Admissions

Master of Science (M.S.) Overview

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers both a thesis option and a non-thesis option leading to the M.S. degree. Both options require a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate work. The thesis option must include a thesis for at least six hours of credit. The non-thesis option must include at least three-credit hours of independent investigation. More information regarding the M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering including Admissions information and Degree Requirements can be found in the Academic Catalog.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Overview

A minimum of three full academic years, or the equivalent, beyond the baccalaureate degree must be spent in graduate study at the University of Kansas to complete requirements for the Ph.D. degree. A dissertation is required of each doctoral candidate. The Ph.D. dissertation presents the results of the student's research investigation. It is expected to make an original contribution to technical knowledge of sufficient quality to merit publication(s) in refereed journals. A candidate for a doctoral degree must satisfy all Graduate School requirements for the degree and must submit to the major professor a paper or papers, based on the dissertation, suitable for publication in a refereed journal. More information regarding the Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering including Admissions information and Degree Requirements can be found in the Academic Catalog.

Areas of study in Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas include:

  1. Biomechanics and Biomaterials: biomechanics of human motion, biomaterials, orthopedic biomechanics and biomedical product design, transport phenomena, and drug delivery.
  2. Computational Mechanics and Mathematics of Computations: computational mechanics, finite element analysis, finite element methods and software
  3. Thermal-Fluid Systems and Heat Transfer: energy and thermal-power system design, heat transfer and computational fluid dynamics
  4. Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Microprocessor Applications: computer-aided mechanical design, continuum mechanics, computer-integrated manufacturing, computational mechanics, finite element analysis, machine stress analysis, microcomputer applications, and automatic control systems

Scholarships/Fellowships/Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)/Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)

Applicants are considered for scholarships, fellowships, and GTA positions upon submission of a complete application by the priority deadline.  The department offers funding opportunities for first-year graduate students. GRA positions are dependent on faculty research. Note: Graduate students who meet the prerequisites for Scholarship Eligibility or Fellowship Eligibility and have completed an application by the fall priority deadline will be considered for nomination for the Self Graduate Fellowship. Information regarding the benefits available to GTAs and GRAs can be found in the KU Policy Library.

Application materials required for consideration:

  • Application
  • One-page statement of purpose
  • Resume or curriculum vitae 
  • Official transcript from each institution of higher education attended
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • International Students: TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores
  • International Students: Financial statement (only necessary if admitted)

The GRE requirement is waived for all applicants applying to Mechanical Engineering.

Deadlines to Apply

All application materials must be received by the following deadlines.

Fall

  • Priority deadline: December 1
  • Final deadline: May 1

Spring

  • Priority deadline: October 1
  • Final deadline: November 1

Summer

  • Final deadline: May 1