Graduate Admissions
Grainger College of Engineering offers a range of elite graduate master’s and doctoral degree programs, in-person and online, across in-demand engineering fields. Exploring graduate admission to Grainger expands your horizons and ability to do the impossible, because our programs hold a longstanding reputation for innovation, driving our students to develop creative solutions to the world’s emerging challenges.
Graduate Application Process
All applications to Grainger College of Engineering engineering master’s and doctoral degree programs are submitted directly through the University of Illinois Graduate College.
Scholars at Risk Application Fee Waiver
The Grainger College of Engineering supports all scholars domestically and internationally. We recognize some applicants may face barriers that impact their ability to apply to graduate programs.
To help those affected by the current war in Ukraine, effective December 12, 2022, The Grainger College of Engineering will provide an application fee waiver for individuals applying for the Fall 2023 admission term who meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Hold primary citizenship from Ukraine.
- Complete a graduate application to one of the Grainger Engineering graduate programs.
- Meet minimum admission eligibility criteria for the selected program.
A limited number of additional Grainger Engineering Scholars at Risk application fee waivers are available to other applicants experiencing extenuating circumstances and who meet minimum admission criteria for their selected programs.
The deadline to submit a fee waiver request is five (5) business days prior to the application deadline. Only one fee waiver request per applicant will be considered. Applicants denied a fee waiver will need to pay an application fee to submit their application.
To request an application fee waiver, follow these steps when completing a graduate application:
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In the ‘Application Fee Waiver’ section, select “Yes” when responding to the question: “Please indicate if you are eligible for an application fee waiver.”
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Select “Grainger Engineering Scholars at Risk” from the list of designated fee waiver programs.
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Provide a short (250-500 words) statement describing the reason for your request.
- Select a program of study that best fits your skills, interests, and goals.
- Review and gather all application requirements to prepare for each stage of the application process.
- Complete the online application through the Graduate College.
- The University sends out communication via email. Applicants are encouraged to carefully read all emails sent from the Department and University to ensure no additional forms are needed after submission of the online application.
- Follow up with the department before the application deadline to ensure all application materials have been received. Many departments have an online system that allows you to see what application materials have not been received.
Already applied to Grainger Engineering?
Your application status can be accessed at any time through our admissions portal.
Graduate Application Requirements
You must have been awarded (or are about to be awarded) a four-year bachelor's degree equivalent to that granted by the University of Illinois to be eligible for graduate programs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If your undergraduate degree is a three-year program, you are not eligible for graduate-level admissions consideration at the University of Illinois.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign requires you to hold at least a 3.0/4.0 or higher GPA in your undergraduate degree to be eligible for graduate studies on this campus.
You cannot apply to a master's or doctoral program if you already hold a master's or Ph.D. respectively in the field that is equivalent to the one awarded by Illinois.
International Applicants
International applicants have an additional admission requirement that they must take into consideration when submitting their application to Grainger. If your native language is not English, which includes permanent residents of the United States (those holding a green card), you must submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores. Those scores should be reported directly through ETS to Illinois; a copy of these scores will not be accepted.
- The University of Illinois has a total minimum score that is required for admission.
- Check to see if you are exempt from this English proficiency requirement based on your country of citizenship.
More information can be found on the Graduate College’s international applicants requirements.
Funding for Graduate Students
A Grainger College of Engineering graduate degree is an important, fulfilling investment in your future, and we offer a range of funding opportunities to support your success, including departmental support and scholarships, as well as assistantships and fellowships that provide professional and research experience throughout the program.
Contact Us
The Grainger Engineering Admissions Team is ready to help you navigate every step of the admissions process. Contact our team with any questions; our contact information can be found below.
Office of Graduate and Professional Programs
College of Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
400 Engineering Hall
1308 West Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
Email: engr-gpp@illinois.edu
Call: 217-333-6634
Fax: 217-333-0015
Your Path to Grainger Engineering Begins Here
The Grainger College of Engineering is a global leader in engineering education and research, and submitting an application for graduate admission is your first step toward an elite academic experience that will bring a lifetime of return.