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/.
GPA (Required)
AEM department standards are higher than the graduate school minimums, and all application materials are carefully considered. Meeting minimum graduate school requirements does not guarantee admission into the PhD program.
Letter of Recommendation (3 Required)
Contact information for three recommenders provided at time of application.
Statement of Purpose (Required)
Most statements of purpose are 1-2 pages long and should describe your background, reasons for attending your chosen graduate program and post-graduation goals. If you have questions regarding content or format, please contact your prospective program.
Transcript (Required)
Please upload an unofficial transcript for any institution of higher education at which you have completed 15 or more credit hours. Please include a grading scheme if your university does not use a letter-based (e.g. A, A-, B) grading scheme.
Additional Requirements (not listed) (Recommended)
Students applying to the PhD program without a bachelor's or master’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or engineering mechanics are required to complete the following coursework from an accredited university (if not already completed) prior to applying:
Calculus (12 semester credit hours)
Ordinary Differential Equations
12 semester credit hours of calculus-based engineering mechanics - Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials and Fluid Mechanics.
Students have the opportunity to enroll in the mechanics courses through the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education as a non-degree seeking (NDS) applicant.
The PhD distance program is open to US students as well as international students residing in the US with appropriate visas. For students interested in the distance PhD program, it is highly recommended to contact faculty with similar research interests and arrange an on-campus visit or video conference prior to applying to the program. Gaining faculty interest and support is essential in the application review.
Entrance Exam (Recommended)
GRE Optional but Recommended
Resume (Recommended)
Optional but recommended.