Graduate Admissions Information

How should I begin the admissions process?

If you are at the beginning of your graduate school journey, we recommend the following steps:

• Research Programs & Inquire- Review our website and identify the program(s) that align with your academic and career goals.
  
  • Once you've determined your program of interest:
    
    • Submit your Request for Information form here. This will include you on our automated email communications.
      
      • If you are unsure of your program of interest or would like to learn more about our offerings
        
        • Meet with Angelo, our Graduate Recruitment Manager or email him at Angelo@Lehigh.edu

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• Prepare Application Materials & ​Apply
  
  • Review requirements and deadlines for your program of interest
  • Apply through our online application.

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• Submit All Required Documents
  
  • ​Review your application checklist on the application portal to ensure that your application is complete.
    
    • If you have questions about your application status, please email your Graduate Coordinator

​When does the application open?

• All applications open on Sept 1st

When is the best time to start preparing my application?

• Ideally, start preparing at least a year in advance by reaching out to your Graduate Recruitment Manager, Angelo at Angelo@Lehigh.edu to learn more about our program offerings.
• By preparing ahead of time, you won't feel rushed. The application and document-gathering process will be much easier and less stressful. 
• Generally speaking, applicants who apply earlier in the cycle will be considered for all open positions in the first round of application review and scholarship review will be considered for maximum aid. 
• Be sure to check with each department for relevant admission and financial support deadlines. 

Is there an application fee?

• Yes, our application fee is $50 USD

Do I have to have an engineering major to apply? What if my major/degree is in a different field?

• “ Our exciting, innovative degrees can help you elevate your career—even if you aren't an engineer. “
• The most common undergrad majors are engineering-related but also include non-engineering majors such as:
  
  • Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Earth & Environmental Science, Health Science, Math, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science
• Many of our students are "career-changers".
• Please reach out to your department of interest for more details as requirements can vary by department/program.

Do you have any recommendations for writing the Statement of Purpose (or Essay)?

• The Statement of Purpose (or Essay) should be personalized to each program, clearly articulating your research interests, relevant experiences, strengths, and career goals.
• Highlight why you chose the specific university, provide concrete examples of your skills and achievements, and ensure your writing is clear, concise, and error-free.
• Tailor your narrative to demonstrate how the program aligns with your academic, professional, and personal aspirations.

Is research experience required for an MS or PhD?

• For MS degrees, research experience is not required, although highly-encouraged.
• For PhDs, research experience is highly-recommended and often essential, although not strictly required.

How do I gain research experience if my undergraduate program did not offer many opportunities?

• Look for internships, co-op programs, volunteer research positions, or post-baccalaureate programs that provide research experience. Highlight any related projects or coursework in your application.
• Work experience may also be considered.

Do PhD students have to identify a faculty member to work with before applying? How do I choose a faculty member?

• In general, we recommend building a relationship with your department of interest and faculty of interest before applying.
• Research faculty members' work, read their publications, and consider your interests and compatibility. Contact potential advisors to discuss your research interests and their recruitment needs.
• Keep in mind that each department may have a different recruitment process for PhD students. Furthermore, faculty recruitment needs may change each semester.
• Please reach out directly to your department of interest or Graduate Coordinator for more information about current PhD recruitment needs. 

Can I apply to more than one program? 

• We recommend exploring all of our program options in detail before applying. If you are unsure about program fit, please connect with Angelo@Lehigh.edu or your Graduate Coordinator to determine the best fit. 
• Each department and/or program may have their own review process and their own admissions committee which would require further review. 
• Students may apply to more than one program within the Rossin College, however, a new application must be submitted for each additional program which includes an additional application fee.

Can I apply to more than one college at Lehigh?

• Students may apply to more than one college at Lehigh. However, an additional application must be submitted if applying to more than one college. 

• If you are interested in fully online programs you can begin here.
• Many Engineering programs offer hybrid and part-time learning options.
• Inquire by contacting engineering@lehigh.edu or by reviewing our graduate programs

• The GRE is NOT required for any of the Rossin College's graduate programs.
• Proof of English Proficiency is required for international applicants.
  
  • This requirement can be met by attaining department-set minimum scores for the IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo English Test.
  • Waivers can be considered with additional supporting documents such as a Letter of Attestation and a writing sample/publication. Alternatively, at least 2 years at an institution in the United States, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.
    
