Application Process

Sections

• Online Application
• Subplans
• Transcripts
• Application Statements and Resume
• Letters of Recommendation
• Test Scores
• Track Application Materials
• After Admission Decision

The application review process for Aerospace Engineering (AERO) Master’s of Science in Engineering (MSE) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduate programs is managed by Rackham Graduate School and the Aerospace Engineering graduate program. Applicants interact with both offices.

Find out more about our admissions guidelines and admission requirements for international students. The online application and application materials are submitted to Rackham.

Application Materials

Online Application

Name

The name used on the application should be your full legal name as it appears on your passport or other legal documents.  It is very important to note any other name that appears on prior academic records or test score reports.

UMID number

UMID (University of Michigan identification) number will be emailed to you within five business days after completing page 5 of the online application. Please note your UMID number on all your application materials to ensure accurate and timely processing. If you need to submit your application before you receive your UMID number, please note your date of birth and the program’s name (ex. AERO MSE) on your application materials.

Subplan selection

Master’s applicants choose one of three fundamental areas as your subplan. Although the master’s program is a multi-disciplinary program with the opportunity to explore all three areas, this choice will be used in matching admitted students to faculty academic advisers. You are able to take courses regardless of your subplan; your choice will not limit your course selection. In addition, you may change your subplan while you’re working on yoru master’s degree if you choose to do so.

PhD applicants should explore the research areas and the faculty working in each research areas. On page 3 of the PhD application, choose one of twenty research areas as your primary subplan.  On page 9, indicate your second and third subplan preferences, as well as, up to five faculty members with research of interest.

The Graduate Admissions Committee considers the abilities of our faculty to mentor additional PhD students in their labs. A PhD applicant will only be admitted if there is a match of interest with faculty member(s).  You are not required to find a faculty advisor before applying. But, we recommend that applicants to the PhD program contact faculty whose research is of interest.

Transcripts

For detailed instructions see Rackham Graduate School’s transcript information.

Upload a scanned copy of your official transcript with the online application

All applicants are required to upload a scanned copy of their official transcript, for each bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree earned or in progress, to the online application by the application deadline.

• Note: there is no need to mail official documents to Rackham during the application phase (please refer to Rackham’s updated procedures for more detail). Plan to submit scanned versions of transcripts to apply.

Additional procedures:

• Non-U.S. institution transcripts:
  • • For non-U.S. institutions, official transcripts bear the issuing institution’s seal and the official signature of the Registrar or Recorder of Records.
    • Academic credentials required to be submitted from a non-U.S. institution are specified for each country/region by Rackham. See Requirements by Country or Region for what to submit.
    • Scan both transcripts and any applicable required academic credentials for the country where your institution is located. Upload to complete the application.
• For all applicants: official transcripts are not required to be submitted until after an offer of admission is made. (Wolverine Access will indicate the transcript as “Not Received” but this will not affect your application review.)

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Application Statements and Resume

The academic statement of purpose, personal statement, and curriculum vitae (CV) or resume together give a fuller picture of your interests, motivations, and experiences to the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Academic Statement of Purpose

The Academic Statement of Purpose should be a concise, typically no more than two pages, well-written statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how this graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. You can include information about potential research labs and faculty advisors in this statement.

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement should respond to the question: How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan? In this statement, you can note additional information or extenuating circumstances specific to your situation. The statement should be about 500 words and different than the Academic Statement of Purpose.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

The resume/ curriculum vitae is included in your application and should describe your education, work experience, research publications, teaching experience, honors and awards. We recognize that your resume represents a snapshot of your experiences when you submit your application. Although your experiences may change, the application is not updated after it has been submitted.

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Letters of Recommendation

A letter of recommendation should be current and written for purpose of the applicant’s program.  See Rackham’s Letter of Recommendation Information.

• Three recommendations are required for the PhD and MSE applications.  Two recommendations are required for the SUGS application.
• At least two of the three recommendations should be from faculty who can speak to your academic and research experience. One recommendation may be from a non-academic reference, such as an employer, especially if you have been out of school for several years.
• Register your recommenders on the online application, being careful to correctly spell the recommender’s name and email.

What if my recommender has not submitted my recommendation yet?

• Verify that the emailed invitation was not blocked or filtered into a junk/spam mail folder.
• Resend the notification email to your recommender using the ApplyWeb Activity Page.
• Applicants may change a recommender if they have not started their recommendation.

Will you accept recommendations that arrive after the application deadline date?

Yes, we will accept recommendations that arrive after the deadline.  However, a missing recommendation needs to be received to completely review the application.  Applications missing a recommendation will be at a competitive disadvantage during the evaluation process.

Can my recommendation be emailed?

All recommendations are submitted electronically. If extenuating circumstances require a letter of recommendation to be submitted by other means, please contact Ruthie Freeman, Graduate Student Services Coordinator. She will contact the recommender and to request the letter and Recommendation for Admission form.

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Test Scores

The GRE and TOEFL tests’ reporting code is 1839 (a department code is not required).

GRE

GRE scores have been required for the PhD and MSE applications in the past, and will again be required starting in the 2022 admissions cycles. For Winter and Fall 2021 admissions, the GRE requirement will be waived due to difficulties in test scheduling and taking caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once this requirement is reinstated, note that GRE scores of up to five years old, as of the application deadline, may be used. See Academic Background of Applicants for information about the typical test scores of admitted students.

English Proficiency Test Scores

English proficiency must be shown by applicants whose native language is not English.  Proficiency is demonstrated by either an  English proficiency examination or qualifying for an exemption.  See Rackham’s English proficiency requirements and exemptions.

Track application materials

Due to the high volume of applications, the Aerospace Graduate Office does not respond to application status inquiries. Applicants may check the status of their application materials.

• After submitting both the application and materials, then allow 7-10 business days for Rackham to process and log receipt of your application materials.
• Check the status of your letters of recommendation on the ApplyWeb Activity Page.
• Check the status of your application, test score(s) and transcript(s) using your U-M Friend Account.  (Learn how to Create a U-M Friend Account if you are new to the University).

What if my materials have not been received by Rackham?

After allowing for processing time (see above), then email Rackham rackadmis@umich.edu.  The email must include:   your UMID, the AERO graduate program, and information on your application material (a scanned copy of your ETS report for GRE/TOEFL scores, email receipt from Parchment electronic transcript service, or transcript information (names of school, spelling of your name by the school, and how transcript was sent (electronic/mail).

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After admission decision

• The AERO Graduate Admissions Committee and Rackham Graduate School will notify the applicant of the admission decision via email.  See the Aerospace Engineering Graduate Admissions Decision Timeline.
• Indicate your decision to accept or decline the offer of admission in Wolverine Access.
• Deferral of a master’s admission offer may be granted under limited circumstances. If your circumstances meet these criteria, please send your deferral request and the reason for deferral to Ruthie Freeman, Graduate Student Services Coordinator, after your admission has been finalized by Rackham Graduate School.

Apply subsequent term

If an applicant applies again, a new application must be submitted.

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