Statement of purpose
- Three letters of recommendation from an official institutional email address submitted electronically through the application
- Official original transcripts from all colleges or universities—and English translations for those in other languages—previously attended submitted through the application
- Resume/CV
- *Optional* GRE general test scores using the institution code 5814 and leaving at least 2-4 weeks for receipt
Regardless of your citizenship status, students whose native language is not English and who do not hold a degree from an institution in the U.S. or another English-speaking country are also required to submit proof of English proficiency via TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Application Instructions
Applications are submitted online via the Graduate School website. When creating your application account, ensure that your name matches the name listed on your official, government-issued identification.
When you are filling out the online application you will see several tabs that ask for different information—detailed below. Sections not listed here are not required for a complete application.
After responding to all required and relevant items, you may submit your application.
Educational Intent
- College/School: A. James Clark School of Engineering - Research Programs
- Program of Study: Mechanical Engineering (ENME) or Reliability Engineering (ENRE)
- Degree: M.S. or Ph.D.
Previous Education
Enter your cumulative GPA for all schools attended as listed on your transcript. International students should not convert their GPA to the 4.0 scale, instead selecting the appropriate grading scale.
Upload Requirements
Upload your statement of purpose and resume/CV under items #1 and 2, respectively. Disregard all other items in this section.
Recommendations
Add a minimum of three recommendation providers. Once entered, the system will send an automatic notification email to the recommenders with instructions on how to electronically submit a letter of recommendation. This process can begin prior to submission of the application.
We recommend that you contact these individuals in advance to ensure the provider will be wiling to write a letter of recommendation.
Application Review Process
While final admission decisions are made by the Graduate School, the Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty review all completed applications.
Applicants are notified of the Graduate School’s final decision on a rolling basis through their online application portal. If you submitted a complete application before the deadline, you can expect to receive a notification of admission or rejection between February and May for the fall semester and September and November for the spring semester. We cannot answer questions regarding admission status via email or phone, but will direct applicants to their application portal.
Questions?