    • If the coursework was completed more than 2 years prior to the term of admission, the applicant must still live and/or work in the country of instruction in order to be eligible.
  • Please see our English Proficiency Requirements for more specific requirements and information.

Can I still submit GRE scores even though they aren't required?

• GRE scores may be submitted, however they may not be considered in the review process.
• Please check with individual departments for more information.

Are interviews required for admission?

• In most cases, the Rossin College does not conduct or require interviews for admission to our graduate programs. Please check with your department of interest for their requirements.

• Undergraduate grades are an important factor in the admissions process as they reflect your academic ability. This is especially true of your major GPA vs cumulative GPA. However, our review process is holistic.
  
  • Our admissions committee also considers other factors on your resume such as: research experience, work experience, honors, awards, etc.

Can I add updated application documents after I have submitted the application?

• Yes, additional or updated application documents can be added after submitting your application. 
• These updates must be submitted before your application is reviewed.
• Please inform your Graduate Coordinator of any updates or changes to your application.

• Each department/program has a different timeline/process for reviewing completed applications. 
• For Master’s: generally 4-6 weeks from completion of application and receipt of all application documents.
• For PhD: Most PhD applications are processed between December and February for Fall admissions. Please check with each individual department or your Graduate Coordinator for more specific decision timelines.

What are rolling admissions, and how do they work?

• "Rolling admissions" means that a program reviews and makes decisions on applications as they are received rather than waiting until a fixed deadline.
• Applications must be complete with supporting documents.
• It’s beneficial to apply early in a rolling admissions process.

Do you have a waitlist for admission?

• The Rossin College does not utilize a waitlist and there are no waitlist decisions.

• Common mistakes include: missing deadlines, submitting incomplete applications, failing to follow instructions, neglecting to proofread materials, and not tailoring your application to each specific program.

• Please contact Angelo, the Graduate Recruitment Manager via email: Angelo@Lehigh.edu

• All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department. 
• Qualified master's students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.
  
  • No additional application is required.
  • International students are considered as well as domestic students. 
  • Maximum funding (although extremely rare) is 50% of tuition.
• Lehigh alumni are eligible for an Alumni Scholarship

• RA, TA, and GA positions are typically reserved for PhD students, however, master’s students who apply early to our program and express interest may be eligible for work for these positions depending on availability and qualification.
• RCEAS has Graduate Student Ambassadors which are paid $20/hr
• Access to Lehigh's student job portal is only available after acceptance/enrollment.

• No, however we recommend that students explore external funding opportunities.
• Check with your employer for tuition reimbursement/remission.

• PhD or Doctoral students whose graduate study is carried out entirely at Lehigh University must register for a minimum of 72 credits beyond the Bachelor's degree. Students who have earned a Master's degree at another institution must register for a minimum of 48 credits.
• The “minimum” program for the Master’s degree includes:
  
  • Not less than 30 credit hours of graduate work; audit credits may not be used toward the degree; research or thesis registration counts as part of the 400-level coursework requirement
  • Not less than 24 credit hours of 300- and 400-level coursework of which 18 credit hours must be at the 400-level
  • Not less than 18 credit hours in the major field; of which 15 credit hours must be at the 400-level

Are there schedule or credit maximum limitations? 

• All graduate students using Lehigh University resources must be registered. No graduate student may register for more than 16 credits per semester. However, students must have advisor approval of their schedule and in most cases no more than 12 credits will be recommended.
• University employees may register for, at most, two courses per semester with appropriate approval.
• The maximum registration in a summer session is two concurrent courses and no more than 14 summer credits.
• Half-time graduate student employees of the university (e.g. half-time teaching assistants or half-time research assistants) may not take more than 10 credit hours of graduate work in any one semester. 
• Graduate students under contract to devote not more than one-third of their time to university employment may take a maximum of 12 credit hours in any one semester. 
• Graduate students who are employed elsewhere and can give only part of their time to graduate work must restrict the size of their course load accordingly.

Can I transfer credits from a previous institution? 

