Q. How will I be notified if I am accepted or not?
A. You will be informed of an admissions decision by email. You can also check your status in the application: http://www.grad.gatech.edu/status-checking Please note that acceptance into the program is not final until confirmed by Graduate Studies. Once they have made their review of your application and noted any final documents needed, you will receive notification of official admission to Georgia Tech.
Q. When will the decision be made on my application?
A. Most of our students are admitted for the fall semester, which begins in mid-August. Most decisions for fall admission will be made in March or April, although some will be made earlier. To view an academic calendar, visit www.registrar.gatech.edu.
Q: Is it acceptable if my supporting materials (recommendation letters and official test scores, etc.) are received after the application deadline?
A: It is preferable to have all items available when you apply. However, please note: In order to have time to review your application for a timely decision, all items must be received within 3 weeks of the application deadline (for Fall semesters); all items must be received within 1 week of the application deadline (for spring semester). If you have not taken the required Language Proficiency test yet at the time of your application, please enter the date that you plan to take it. You may upload an unofficial copy of your test scores in the application; we will use this while initially reviewing your application until the official scores are received. We will make a decision on your application as soon after receiving the official scores as is possible.
Q. Should I upload unofficial transcripts and test scores?
A. YES. If you do not have official transcripts, please upload unofficial transcripts when you apply. Should you be admitted, you will be required to provide official transcripts. Also, please upload unofficial test scores during the application, and request for the testing company to send official scores to Georgia Tech after taking the test. For TOEFL & IELTS, send scores to Georgia Institute of Technology, "Graduate". Georgia Tech will accept either the standard IELTS Academic test scores or the IELTS Indicator Academic scores. Please see https://grad.gatech.edu/english-proficiency for detailed Language proficiency requirements.
Q. Is my application complete?
A. With the online application system you can check your application status. Please see: http://www.grad.gatech.edu/status-checking for instructions on how to check your status. If you have further questions email inquire@mse.gatech.edu
Q. Is the GRE exam mandatory?
A. No. MSE no longer requires the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test scores of graduate applicants.
Q. What if I sent my GRE OR TOEFL scores to the incorrect (or another) department code, or only to the Institute code?
A. If you had your scores submitted to Georgia Tech, all departments will have access to them.
Q. Are there any additional requirements for international students?
A. International students typically have to be able to show that they have around $57,000 USD available for their first year of studies in order to get an I-20 for studies at GT. Tuition amounts can be found at: http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/content/tuition-fees These amounts do not include living expenses.
Q. What are the English proficiency requirements?
A. Starting with Fall 2027 admission, citizenship alone will no longer be sufficient to satisfy Georgia Tech’s English language proficiency requirement. Applicants may satisfy the requirement through approved academic student, English-medium instruction, or official test scores.
Satisfying the English Proficiency Requirement
U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents can submit one of the following U.S. government-issued documents to satisfy English Proficiency Requirement:
- Birth Certificate
- Certificate of Birth Abroad
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Consular report of birth abroad
- Passport
- Permanent Resident card
All other applicants can provide:
- Proof of citizenship from an approved country, or
- Valid Test score as outlined below in the Test Score Requirements section, or
- Successful completion of GTLI Upper Advanced 700 Level Intensive English Program, or
- Evidence of degree earned from a regionally accredited (or international equivalent) institution where English was the sole language of instruction. Proof of degree has to be provided at least 30 days before the start of the term to which you applied. For details on acceptable documentation and how Georgia Tech verifies English-only instruction, read this FAQ.
Test Score Requirements
Georgia Tech's accepted tests and minimum score requirement for graduate admission are listed at https://grad.gatech.edu/english-proficiency
We recommend that you achieve acceptable scores prior to submitting your application. If you have further questions regarding English proficiency, please contact Graduate Education at: grad.ask@grad.gatech.edu
Please note that your test score is valid only if it meets the Institute’s minimum requirements and is not expired when your program begins.
Please note that the department has higher minimum requirements than the Institute for the TOEFL.
Q. Can you give me an idea of my chances for admission?
A. We cannot provide preliminary evaluations of chances for admission. The Admissions Committee carefully studies the entire application before reaching its decision.
