Admission Requirements

An online application for admission to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs must be completed through the Cornell University Graduate School's ApplyWeb Portal:
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All applicants are notified of their decision by email. Applicants offered admission will receive an admissions letter and a deadline as to when they need to inform Systems about their enrollment decisions (usually April 15). After a student responds that they will enroll at Cornell University, they are sent an I-20 form, if applicable.

M.S. Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester

    January 15

  • Spring Semester

    Not available

Ph.D. Application Deadline

The admissions committee begins reviewing Ph.D. applications at the beginning of January and continues throughout February. Decisions about admissions (and any financial aid) are communicated to applicants until the end of March.

  • Fall Semester

    January 15

  • Spring Semester

    Not available.

Requirements (M.S. and Ph.D.)

  • Minimum of a Baccalaureate Degree

    • Your undergraduate degree should be preferably in engineering, mathematics, or science, and conferred by an accredited college or university. For students with foreign credentials, the equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing. See the Graduate School’s International Degree Equivalencies for more information.
    • As an undergraduate, you should have taken at the minimum, differential calculus, integral calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations as math courses. For Cornell undergrads, MATH 1910, 1920, 2930,  2940, and a mathematics course chosen by the major are required.

  • Course in Probability and Statistics

    • An undergraduate course in probability and statistics is required to matriculate into the System Engineering program.
    • If not already completed at the time of admission, this requirement may be satisfied by completing ENGRD 2700 or CEE 3040.
    • Students may complete a similar course at another university upon approval of the Curriculum Committee. You will be required to submit a transcript as verification that this course has been completed before the end of your first semester in the program.
    • Probability and/or Statistics Requirements for Incoming Students

    Please see Cornell University Graduate School: Admissions for more information, and click the title of each section below for detailed instructions from the Graduate School.

  • Academic Statement of Purpose

    Your Academic Statement of Purpose should state your reasons for undertaking graduate work, as well as an explanation of your academic interests, including their relation to your undergraduate study and professional goals.

    Visit Cornell University Graduate School: Academic Statement of Purpose for detailed instructions

  • Personal Statement

    Your personal statement should provide the Admissions Committee with a sense of you as a whole person. You should use it to describe how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree.

    See Cornell University Graduate School: Write a Personal Statement.

  • Unofficial Transcripts from Each College or University Previously Attended

    Please note that there are only up to three fields for listing schools attended. If you attended more than three colleges or universities, you must upload those transcripts in the writing sample portion of the application.

    If you have appropriate supplemental documents such as an undergraduate research paper, resume and awards, upload them in the writing sample portion of the application.

    See Cornell University Graduate School: Prepare Transcripts.

     

  • Letters of Recommendation

    • Three letters of recommendation are required for the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees.
    • Additional letters are accepted.
    • Recommenders may submit their letters online. Once an application is submitted, recommenders receive an automated email soliciting their letter (you will be prompted to provide their contact information before you submit your application).
    • Recommenders may also email letters to the Systems Engineering Office: systemseng@cornell.edu

    See Cornell University Graduate School: Request Recommendations.

  • GRE

    The GRE is currently not required.

  • English Language Proficiency

    Scores from either TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic are required to assess the student’s proficiency with the English language.

    For the M.S., TOEFL is not required from international applicants who have previously studied for at least four years in an English-speaking country.

    We require minimum scores for each section plus a minimum cumulative score:

    TOEFL

    For further information on this requirement as well as exemptions, please visit Cornell University Graduate School: English Language Proficiency Requirement.

    Ph.D. Minimum TOEFL Scores
    • Writing – 25
    • Listening – 25
    • Reading – 25
    • Speaking – 22
    M.S. Minimum TOEFL Scores
    • Writing – 25
    • Listening – 25
    • Reading – 25
    • Speaking – 22

    IELTS

    Ph.D. Minimum IELTS Score

    Overall minimum band score of 7.5.

     

     

  • Application Fee

    Application fee: $105

    Cornell University expects all applicants to complete their application materials without the use of paid agents, credentials services, or other paid professional assistance.

    The use of such services violates university policy and may lead to the rejection of application materials, the revocation of an admissions offer, cancellation of admission, or involuntary withdrawal from the university.