Application Fee (Required)
$65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
$80 for international students.
English Proficiency Test (Required)
This program uses the Graduate School's English Language Proficiency Score Requirements and Minimum Scores for Regular Admission.
Minimum Scores for Regular Admission
TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (no sub score less than 4) (or 79 for students who took the test prior to January 2026)
IELTS: 6.5 (no sub score less than 6)
Duolingo English Test: 120 (no sub score less than 110)
PTE: 59
More information is available at https://graduate.ua.edu/applicants/international-students/.
Letter of Recommendation (3 Required)
Three letters from recommenders (waived for University of Alabama graduates). These recommenders may be previous faculty or supervisors.
Resume (Required)
Statement of Purpose (Required)
A concise Statement of Purpose. This short document should describe the reasons for pursuing an advanced degree as well as possible research interests. Those interested in funding support should consult the Funding for Students tab above.
Transcript (Required)
Please upload an unofficial transcript for any institution of higher education at which you have completed 15 or more credit hours. Official transcripts must be received prior to registering for classes. International applicants: please make sure that your transcript includes a grading scheme. All others: please include a grading scheme if your university does not use a letter-based (e.g. A, A-, B) grading scheme. The minimum GPA to be considered for regular admission is a 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Students who do not meet these requirements, but who excel in other areas, may be considered for Admission with Permission to Continue.
Additional Requirements (not listed) (Recommended)
Applicants who hold, or will hold, a BS or MS degree in a discipline other than Mechanical Engineering may apply for admission to the MSME program. However, there is a basic level of undergraduate understanding that applicants are expected to have upon entering the program. The following prerequisite undergraduate courses (or acceptable equivalents) are expected:
Mathematics: Calculus (usually 12 semester credit hours) and Ordinary Differential Equations
Chemistry: General Chemistry (usually 4 semester credit hours)
Physics: Calculus-Based Physics (usually 8 semester credit hours)