Q. I cannot afford to pay the application fee. Can I defer the fee until I am admitted, or can the fee be waived?
A. A non-refundable application fee must be remitted with your application. It cannot be deferred until an admissions decision is made. Georgia Tech's graduate application fee is $95 per application for domestic applicants, and $105 for international applicants. Applications submitted without payment will not be processed. For more details on submitting the application fee, see https://grad.gatech.edu/faq/knowledgebase.php?article=120
Application Fee Waivers: Georgia Tech (the Institute) offers Institute-level application fee waivers to qualifying applicants (Applicants with Financial or Other Hardship; Applicants from Qualifying Programs; Applicants from Qualifying Societies, Conferences, & Recruitment Events; and Other Qualifying Applicants. Please see https://grad.gatech.edu/admissions/application-fee-waivers to determine if you qualify for an Institute level application fee waiver. If you qualify for and are granted an Institute-level waiver, the Office of Graduate Education will send you an email notification on the next steps. Please DO NOT contact the department regarding Institute-level waiver requests.
The department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) may have a limited number of department-level application fee waivers available. Preference will be given to qualified PhD applicants with excellent academic credentials and financial need. To apply for an application fee waiver, please send a copy of your resume or transcript to inquire@mse.gatech.edu at least 10 business days prior to the stated application deadline. If you are granted a department-level waiver, the MSE academic office will provide you with instructions with the next steps. Requesting a fee waiver will have no bearing on admission decisions.
If you request either an Institute-level or department-level waiver, DO NOT pay the application fee prior to submitting your fee waiver request. Georgia Tech does not issue application fee refunds, so make sure you have received a decision on your application fee waiver request prior to making payment.
Q. I can only attend graduate school if I receive financial aid during my studies. Is aid available?
A. Financial aid in the form of Graduate Assistantships is available to students admitted to our PhD graduate program who match with an advisor. The Assistantships will include a tuition waiver and will provide a competitive stipend. However, you are encouraged to seek outside fellowships (such as NSF, EPA, etc.) to help finance your graduate studies. Students admitted into the MS graduate program are typically not provided with financial aid. Exceptions are only possible where faculty have a specific requirement for a MS student on a research project and have funding available. International students typically have to be able to show that they have around $57,000 USD available for their first year of studies in order to get an I-20 for studies at GT. Tuition amounts can be found at: http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/content/tuition-fees
Q. If I apply for the PhD program, will I be considered for an M.S (and vice-versa)?
A. No. Your application will only be considered for the degree level that you apply for.
Q. I am interested in completing my PhD under a specific faculty member. Should I send my application directly to him/her?
A. No. You must apply to the School, and not a specific faculty member. Decisions regarding admissions are made by an Admissions Committee and are based on many factors. Qualified doctoral applicant information is provided to all MSE faculty; faculty with possible openings in their group will contact the students that they are interested in. Most students must be selected to work for a specific faculty member before they will be admitted.
Q. What courses are offered and when?
A. To view the classes offered each semester visit www.registrar.gatech.edu. Most courses are usually offered in the same semester each year. To view a PROJECTED tentative list of MSE Graduate Level courses, please go to Projected Tentative Graduate Course Offerings (found at: Graduate Syllabi )
Q. Can I transfer from another school to your graduate program?
A. No, we do not accept transfer students from other graduate programs into Materials Science and Engineering.
Q. How many students are accepted each year?
A. This number fluctuates greatly from year to year depending on the amount of financial assistance available.
Q. I want to apply as an MS with thesis. What do I need to do before applying?
A. If seeking an MS with thesis, students must identify a faculty member willing to advise the thesis and support the research costs. Students meeting the other requirements for admission based on review of their application materials will be notified and asked to contact potential advisors. The MSE graduate office must receive written notice from the faculty member that they agree to advise the thesis before an admission offer can be made. Please note that funding is typically not available for students pursuing an MS. Exceptions are only possible where faculty have a specific requirement for a MS student on a research project and have funding available. International students typically have to be able to show that they have around $57,000 USD available for their first year of studies in order to get an I-20 for studies at GT. Tuition amounts can be found at: http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/content/tuition-fees These amounts do not include living expenses.