• Master's Policy:
  
  • A maximum of up to nine credits taken at the graduate level elsewhere may be transferred from an accredited graduate college or graduate university to a Lehigh University Engineering Master’s Program.  All courses must be assigned a grade of “B” or better to be eligible, and have not been used toward any prior degree. 
  • The credits must be completed within four years of first enrollment into a Lehigh graduate program. 
  • A transfer credit approval form must be submitted along with course descriptions, an official transcript, and the recommendation of the departmental chairperson.  The full, university graduate transfer credit policy can be found on the approval form. 
• PhD Policy:
  
  • Doctoral students whose graduate study is carried out entirely at Lehigh University must register for a minimum of 72 credits beyond the Bachelor’s degree.  Students who have earned a Master’s degree at another institution must register for a minimum of 48 credits.  The proportion of these credits that are to be allocated to courses, research, or dissertation are determined by the individual departments. 
  • Transfer credits used for a Master’s degree cannot be counted toward the Ph.D. degree.  With the exception of those participating in approved dual-degree programs, Lehigh doctoral students may not transfer credits from another accredited college or university to a Lehigh University doctoral program.   The exception, however, applies to students enrolled in approved dual-degree doctoral programs involving external institutions, who may transfer up to 25% of their total required doctoral program dissertation / research credits to Lehigh for work that was performed at the external partner institution. Approval of such programs is required by the Dean of the relevant Lehigh College.  Audit credits do not count in satisfaction of Ph.D. requirements.

What is considered full-time status? What does full-time status mean? 

• Full-time status is indicated for graduate students who register for a minimum of 9 credit hours each semester or 6 credit hours in a summer session. 
• Full-time students may not be employed full-time. 
• After fulfillment of degree credit hour requirements, and in some other circumstances, full-time status may be maintained when the student is registered for fewer than 9 credit hours.  In such cases, the status must be certified by the department and by the Research and Graduate Programs Office. 
• Full-time status may be maintained for students who have completed all degree credit hour requirements, even when not registered for courses, while continuing a program of full-time research.  In this case, the student’s status must be certified each semester on the Graduate Full Time Certification request form and approved by the department and the Research and Graduate Programs Office.

• Full-time status for a graduate student is important for at least four reasons: 
  
  • Only full-time students are eligible for assistantships;
  • International students may require full-time status for compliance with visa requirements;
  • Such information is used as input to university and national surveys on graduate education;
  • Less than full-time status may affect a student’s loan status and financial aid. 
• ​Students should check with their loan company to see how many credits are required for full-time student status.

• The MEng degree is more "practice-oriented" focusing on the application of engineering principles in real-world scenarios. 
• The MS degree is typically more "research-oriented". It emphasizes theoretical knowledge and often involves a thesis or a significant research project. 

Is there a thesis requirement for master's programs? 

• Many of our master's programs offer "coursework-only" options. 
• Please check with your department of interest to learn more about thesis options and requirements. 

How does the thesis work for master's students?

• Candidates for the Master’s degree may be required to submit a thesis or report based on a research course of at least three credit hours, and/or to pass a comprehensive examination given by the major department.  The department specifies whether one, or both of these requirements apply.  If a thesis is required it must be based on a research course of at least 3 credit hours, with a maximum of 6 credit hours.  The credits to be allowed are fixed by the chairperson of the major department.
• University procedures must be followed if the thesis or research project involves human subjects.
• For more information please check the master's degree requirements page. 

Can I still do research or an internship with an MEng or coursework-only degree?

• Yes! Our programs are customizable and can be tailored to your goals / interests. 

• The Rossin College offers several interdisciplinary master's programs such as: Catastrophe Modeling & Resistance, Data Science, Financial Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering, Health Systems Engineeirng, and Technical Entrepreneurship.
• Additionally, Lehigh University offers several interdisciplinary research opportunities for graduate students through its Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs):
  • Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD): Focuses on synthesis, fabrication, processing, and characterization of materials and devices.
  • Institute for Data, Intelligent Systems, and Computation (I-DISC): Specializes in data-intensive and large-scale computation problems.
  • Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE): Addresses challenges related to energy, communications, structural, and transportation systems.
• These institutes foster collaboration across disciplines and with external partners in academia, industry, and government. For more information, visit Lehigh University's Interdisciplinary Research Institutes.

Do you offer a Master's to PhD pathway option?

• Although we don't have a formalized pathway, it is possible to be considered for a PhD while you are currently completing a master's degree.
• Please reach out to your academic advisor or Graduate Coordinator to discuss the possibilities. 

How long are the semesters?

