Admissions
Sections
The Aerospace Engineering (Aero) graduate program is part of the Rackham Graduate School . Our admissions process is handled through Rackham, with decisions made by faculty in the Aerospace Engineering department.
Find out more about the application process for Aero and specific requirements for international students and students attending non-US institutions .
- Rackham’s Checklist for Completing Your Application
- Rackham’s Overview of the Application Process
- Rackham’s Minimum Requirements to Apply
Aerospace Engineering graduate application deadlines
The online application and all application materials must be received by the deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application early and not wait until the deadline date. Applications that remain incomplete beyond the deadline will be at a competitive disadvantage during the evaluation process.
Fall term:
PhD deadline: December 15
MSE and SUGS deadline: January 15
Winter term:
PhD, MSE and SUGS deadline: October 1
The Fall 2018 term’s application opens on September 6, 2017, the date when the “Fall 2018” term can first be selected in the online application. The online application can be started prior to this date and any work can be saved.
U-M Aero Master’s students applying to the PhD program
Current U-M Aero Master’s students applying to the PhD program must submit a new application for the PhD program by the deadlines noted above. Learn about Master’s students interested in pursuing PhD .
U-M Aero Master’s with faculty advising & funding commitment letter
For current U-M Aero Master’s students with a faculty advising and funding commitment letter submitted to the Aero Graduate Office and registered to take the preliminary examinations — the online application deadlines are: Fall term: March 1 and Winter term: November 1.
A complete Rackham application must be submitted. The only letter of recommendation required is a letter from a faculty member committing to fund your PhD conditional upon passing the preliminary examinations. Please notify Kathy Miller, Graduate Student Admissions Coordinator, when your application has been submitted.
Aerospace Engineering academic calendar
Aerospace Engineering classes are NOT offered during U-M’s Spring or Summer terms.
Our primary admissions cycle is for the Fall term (September – December), which is the term for which most faculty recruit doctoral students. There is smaller admissions cycle for Winter term (January – April).
See Registrar’s Academic Calendar
Academic background of applicants
Degree background
Admission for study towards the MSE degree requires the equivalent of a BSE at the University of Michigan. A master’s degree is not required to apply to the PhD program. Many students who go directly into the PhD program get a MSE in Aerospace Engineering along the way.
Engineering background
Solid undergraduate preparation in mathematics and engineering is essential. We have found that the lack of an engineering background puts students at a disadvantage during their graduate studies. We advise applicants without an engineering background to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) .
GRE and GPA background
Our graduate program is very selective and only approximately 10% of the PhD applicants, and 25% of the MSE applicants to our program are admitted. GPA and GRE scores are very high, and project experience during the undergraduate years is very common. Last year we had 600 applications.
The Aero Admissions Committee looks for applicants who attain a minimum combined GRE score of 308 (Verbal + Quantitative) and an Analytical Writing score of 4.0. However, applicants recently offered admission have a combined GRE score above 320.
On average, master’s applicants have a minimum GPA of over 3.6 on a 4.0 scale with PhD applicants having higher GPAs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are PhD applicants required to find an advisor before applying?
You are not required to find an advisor before applying. But, we recommend that applicants to the PhD program contact faculty whose research is of interest. In addition to the quality of your application, our Admissions Committee takes into account the abilities of our faculty to mentor additional students in their labs. A PhD applicant will only be admitted if there is a match of interest with faculty member(s).
How many international students are in Aero’s graduate programs?
We typically have about 40% international students. If you are an international student considering applying to our program more about admissions for international students.
If my GRE scores and GPA do not meet the requirements, will my application be denied?
The Admissions Committee looks at the complete application and is most interested in academic performance, GRE scores, research experience, good letters of recommendation, and the academic statement of purpose. If you do not meet the minimum guidelines on some items, your application will be weaker, but not automatically denied.