Application Requirements for Online Master’s Program

Thank you for your interest in Purdue's Mechanical Engineering Online Master's Program. Look over the requirements below, and then complete your application online.

Deadlines:

  • June 1 for enrolling in the fall semester
  • October 1 for enrolling in the spring semester
  • No summer admissions

GPA Requirement: The minimum recommended GPA to apply is 3.2 out of 4.0.

Degree Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science majors like physics, mathematics, chemistry, or related field.

The necessary documents to be submitted when applying are:

  1. Official transcripts from all universities attended (Original language and English translations are both needed for international applicants)
    • Upload official transcript copies to the application. After being admitted, you will need to provide final official transcripts in sealed envelopes to the Graduate School. E-transcripts can be sent to Purdue Graduate School gradadm@purdue.edu via international accredited university, Parchment Exchange, or TrueCopy Credentials. Official transcripts are not returned.
    • International applicants must upload a copy of any undergraduate diplomas or provisional certificates if diplomas have not been awarded, in original language and in English.
  2. Statement of purpose
  3. Resume
  4. Three recommendation letters
  5. TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only. Results must be no more than two years old. See minimum score requirements.)
  6. GRE is NOT required.

When completing the Online Application:

  • Please select "West Lafayette" as the campus applying.
  • Application term is the semester of enrollment.
  • Please don’t select Professional Masters – Mechanical Engineering as your area; that is a residential program.
  • For course delivery method, please choose "distance."

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who is eligible for a TOEFL waiver? If you received your BS degree within the past 36 months from a school where English is the primary instruction language in one of the recognized English-speaking countries, your TOEFL can be waived. Please check the ETS website for recognized English-speaking countries. Please contact Xiaomin Qian after submitted application so she can grant waiver to you.
  2. How can I submit recommendation letters? You will be asked to provide your recommenders’ contact information. The system will send emails asking your recommenders to upload letters for you. You can’t upload letters by yourself. Your application is incomplete until all materials have been received, including recommendation letters.
  3. Where can I get official transcripts? Official transcripts shall come from your university registrar’s office. Please upload a copy of official transcripts from all universities you have attended to the application. Once you have been admitted, you will need to send final official transcripts showing degree has been awarded to the Grad School, Grad Admissions, Young Hall, Room 170, 155 S. Grant Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2114. Domestic students can send e-transcripts to gradadm@purdue.edu . Transcripts are not returned.
  4. Do I have to submit a diversity essay? No.
  5. Are there length limitations on resume and statement of purpose? There is no hard limitation on length, but it’s better to keep them within two pages.
  6. Can I edit or add new documents to my application after submission? Once you submitted your application, you will not be able to edit it. But you can upload new materials as miscellaneous supporting documents. Please be aware if your application has been reviewed, we will not review it again even if new documents have been added.
  7. Do you allow for rolling admissions? No, we only review completed applications for the term they are applying for. We will not hold incomplete applications to the future term to review. Please make sure you submitted all required documents for your application.
  8. How long should I wait to get an admission decision? Time frame may vary depending on the application volume. You can login to your application account to check status. It is expected that you check your account for decision status, and not email the ME Grad Office. 
  9. My application has been denied. Can I find out the reasons my application was turned down? Reasons for denial include a number of factors, such as academic qualifications and enrollment limitations. Each application is reviewed and considered based on these factors. Due to the large volume of applications, we are unable to individually respond as to what weakness your application may have had. Admission decisions are final.
  10. What is the deadline to accept online MS program admission? Please accept your admission within 2 weeks after being admitted.
  11. How can I defer my admission? You are allowed not to register courses for two semesters without deferring your admission. For example, you’ve been admitted to Fall 2021, you can wait till Summer 2022 to register. Any term longer than two semesters requires a deferral. If you will not attend in your admitted term or need a formal deferral, please inform Xiaomin Qian ASAP before the semester starts. Each student can only defer admission once. (Please note:  if you request to defer admission, please don’t register for any courses in your originally admitted semester.  Once you register, you are considered an active student in that semester and cannot defer.)
  12. Are there research opportunities provided to online MS students? No. Online MS program students are in the non-thesis track.
  13. Can I switch to on-campus program later? You will have to satisfy transfer requirements including submit GRE scores, find a research advisor and funding support if you intend to go to thesis track. Research advisor is not needed for professional master’s program. Your grad course grades will be reviewed too.
  14. Do I have to take online courses full-time? No. Most of our online program students have a full-time job, and take courses in their spare time. 1-2 courses each semester is the appropriate course load for them.
  15. Do I have to take courses in summer? No. It’s your decision. There are very limited grad level engineering courses offered in summer. You can take math/statistics if you like.
  16. When am I expected to complete the degree? You can finish it in as little as a year if you take a full-load of courses each semester (3 or 4 classes). However, most students will take about 3 years to complete required credits.
  17. Can I take courses that can’t be counted in the plan of study? As long as you register for grad-level courses (500- or 600-level), you can take courses that don’t apply to your degree requirements, but you should always take at least one course a semester that does apply toward your degree requirements.
  18. How do I transfer courses taken from another University?  Transfer courses may be accepted if: they have not been used to meet another degree requirement; they are grad-level, technical and quantitative in content; you received a B or better grade; they were recently taken; and they are ME or direct Math courses. Once you’re a registered student, you’ll submit your transfer course description/syllabus to the ME Grad Office for review, along with the syllabus of the Purdue-equivalent course. If it’s approved by ME, you’ll add it to your plan of study. Then the Grad School will review and make final decision on what they’ll accept. You can transfer no more than 6 credit hours.
  19. Are there scholarships/assistantships available for online students? No. Funding is only available for on-campus students. Domestic students may apply for financial aid from Purdue Division of Financial Aid.
  20. Can I access the same resources as on-campus students? You can access the same remote resources as on-campus students, including memberships, software downloads, organizations, etc. However, you would not have access to on-campus benefits like sports facilities or healthcare, since you do not pay the appropriate student fees to access them.
  21. Can I visit the Purdue campus? See information about visiting Purdue here. If there are specifc people/facilities you want to see, please contact those people in advance and make arrangements before you come (don't just show up and expect to walk through someone's lab without a prior appointment being made!)

Click here to begin your application!

 

Contact: Please email all application/admission questions to:

ME Graduate Office
585 Purdue Mall (Room 1003)
West Lafayette, IN 47907
MEgradoffice@purdue.edu
(765) 494-5730