• The academic year consists of two regular terms (fall and spring), a winter term and one summer term. Lehigh University defines a regular semester as 14 weeks and 70 individual days of instruction. When classes have ended, two (2) full days are scheduled as the reading-consultation and study period, to allow students time to prepare for final examinations.
• Final examinations are scheduled on nine (9) consecutive calendar days, and each day will have four (4) consecutive 3-hour exam periods per day. 
• The winter term is four (4) weeks and the summer term is twelve (12) weeks with measured sessions.
• Please note the academic calendar is subject to change without notice. The most current calendar is available on the Office of the Registrar website.

• Please refer to our Admitted Graduate Student page and connect with your Graduate Coordinator

• The Rossin College does not require a tuition deposit to secure your spot in the program.

After acceptance, how do I secure my spot in the program?

• To secure your enrollment:

1. Accept your offer of admission on your application portal
2. Sign and return your offer of admission/acceptance letter to your Graduate Coordinator

• Many programs allow you to defer your admission for up to one year from the term that you are accepted to, but policies may vary.
• If you are considering deferring your admission, please reach out to your Graduate Coordinator to discuss your options.

• Some master’s programs can be completed in as little as 10 months full-time.
• We have options that may extend degree time such as research, internships, projects, etc.
• We have part-time options available.
• PhD’s completion times can vary, generally 4-6 years, please contact individual departments for details.

• It depends on the department / program
• Most programs offer a Fall start
• Spring/Summer are also available for some programs
• Check with individual departments for details

How does course registration work? When can I register for classes? 

• Registration for current graduate students is held during the previous term at a time designated in the University calendar.  Graduate students must register at that time.  Students must register online.  Students should consult with their advisers concerning appropriate course selections and to receive an alternate PIN number.
• Students who do not begin the registration process will be assessed a $100 late fee if they initiate registration after the designated registration period.
• Students preparing to enter Candidacy in the next semester should register for 3 credits of dissertation during the registration period, and then drop credits as needed once they are admitted to Candidacy.
• New graduate student registration timing may vary by each department/program. On-line registration procedures can be found on the Registrar's website.  New students receive their LIN/PIN in their offer letter.  If you have set up your Lehigh email account, please contact your department about registration.  If you have not received your LIN/PIN, please email your Graduate Coordinator.

Grad Life & Student Support

Housing Questions

• For all questions related to on and off-campus housing, cost of living, family accomodations and other related questions, please refer to the Graduate Housing FAQ page.

• Lehigh University supports graduate students with disabilities through the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS), offering academic accommodations, housing accommodations, assistive technology, campus accessibility, and support services. Students can work with DSS to receive tailored assistance.

Additional Questions:

Do you offer in-person campus tours for prospective graduate students?

• We welcome prospective and admitted students to visit us throughout the academic year and during the summer break.
• We work with students to design a visit day that meets their individual and specific needs, which might include:
  • Exploring our hillside campus, grabbing a coffee with current graduate students, attending a class, meeting with professors, touring research labs, and gaining a sense of the Lehigh community.
• To schedule a visit, we invite students to contact their department of interest.
   

• Lehigh is a member of the National Graduate Education for Minorities Consortium (GEM) and actively supports GEM students in our programs.
• The Office of Graduate Education & Life at Lehigh is a robust hub that connects students to resources, including: physical and mental health services; clubs, organizations, and advocacy centers; Graduate Student Senate and Diversity, Belonging & Equity advisory board; academic accommodations and disability support; Office of Multicultural Affairs, Graduate Writers’ Studio; and International Student Services.

• The Center for Career and Professional Development supports graduate students through every step of their career development journey.
• By working closely with a career coach, accessing on-demand resources, and tapping into resources beyond campus, graduate students are empowered to discover how their education translates into career pathways.
• Additionally, graduate students collaborate with faculty to make an impact through research, publications and conferences.
• We strive to have a diverse group of student researchers who are curious, collaborative, and on a quest for knowledge and solutions. 

How does Lehigh supporting graduate students from historically excluded groups, especially given the recent rise nationally against sponsored DEI initiatives?

• As a learning and educational community where the open exchange of ideas and views enables broad discourse on a variety of subjects, Lehigh's community is at its best when it comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds. Lehigh University has always and will continue to seek to build a diverse community of both undergraduate and graduate students.