Graduate studies · Rossin College
PhD Programs in Engineering
Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science offers 11 doctoral programs across eight departments, and every Rossin College PhD is fully funded.
- Doctoral programs11
- Departments8
- Funding100% funded
- Fall deadlineDecember 15
- Applications openSeptember 1
- GRENot required/considered
- Application fee$50 USD
- LocationBethlehem, Pennsylvania
Doctoral programs
Eleven PhD programs across eight departments
Every program below is a research doctorate awarded by the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science at Lehigh University. Each links to a full page covering requirements, research areas, funding and how to apply.
Lehigh University requires a minimum of 72 graduate credits for a doctoral degree for students entering with a bachelor’s degree, and a minimum of 48 graduate credits for students entering with a prior master’s degree from another institution.
PhD in Bioengineering
A five-year doctorate spanning biocomputations, diagnostics and devices, and materials and therapies, with a 3-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
5 years (typical)
PhD in Chemical Engineering
Research spanning energy and the environment, biomolecular science, functional materials, interfacial science, molecular simulation and data science.
PhD in Civil Engineering
Experiments across a wide range of scales, using the ATLSS Center’s large-scale structural testing and simulation facilities.
PhD in Computer Engineering
Computer architecture, robotics, secure systems, networks, embedded systems and mobile computing, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
PhD in Computer Science
Four to six years of study culminating in a written thesis and public oral defense, with a monthly stipend and tuition.
4–6 years (typical)
PhD in Electrical Engineering
Optoelectronics and biophotonics, wireless communications and sensing, and nanoelectronics, MEMS and flexible displays.
PhD in Environmental Engineering
A flexible full- or part-time doctorate built on interdisciplinary projects with faculty and industry collaborators.
PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering
Mathematical optimization, stochastic models, machine learning and quantum computing optimization, with support guaranteed for the whole program.
4–6 years (typical)
PhD in Materials Science and Engineering
Microstructural characterization, nanomaterials, ceramics, electronic materials and metal processing in Lehigh’s nanotech facilities.
PhD in Mechanical Engineering
Materials processing, fluid-solid interactions, biomechanics, mechatronics and thermal-fluid systems, with a journal publication requirement before defense.
PhD in Structural Engineering
Analytical and experimental studies of structural behavior, using testing facilities among the largest in North America.
About doctoral study at Lehigh
Research that matters, with personalized mentorship
Doctoral programs provide a pathway for students to create new knowledge through groundbreaking, multidisciplinary research. PhD students engage in ongoing faculty research that matters, including health and health care, energy and its environmental impact, sustainable infrastructure, nanotechnology, and high-performance computing. These students develop into leaders in their chosen field and sophisticated researchers of the highest caliber, all while helping to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
With our big-school research resources and small-school feel, Lehigh offers you the opportunity to dive deeper into your current engineering discipline or pivot to a new, interdisciplinary path that broadens your horizons. Learn from world-renowned faculty in a vibrant, collaborative environment where groundbreaking research meets personalized mentorship.
Funding
Every Rossin College PhD is fully funded
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department.
- PhD applicants wishing to be considered for financial assistance should submit a complete application no later than December 15 for a fall semester start.
- Financial aid for Lehigh’s graduate programs otherwise consists mainly of fixed-rate federal student loans through the Office of Financial Aid.
- Loan eligibility requires enrollment at least half-time — six credits each semester during the academic year, or three credits for each summer session — and enrollment in a degree program.
- Emergency loans and grants are available through Lehigh’s Graduate Life Office.
Beyond the department
Special opportunities for Lehigh PhD students
Four college- and university-level programs are open to Rossin College doctoral students alongside their departmental funding.
Rossin Research Scholars (RRS)
Empowers undergraduate students and PhD candidates in engineering to collaborate on meaningful, original research through hands-on lab experience and mentorship.
Pasteur PhD Partners (P3)
Provides four years of financial support for qualified prospective doctoral candidates in STEM fields.
SEED-EF NSF National Research Traineeship
Stakeholder Engaged Equitable Decarbonized Energy Futures empowers graduate students to become future energy leaders working on low-carbon energy solutions.
