Graduate Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Admission Requirements?

Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to general Graduate School requirements stated in the GENERAL INFORMATION section of the Graduate Bulletin. GRE scores are valid up to five years from the date of examination.

To be admitted into the program, an applicant must have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Graduates in engineering will be considered for admission to the Master of Engineering degree program and graduates in engineering, physical sciences and mathematics will be considered for admission to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs. A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 is required for admission. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Exceptions to the minimum 3.00 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests.

English Proficiency--The language of instruction at Penn State is English. International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 20 on the speaking section for the internet-based test. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5.

International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a masters degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States and Wales.

Information about the TOEFL can be obtained by writing to the Educational Testing Service, Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155 or visiting their web site at www.toefl.org. Local administration at University Park campus of the TOEFL is handled by the IECP. Information about the IELTS can be obtained by contacting IELTS International, 100 East Corson Street, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91103 or visiting its Web site at www.ielts.org.

What is the Pre-application?

Students wishing to enroll in the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering graduate program may complete a pre-application prior to completing the formal application process. The purpose of the pre-application is to provide potential students with feedback regarding the likelihood of their being accepted into the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering graduate program and being offered financial aid. Students who receive positive feedback from the pre-application process and wish to officially apply to the graduate program MUST still complete the formal graduate application process.

How do I apply?

The formal process of applying for admission to graduate school at Penn State requires an applicant to complete the Electronic Application (including remitting a fee of $45.00 U.S., payable by credit card, check, or money order) and to submit the following application materials to the graduate program:

Two official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, both undergraduate and graduate.- Please use the following Adobe Acrobat form to obtain transcripts:

A Transcript Request Form is provided for your convenience.
International applicants must submit official or attested university records, with certified translations if the records are not in English.
Notarized copies are not sufficient.

Two official degree certificates for each degree obtained.
Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude Test. Subject test not required. All international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received baccalaureate or master's degrees from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination. Please see the requirements given above.
Application for Visa Document (International students only).
Assistantship/Fellowship application (optional).
Three letters of recommendation. Print this pdf file and have three recommenders complete the form.
Statement of purpose.
Resume.

Please mail the above required forms or documentation to:

Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
310 Leonhard Building
University Park, PA 16802

If you do not wish to pay the application fee by credit card, please download the Application Fee Form and mail it along with your non-refundable application fee of $45.00 U.S. to:

Graduate Enrollment Services
The Pennsylvania State University
114 Kern Building
University Park, PA 16802

What are the application deadlines?

Type of application	Deadline for Fall Admission	Deadline for Spring Admission
International student	February 15	September 1
International student seeking financial aid	January 31	September 1
U.S. student	March 15	November 15
U.S. student seeking financial aid	January 31	September 1

This means that your completed application package, including letters of recommendation and GRE/TOEFL test scores, must reach our department by these dates.

Please note that the international application deadlines are earlier because of the time required to process the documents for passports and visas.

What are the TOEFL requirements?

Please see the answer to "What are the Admission Requirements" FAQ shown above.

What are the GRE score requirements?

The department has no set minimum GRE score requirement. A student is evaluated for admission by a faculty committee which considers all elements of the application.

How can I take the GRE or TOEFL exam?

For information on the GRE exam, see www.gre.org.

For information on the TOEFL exam, see www.toefl.org.

What are the university and department codes for sending GRE scores? TOEFL scores?

The codes are:

GRE Department 1301
GRE Institution 2660
TOEFL Department 67
TOEFL Institution 2660

How can I find out the status of my application?

Please allow at least two weeks for your application to arrive in our office, be opened, and distributed to the graduate committee.Upon receipt of your application, we will send you an e-mail or a postcard. If any application materials are missing from your application, we will notify you of this through email/postcard.

When does the faculty committee on graduate admissions make admission decisions?

The committee does not hold applications until a certain date, but acts on each application as received. Thus, the earlier we receive your application, the earlier you will be informed of our decision.

How will I find out if I've been accepted?

When our graduate committee reaches a decision on your application, a letter will be sent to your permanent address informing you of the committee's decision. Please note that our department will not provide information on acceptance or rejection over the telephone.

Can I obtain financial assistance from your department?

Financial aid in the form of assistantships and fellowships is available. Priority is given to students with the strongest academic/research credentials. Students who are offered admission without financial aid should make arrangements for sufficient funds to pay for their studies through completion.

When does the faculty committee on graduate admissions make financial aid decisions?

A student must be admitted to the graduate program in order to be considered for financial aid. In many cases, the student is informed of the committee's financial aid decision in the same letter offering admission. In some cases, these decisions are conveyed through different letters. Most financial aid decisions are made by March 31 for fall semester admissions and by October 15 for spring semester admissions.

What are tuition rates for graduate school?

The university's Bursar's Office web site will contain current tuition rates.

How do the two masters degrees in I.E. - M.S. and M.Eng. - differ from each other?

The Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in I.E. is intended for students interested in a professional masters degree. It requires a total of 30 credits consisting of 27 credits of course work, two credits of scholarly paper and one credit of colloquium.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in I.E. is more research oriented. It requires a total of 32 credits consisting of 24 credits of course work, 6 credits of thesis research and two credits of colloquium. This degree is more appropriate for students who plan to continue for a Ph. D. degree.

Please select degrees offered in the menu at the top of this page for more details.

Have additional questions we did not answer?

If you have additional questions or need more information, contact us at

Email: lkf1@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-7601