About the Application Process

If you have earned (or will soon earn) a bachelor's degree or a degree in technology at a recognized college, university, or technical institution, you may be admitted as a graduate student and study for an advanced degree. There are three categories of graduate student: regular, associate, and non-degree. Only regular students can earn advanced degrees. Students who do not wish to enter a degree program may seek admission with non-degree status.

To be considered for admission as a regular graduate student, you should apply directly to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The decision to admit a student rests with the department. An offer of admission stands for one year following the semester for which the offer was made. If more than one year elapses, the department reserves the right to reconsider its offer.

Deadlines

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Students seeking admission for the fall semester who want to maximize their chances for admission; for fellowships and scholarships; and for research, teaching, and graduate assistantships, should file an application by December 15. 

International and U.S. Students

Either the Internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Test System) is required for all graduate students whose first language is not English.

Minimum scores can be found on Lehigh Engineering's website; however, each department, including the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, has different requirements which may be more than the minimum.

Minimum TOEFL scores are:

Reading: 20
Listening: 20
Speaking: 23
Writing: 22
COMPOSITE: 85

Minimum IELTS scores are:

Reading: 6.5
Listening: 6.5
Speaking: 7.0
Writing: 6.0
OVERALL: 6.5

Students from the United States and International students can apply directly online.

 

Additional Requirements

Along with your application you will be required to:

  • Send an official transcript from each university you have attended. All transcripts should be converted to the American 4.0 grade point average (GPA) scale, if possible. 
  • Include two (2) letters of recommendation from qualified individuals who can evaluate your academic achievement and potential for graduate studies. 
  • Enclose a $50 non-refundable application fee. 

Note: Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test results are not required.

If you are an international student, you must achieve a necessary standard on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Test System (IELTS).

Applicants who do not qualify for regular graduate student status may be offered associate status.

Transcript Information

Use the following mailing address for transcripts:

Graduate Coordinator
Lehigh University, Materials Science and Engineering
5 East Packer Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18015
USA

Institution Codes:

GRE: Our institution code, Lehigh University, is 2365. The department code for Materials Science is 1403. (Note: GRE scores are no longer required for your application.)

TOEFL: 99 (Materials Science programs do not have a specific TOEFL code, so "99" is used for graduate studies.)

Funding

Students are funded through faculty grants and government sponsorship.

Non-Degree Status

Students who do not wish to enter a degree program may seek admission with non-degree status. Please see Non-Degree Admissions for further details.