Graduate Students

Admissions & Application Information

Degree programs

The ECE department offers MS and PhD degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). In addition, the department and the College of Business offer a joint MBA and MS degree in electrical and computer engineering. The department also participates in the Medical Scholars program, which allows students to earn an MD degree and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering. Students who have an interest in science and engineering areas that exploit computing as their main tool may enroll in the new Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) program. An ECE student enrolled in this program will receive an ECE degree with a CSE option.

The Graduate Studies Manual contains more specific information regarding each degree option.

Admissions

The ECE graduate program is consistently ranked in the top three nationwide. As you might expect, admission is very competitive. Students with a bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering (or related field) should apply to the MS program even if the ultimate goal is the PhD degree. During the online application process applicants will be asked to indicate whether their intention is to obtain the MS or to continue for a PhD. Students with an MS degree in electrical or computer engineering (or related field) should apply to the PhD program. In the fall 2005 semester, the average GPA of applicants admitted and receiving financial aid was 3.86 (on a scale of 4.0 = A). Their average GRE percentile ranks were Quantitative (88%), Analytical (62.6%), and Verbal (73.6%). In the fall 2005 semester, there were 552 students enrolled in the ECE graduate program. Minimum admission requirements, listed by country, can be found on the Graduate College's
Minimum Admission Requirements page.

Application process

Prospective graduate students are to apply on-line through "Apply yourself", a university wide web-based application system for graduate admissions. "Apply-Yourself" allows students to track their admission progress and conduct most of the admission process - including paying the application fee - electronically. The university application fee is $60 for US citizens and permanent residents and $75 for all other applications. Students who are unable to apply on-line need to contact graduate admissions (gradadmissions@illinois.edu).

If you must submit printed/paper forms of the Graduate College application, the completed form together with the application fee must be sent to:

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Graduate College
801 S. Wright St.
204 Coble Hall
Champaign, IL 61820-6210
USA
E-mail: gradadmissions@illinois.edu

In addition to the Graduate College Application form, all ECE applicants must fill out and submit online a Preferences Form, which indicates their areas of research interest. Applicants may access this form two days after they have submitted their application here: ECE Graduate Applicant Preferences Form. The ECE department also requires its applicants who submit paper forms to submit the following forms/material:

  • Official copies of transcripts of all completed university coursework
  • Three letters of reference
  • A Statement of Purpose
  • Declaration & Certification of Finances form

  • Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general aptitude tests verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions.

    A GRE subject test is not required--the institution code is 1836 and department code is 1203 for ECE.

International applicants, whose native language is not English and who have attended a university in an English-speaking country for less than two years, must submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL score must be at least 590 (242 for CBT, 96 for iBT); however, if it is below 620 (260 for CBT, 105 for iBT), an English as Second Language Placement exam must be taken on the campus and the courses required by its results must be taken. Rank in class should also be submitted for international applicants. The institution code for the TOEFL is 1836 and the department code is 00 (admissions and records).

Application deadlines

All materials, credentials, and test scores must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST):

  • December 15 for admission to the summer session or fall semester
  • September 1 for admission to the spring semester

Applicants who are not admitted must reapply in order to be considered for admission in a later semester.

Application checklist for Applying On-line

  • Graduate College application form (apply online or send paper copy to The Graduate College).
  • Application fee (can pay online or send check/money order made payable to University of Illinois along with Graduate College Application form).
  • Official copies of transcripts of all completed university coursework.
  • Declaration & Certification of Finances form for international students only. This form is necessary only if you wish to be considered for admission without financial aid, or if you would be supported on external funds such as a government or industrial fellowship.
Mail your transcripts to:
University of Illinois ECE department
Advising Office
156 Everitt Lab
1406 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801 If you have questions regarding any aspect of the ECE graduate program, please e-mail them to ece-grad-apps@illinois.edu.