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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.
Join a community of world-class researchers
Learn more below about our academic programs, graduate student life and opportunities at McKelvey Engineering.
Request information
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.
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?
| San Francisco, CA - 117% ↑ |
| Seattle, WA - 77% ↑ |
| Boston, MA - 77% ↑ |
| Chicago, IL - 41% ↑ |
| Houston, TX - 7% ↑ |
Student Profiles
Degree pursuing: Dual-Degree Program: Master's in Engineering Management & Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Kingwood, Texas
"While studying my math degree at St. Edward's University, I learned about the Dual-Degree program, earning a liberal arts math degree and a more technical, chemical engineering degree, in only 5 years. When I visited WashU, I was amazed with the technology and research opportunities that they offered."
Degree pursuing: Project Management
Hometown: Yangon, Myanmar
"I completed my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at WashU as a part of my Dual Degree Engineering (3+3) Program. I knew I wanted to continue with an MPM at WashU because the McKelvey community is supportive, has fantastic faculty, and provides valuable courses."
Degree pursuing: PhD in computer science
Hometown: New Jersey
"While I worked in the software engineering industry, I took as many opportunities as I could to engage in CS education. This has allowed me to do many cool things, like building puzzle-based learning tools for middle schoolers, taking two semester-long rotations to teach CS in universities, and even trying to build an innovative app that teaches beginners how to code."
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