Rossin College Professional Development
A series of courses, events and experiences preparing Lehigh engineering doctoral students for academic careers. To be eligible you must be a full-time doctoral student with at least one, but no more than three, full years remaining. Nominations are submitted by a student’s advisor and are accepted annually in February.
Admissions
How to apply
Applications are completed online and open September 1. PhD applications for a fall start are due December 15. The GRE is not required or considered for any Rossin College graduate program.
Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
What to submit
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts (with English translation for international applicants)
- Statement of purpose / essay
- Letters of recommendation (typically three)
- Résumé or CV
- Application fee of $50 USD
English proficiency minimums
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 81 (old scale) / 4 (new scale); Speaking 22/4, Writing 20/4, Reading 20/4, Listening 16/4 |
| IELTS | Overall 6.5; Speaking 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6.5, Listening 6 |
| Duolingo English Test | Overall 125; Speaking 125, Writing 120, Reading 125, Listening 110 |
| Cambridge | Overall 176; Speaking 176, Writing 169, Reading 176, Listening 169 |
| Pearson (PTE) | Overall 68, with 53 or higher on each band |
Scores expire two years from the test date. MyBestScore and One Skill Retake formats are not accepted. Waivers are available for applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of an English-speaking country, earned a U.S. degree with two or more years of in-person study, earned a degree taught in English in an English-speaking country, or studied or worked full-time in an English-speaking country for two or more years within the last five.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many PhD programs does Lehigh’s Rossin College offer?
Eleven. The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science awards doctorates in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Structural Engineering, across 8 academic departments.
Are Lehigh engineering PhD programs funded?
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department. PhD applicants wishing to be considered for financial assistance should submit a complete application no later than December 15 for a fall semester start.
What is the application deadline for a Lehigh engineering PhD?
December 15 for a fall start. Applications open September 1, and the application fee is $50 USD. Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
Is the GRE required for a Lehigh engineering PhD?
The GRE is not required or considered for any Rossin College graduate program.
What English proficiency scores does Lehigh require?
International applicants must meet Lehigh’s minimum scores: TOEFL iBT overall 81 (old scale) or 4 (new scale); IELTS overall 6.5; Duolingo English Test overall 125; Cambridge overall 176; or Pearson (PTE) overall 68. Scores expire two years from the test date, and waivers are available in defined circumstances.
Which departments offer doctoral programs at the Rossin College?
Department of Bioengineering; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Department of Computer Science and Engineering; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics. Several departments offer more than one doctorate: Civil and Environmental Engineering awards PhDs in Civil, Environmental and Structural Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering awards PhDs in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering.
What special opportunities are open to Lehigh PhD students?
Rossin Research Scholars (RRS): Empowers undergraduate students and PhD candidates in engineering to collaborate on meaningful, original research through hands-on lab experience and mentorship. Pasteur PhD Partners (P3): Provides four years of financial support for qualified prospective doctoral candidates in STEM fields. SEED-EF NSF National Research Traineeship: Stakeholder Engaged Equitable Decarbonized Energy Futures empowers graduate students to become future energy leaders working on low-carbon energy solutions. Rossin College Professional Development: A series of courses, events and experiences preparing Lehigh engineering doctoral students for academic careers. To be eligible you must be a full-time doctoral student with at least one, but no more than three, full years remaining. Nominations are submitted by a student’s advisor and are accepted annually in February.
Can I do a PhD at Lehigh part-time?
The Environmental Engineering doctorate is the one Rossin College PhD whose department describes it as accommodating both full- and part-time students. For any other program, ask that department’s graduate contact.
How long does a Lehigh engineering PhD take?
It varies by program and by the degree you enter with. Bioengineering states five years as typical; Computer Science and Industrial and Systems Engineering both state four to six years. The other eight programs do not publish a typical duration.
Where are Lehigh’s engineering PhD programs based?
All 11 programs are based on Lehigh University’s campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science is at 19 Memorial Drive West, Bethlehem, PA 18015.
Contact
Talk to us
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
19 Memorial Drive West
Bethlehem, PA 18015
engineering@lehigh.edu
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