Washington University in St. Louis

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McKelvey School of Engineering

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Graduate Admissions

Earn your PhD at McKelvey Engineering

At Washington University in St. Louis, we accept applications from a wide variety of backgrounds including those with undergraduate degrees in fields such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, computers science and political science. Request more information or attend an upcoming information session to find out if an advanced degree from McKelvey Engineering at WashU is right for you.

Earn your PhD at McKelvey Engineering

Join a community of world-class researchers

Learn more below about our academic programs, graduate student life and opportunities at McKelvey Engineering.

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Deadline for all PhD programs: Dec. 15, 2023

Opportunities for applicants from affiliated colleges and universities

WashU has partnered with a select group of affiliated colleges and universities to offer students unique opportunities to complete engineering degrees in conjunction with liberal arts degrees from their current school.

  • All applicants from affiliated schools applying directly into a graduate program are eligible to have the application fee waived ($75 value).
  • Master’s applicants who have graduated from an affiliated school within the last year are eligible to receive a 35% tuition discount.
  • All PhD applicants are fully funded, including full tuition support and health insurance.

Not ready for graduate school? You can earn your bachelor’s degree from the McKelvey School of Engineering at WashU.

Explore other options.

Full support and funding

Our PhD students are fully-funded, including full tuition support and health insurance.

As a doctoral candidate, you will receive a generous stipend to cover living expenses. This support is guaranteed as you continue to make satisfactory progress towards your degree.

Additionally, doctoral students may also qualify for one of the fellowships:

How much more expensive are other cities?

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Boston, MA - 77% ↑
Chicago, IL - 41% ↑
Houston, TX - 7% ↑

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Student Profiles


Discover what life is like for PhD students
at Washington University in St. Louis

Take a look inside our labs and facilities

Inside the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

BME Day 2023: A day devoted to biomedical engineering

Tour Green Hall, home to the Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering

PhD programs