Graduate Programs in Engineering

Thank you for considering Vanderbilt University for your graduate studies. We recognize that your choice of graduate institution is one of the most important decisions you will make for your future. Here, you’ll find all of the key information about the application process for our world-renowned M.S., ​ M.Eng., and Ph.D. programs as well as contact information to find out more about these programs. We hope you enjoy the process and we look forward to reviewing your application.

Engineering

Important Dates

Applications Open: August 1

This is the date by which most programs begin accepting Fall applications. If you have further questions, please directly contact the office of your program of interest.

Your application should be submitted through the Vanderbilt University Graduate School. Start your application on their site.

December 1, 2024

Civil Engineering (M.S. and PhD)
Environmental Engineering (M.S. and PhD)

December 15, 2024

Chemical Engineering (M.S. and PhD)
Computer Science (M.S. and PhD)
Electrical & Computer Engineering (M.S. and PhD)

January 1, 2025

Biomedical Engineering (M.S. and PhD)
Mechanical Engineering (M.S. and PhD)

January 15, 2025

Interdisciplinary Materials Science (M.S. and PhD)

February 15, 2025

Chemical Engineering (M.S.)

M.Eng. deadlines vary by program.

*Typically, applications submitted by Dec. 1 will receive priority review with on-campus visit invitations emailed before Dec. 31. Applications submitted by Jan. 1 will be reviewed in early January and on-campus visit invitations will be emailed out in mid-January. Check with individual departments for exact dates.

Admission Decisions: March 31

Target date by which admission offers for fall semester will be mailed to all applicants whose files are complete by the deadline of the program you chose.

Admissions Responses: April 15

Deadline for applicants to respond to offers of admission. If your reply is not received by April 15th, the department may reallocate any offer of financial award.

Application deadlines vary for M.Eng. and online degree programs.

Graduate Funding and Fellowships

For Master's degree students, partial tuition scholarships may be available to qualified applicants. Doctoral candidates are awarded full financial assistance in the form of teaching or research positions. This support typically includes a full-tuition scholarship, monthly stipend, and paid health insurance. Student activity fees, which allow access to the student recreation center, are also covered. In addition, individual fellowship awards above and beyond the standard financial aid package are regularly awarded to outstanding applicants. 

Learn more about graduate funding 

In addition to Vanderbilt's graduate funding, numerous fellowships are available through private donors, philanthropic organizations and government agencies. 

Learn more about graduate fellowships 

Application Guidance 

The Vanderbilt School of Engineering seeks well-rounded individual with proven academic accomplishment as well as demonstrated personal character and ambition. Our decision is based on careful evaluation of each applicant's complete record, including an online application, statement of purpose, TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores if applicable, transcripts and letters of recommendation.

​Important for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle: the School of Engineering is not requiring Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for consideration for admission.

Vanderbilt is a comprehensive research university and holds the highest designation of research universities in the Carnegie classification system. All applicants for both the master and doctoral degrees are considered on the basis of merit.

International Student Applicants 

For international students who did not graduate from an institution in a country where English is the official language, proficiency in English must be shown by a minimum score of 89 on the TOEFL or 7.0 on the IELTS test. For the admission cycles for which we are accepting the Duolingo test, the minimum acceptable score for this is 130. All programs will accept both the ‘iBT TOEFL home-edition’ as well as the ‘Duolingo’ test to fulfill the requirement to submit proficiency in English for international applications (as substitute for the regular TOEFL or IELTS). 

Transcript Submissions

Transcripts can be sent either via the postal service or via secure electronic delivery. In order to be considered official, transcripts and other documents must come directly from the institution attended. Some institutions provide secure electronic delivery of transcripts. These submissions may be made to cdm@vanderbilt.edu.

Transcripts sent via the postal service should be addressed as follows:

CDM
PMB 407833
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37240-7833​

Contact Us 

Gabriel Luis 
Assistant Dean for Graduate Recruiting and Global Engagement
(615) 343-3128 

PMB 351826 
2301 Vanderbilt Place 
Nashville, TN 37235-1826 
gradengineering@vanderbilt.edu