Q. Is there a minimum GPA requirement for admission to CEE ?
A. No, we don’t require a minimum GPA for admission. Institutions use different scales, criteria and methods to calculate GPA, making it difficult to define a minimum. Instead, we evaluate transcripts by focusing on the grades received in individual classes, especially those classes our faculty feel are relevant to your area of study.

Q. Is there a minimum GRE score for admission to CEE?
A. No, but most successful applicants score in the 80th percentile or better in the quantitative and verbal reasoning portions of the GRE. The average score of admitted students on the Analytical Writing section is 4.5/6.0

Q. When will I find out if I’ve been admitted?
A. Not all admissions decisions are made the same time. We make most decisions regarding admissions and funding mid-February to March 1. Applicants are notified of their status between March 1 and 15. Admitted students must accept or decline our offer of admission by April 15. This is the deadline for students to accept admission to most U.S. colleges and universities. (See the Council of Graduate Schools resolution for more information.)

Q. Can you evaluate my chances of admission before I apply?
A. No, we don’t offer pre-application screening. One way to prescreen your own application is to investigate CEE faculty members’ areas of research to see how your background and professional goals fit. This can serve as an indicator of whether CEE is a good fit for you.

Q. Can I submit a supporting document after the deadline?
A. We will accept letters of recommendation through the end of December, but updated statements, CVs and additional abstracts cannot be uploaded after the deadline.

Please be sure the documents you provide initially are in final form.

Q. Do I need an undergraduate degree in civil or environmental engineering to apply for the Master of Science program?
A. Admissions to the S.M. and Ph.D. programs do not require an undergraduate degree in engineering. However, the M.Eng. degree does require a degree in engineering or a closely related field, but it doesn’t have to be in civil or environmental engineering.

Q. What is the cost of attending MIT for one year?
A. Tuition at MIT changes annually. The current tuition rate can be found online at Student Financial Services. The Graduate Student Council website has a detailed estimate of the cost of living in Boston.

Q. Should I apply for a master’s or a Ph.D. degree?
A. In order to be admitted directly to the doctoral degree program in CEE, you must have completed a thesis-based master’s degree, either at MIT or another university. Otherwise, you will be admitted at the master’s level with the expectation that you’ll continue on for the Ph.D. After passing the doctoral qualifying exam, you and your research advisor will determine whether you should complete the master’s thesis (usually one additional semester) or transition directly into the Ph.D. program. The master’s research often forms the basis of the Ph.D. research.

Q. What are the differences between the Master of Science (S.M.) and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) programs?
A. Please read our Comparison of Degree Programs explanation on the Overview of Graduate Degrees page for a full explanation.

Q. Is there a dual-degree graduate program in CEE and management?
A. The two-year MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program offers both an S.M. in civil or environmental engineering and an M.B.A. or S.M. from the MIT Sloan School of Management. LGO’s program of study in CEE offers tracks in energy and environment, transportation, and general CEE. LGO is designed for students with two or more years of work experience who aspire to leadership positions in the fields of manufacturing and operations.

Q. Should I contact a faculty member before I apply?
A. If your research interests are a particularly good fit with those of a faculty member, it is acceptable and might be helpful for you to contact that faculty member directly before you apply for admission.

Q. Can I have the application fee waived?
A. In most cases, no. The Institute does not waive application fees except for a very limited number of U.S. applicants. Application fees are never waived for international applicants.

Q. Do I have to take an English language exam like IELTS or TOEFL?
A. If your first language is not English, you will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic.

Q. Is there a minimum English language exam score required for admission to CEE?
A. We require a minimum score of 7.0 on IELTS for admission to all of our graduate programs. On the TOEFL, we require a minimum score of 100 on the Internet-based exam.

Q. Can I apply to more than one department?
A. Yes. You will have to submit a separate application and fee to each department. The only exceptions are applications to our joint degree programs with Leaders for Global Operations or Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Q. Is there a specific format for letters of recommendation?
A. The online application generates a URL that you will send to your letter writers. Instructions for the letter writers are provided through that link. You do not need to send a form to the recommenders.

Q. My recommender has not received my request email. What should I do?
A. Ask your recommender to check his/her spam mailbox for the email you sent. If it’s not in the spam box, you can send the message again, using the link from your online application account. If you encounter technical difficulties, please write to application technical support for help.

Q. Are there online or part-time degree programs?
A. No, we do not offer online or part-time degree programs.