Application Guide

Your guide to being a successful applicant to the M.Eng. Program!
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Page Contents

Requirements

The application components listed on this page are required by all M.Eng. Programs.

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or a Related Field

    • You must have earned or will have earned the bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation into the M.Eng. program.
    • If your major was not in a STEM field, but you have a technical background, please consult with your M.Eng. program of interest to see if you have the necessary prerequisites for admission.
    • International applicants: if you received your undergraduate degree outside of the United States, please review the list of international degrees that are considered to be the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. Non-equivalent degrees are not acceptable for admission into the M.Eng. program.

  • Academic Statement of Purpose

    • This short essay should have a forward-looking focus. Tell us about your professional goals and how your academic background prepared you for the M.Eng. program. We are particularly interested in how your chosen M.Eng. program is a good fit for you.

  • Personal Statement

    • This short essay complements your academic statement of purpose and should be reflective, describing your personal motivations and sharing insights into your potential contributions to the Cornell M.Eng. community. Explain how your background has influenced your decision to pursue a professional degree.

  • Transcripts

    • Provide unofficial versions of your official transcripts from each university you attended.
    • International students: if applicable, transcripts must be translated into English and GPAs must be converted to a 4.0 scale.
    • The minimum GPA to be eligible for admission is 2.7/4.0. Please note that individual programs may have higher limits.
    • Official transcripts will only be requested upon your admission to an M.Eng. program.

  • Letters of Recommendation

    • The number of letters required varies by program.
    • The most helpful letters are those submitted by faculty members or professional references who are familiar with your capabilities and can comment on your potential for success as a Cornell M.Eng. student.

  • Application Fee

    • Payment of $105 must be made online at the time you submit your application.
    • Credit cards or debit cards are acceptable methods of payment.
    • Application fee waivers are generally not available for M.Eng. applicants.

  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

    • Varies by program; check with individual programs for GRE requirements.
    • If required, you should self-report your scores where indicated on the application and arrange for ETS to send Cornell your official scores.

  • English Language Proficiency

    • Acceptable exams: IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT
    • See below for instructions on sending scores to Cornell
    • IELTS Minimum Requirements*
      • Overall band score of at least 7.0
    • TOEFL iBT Minimum Requirements*
      • Speaking: 22 or above
      • Reading: 20 or above
      • Listening: 15 or above
      • Writing: 20 or above

    * Listed are Cornell Engineering minima. Individual programs may have higher limits.

    Please see below for exemption criteria.

“The M.Eng. gives you a great opportunity to work closely with professors and tailor the experience to your interests.”

Cynthia Chu M.Eng. ’20, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Student in graduation regalia

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Sending Scores to Cornell

IELTS Academic

  • When you register for the exam, you may select up to 5 institutions to which you would like to have your scores sent. Cornell University has multiple IELTS accounts so please be sure to select Cornell University Graduate Admissions when registering for your IELTS test date.
  • You may also ask your test center to send additional score reports to institutions not originally listed on your test registration form. Scores must be sent electronically (e-delivery) to the Cornell University Graduate Admissions, Caldwell Hall e-download account. E-delivery may also be referred to as an e-TRF by your test center. Paper TRFs (Test Report Form) are not accepted.
  • Your IELTS Academic scores must be valid as of your program’s application deadline (scores are valid for 2 years after your test date).

TOEFL iBT

  • Have scores delivered electronically to Cornell University Graduate School, Institution code 2098. Department codes are not needed;  if ETS requires you to select a department code, you may choose code 99 “undecided.”
  • Your TOEFL scores must be valid as of your program’s application deadline (scores are valid for 2 years after your test date).
  • If you have taken the TOEFL iBT more than once within the last 2 years, have ETS send us your most recent score report. ETS will automatically include your MyBest scores along with the traditional scores from your selected test date. If your most recent scores do not meet the Graduate School’s minimum sub-score requirements, but your MyBest scores do, let your M.Eng. Program know that you would like us to consider your MyBest scores. Note: not all programs accept MyBest scores.

Exemptions

Standing Exemptions

For admissions purposes, Cornell University Master of Engineering Programs do not require IELTS or TOEFL scores from applicants who meet exemption criteria. On your application for admission, you may indicate if you meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Speak English as a first language and are a citizen or permanent resident of a country where English is an official language.
  2. At the time of enrollment at Cornell, will have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university located in the U.S. (Please note that you must have been physically present in the U.S. for the majority of your enrollment.)
  3. At the time of enrollment at Cornell, will have earned the international equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university located in a country where English is an official language, and where English is the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be indicated on the transcript or easily verified on the institution’s website. (Please note that you must have been physically present in the exempt country for the majority of your enrollment.)
  4. At the time of enrollment at Cornell, will have studied and/or worked full-time for at least 2 consecutive years* within the last 10 years in a country where English is an official and widely spoken language. This experience must be noted on a transcript and/or described on a resume or CV.

Special Exemptions

Applicants who speak English as a first language, but do not otherwise qualify for a standing exemption, may be considered for a special exemption under the following circumstances: 

  • Speak English as a first or native language, but citizenship does not meet the Standing Exemption criteria.
  • Full-time study or work in a primary English country was for less than 2 years, was not consecutive, or occurred more than 10 years ago.

Email the M.Eng. Programs Admissions Team if you think you may qualify for a special exemption.