Graduate Programs - Applications and Admissions

The School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering (MIME) offers the following graduate degrees:

• The Master of Engineering (MEng) degree is a non-thesis, coursework-only degree. It is possible for the coursework requirements for this degree to be completed in one calendar year.
• The Master of Science (MS) degree involves a combination of graduate level coursework and research in the form of a project or thesis. Typically, MS degrees take two years to complete.
• The PhD degree involves additional coursework beyond that required for master's degrees and a focus on fundamental research that culminates in a doctoral dissertation. The dissertation can be composed in either a conventional format or a manuscript-based format that includes three or more peer-reviewed publications as part of the dissertation document.
• An MS degree is not required for admission into the PhD program.
• Typically, PhD degrees take three to five years to complete.

All Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering graduate program applicants must meet the University-Wide Graduate Admissions Requirements.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

MIME requires a minimum “B” average (3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale) on the last two years of undergraduate work and any work completed thereafter.

Prior Degree

• For Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science applicants, to be eligible for graduate studies at Oregon State, you must have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in science, mathematics, or engineering.
• For Industrial Engineering applicants, to be eligible for graduate studies at Oregon State, you must have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in science, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or business.
• For Robotics applicants, to be eligible for graduate studies at Oregon State, you must have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in science, mathematics, engineering, or computer science.

Prior Coursework

Mechanical Engineering Master of Science candidates are expected to have completed formal undergraduate course work in each of the areas listed below. Students who have not taken undergraduate courses in these areas through an accredited U.S. mechanical engineering program may be required to complete undergraduate coursework here at Oregon State in addition to their graduate-level coursework.

• Technical communication
• Engineering mechanics
• Electrical fundamentals
• Thermodynamics
• Metallurgy and materials
• Fluid mechanics
• Heat transfer
• Mechanical laboratory
• Design engineering

We are delighted to have your interest in our school. You must visit the Oregon State University graduate school pages (see link below) to complete your online admission application. Once you have completed the application, you can return to their application site to:

a)  verify that your application materials are complete

b)  upload documents

Complete and submit the OSU Graduate Application. There is an application fee; review the fees here.

Note: Although the Graduate School application is submitted online electronically -- and all of the documentation (scores, transcripts, etc.) can be uploaded as attachments -- some students may choose to mail their documentation. (You DO NOT have to mail AND upload your documents.)

Accompanying materials can be mailed to:

OSU Graduate School
Heckart Lodge
2900 SW Jefferson Way
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-2121

Acceptance into the graduate program in mechanical or industrial engineering at Oregon State University School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering is a two-step process. The graduate faculty from the school are the first to review your application materials to determine whether your qualifications and goals are a good fit with our program and research facilities. If we decide that you are a good fit, the Oregon State University Office of Graduate Admissions then determines whether your academic credentials meet the university’s general requirements for admission. They will notify you of the admissions decision.

Admission to our graduate programs is competitive. MIME does not have the capacity to accommodate all applicants who meet the minimum requirements. A key consideration in the admissions decision is whether your stated academic objectives can be satisfactorily fulfilled at Oregon State University.

English language requirements for international applicants to this program are the same as the standard Graduate School requirements.

GRE Score Submission Requirements

The GRE is NOT REQUIRED for applicants to any of our graduate programs: Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics.

We do not accept paper letters of recommendation.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of three individuals willing to supply letters of professional reference on your behalf. These individuals will then be contacted directly with instructions for submitting their reference letters electronically.

In compiling your professional references listing, consider former professors or employers most familiar with your technical abilities. We particularly value letters that assess an applicant's preparation and ability to complete a research project. If you have a master's degree, please include your major professor as a reference.

Our application portal is open from early October through the end of April each academic year for admission to the beign fall term of the following academic year. After you submit your Oregon State University graduate school application, you will get an email within two business days that will give you the information needed to access the "letter of reference" interface.  Please access this system promptly to manage and review the "letter of reference" process. 

The online "priority" application for each Fall term is due December 31 at 11:59:59 pm, Pacific Standard Time.

Applications for each Fall term submitted after this deadline will NOT receive priority review. Applications received after the deadline will be considered at the end of the priority application review.

For priority review, all supporting data, such as transcripts, recommendation letters, and GRE and TOEFL scores, must arrive no later than December 31. For departmental review, required application documents may be scanned copies of OFFICIAL documents issued by your schools Registrar or ETS scores website for GRE and TOEFL. Copies of unofficial transcripts are not acceptable. If you are admitted, the Graduate School will notify you when and how to deliver final official transcripts. You will need to make arrangements with ETS to have your official GRE and TOEFL scores sent to OSU by ETS.

Timeframe for Admissions Decisions 

 For priority applicants, admissions decisions are usually made in late February through early March, but may be as late as the end of March. For applicants who did not meet the priority deadline (December 31st), admissions decisions will be made by May 31st. 

Please see https://mime.oregonstate.edu/graduate-school-admissions-faq and https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/faq for answers to more of your application and admissions questions.