Graduate Admissions FAQs

Fall 2024 CENG/NANO Graduate Admissions

Applications for CENG/NANO Graduate Admissions will open:

MS - September 4, 2024 - March 19, 2025

Ph.D. - September 4, 2024 - December 18, 2024

  • Admissions occur in the Fall Quarter only, and late applications cannot be accepted
  • Please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below for answers to most questions
  • Students can apply directly to the Ph.D. program without a MS degree
  • We receive a high volume of Admissions questions via email. We do our best to respond to questions that are not addressed in the FAQs
How to apply
Application Requirements

In order to process your application, we require the following documents:

  • https://grad.ucsd.edu/admissions/requirements
    • Statement of Purpose
      • There is no CENG/NANO specific prompt. Please follow the guidelines set by UC San Diego Graduate Admissions
    • Three letters of Recommendation
      • These should be from individuals who can attest to the academic or professional competence and depth of the applicant's interests in pursuing graduate study. Only online letters will be accepted. To submit an online Letter of Recommendation, students must provide the email address of each Recommender in the application
    • Transcripts (from all institutions attended, scanned and uploaded directly to graduate application)*
      • We will accept unofficial transcripts at the time of application. Official transcripts will be offered after the student has been offered and have accepted admission. The Admissions Office will provide additional instructions.
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
      • The GRE Requirement will be waived for all applicants. Students may continue to submit official GRE scores for Fall 2025 admission. The Department is reviewing the future use of the GRE exam. Nonetheless, if you feel your application is less competitive, providing GRE scores can strengthen your application.
    • Minimum GPA
      • The MS and Ph.D. program minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. However, the typical GPA for admission is a 3.4 or higher
    • English Language Proficiency
      • Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is requirement for all international applicants whose native language is not English
      • The university minimum for English language test scores can be found at GEPA Education-Language Proficiency.
What is the UC San Diego Institutional Code for GRE/TOEFL?

The UC San Diego Institutional Code is 4836. A department code is not required.

Previous Graduate Registration at UC San Diego

If you are applying to a CENG/NANO Graduate program and were previously registered as a graduate student at UC San Diego, then you may start a new application. Please complete the application but do not submit it. Instead notify NE-GradInfo@ucsd.edu of your completed application.

Can I obtain a duplicate M.S. or Ph.D. degree?

Normally, UC San Diego does not permit the duplication of advanced degrees. (Previous professional degrees, however, are not included in this restriction.) Please review the Duplication of Degree policy for more information Holders of a master's degree in one field may be considered under certain circumstances for admission into a master's degree program in another field. Prospective applicants who already hold a master's degree should contact the department for more information in pursuing a duplicate advanced degree.  Holders of a Ph.D., in any field, are advised not to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program.

Can I contact faculty about research opportunities?

Yes, feel free to contact faculty directly to ask any specific engineering questions, inquire about research opportunities, or to ask about potential financial assistance. Please be aware that faculty are very busy and it may take some time to return your emails and phone calls.

Please reference our faculty list. This list will aid in finding faculty currently working in specific areas of study.

Is Financial Support Available?

The department does not offer financial support to students pursuing the M.S. level degree. Students are encouraged to seek information on how to fund their education for other sources. Students can apply for department teaching assistant positions which provides some fee assistance when employed at 25% or more. Click the link for more information: https://grad.ucsd.edu/financial

Support at the Ph.D. level is available but limited in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. The availability of research assistantships is decided by a match of mutual interests between the student and a faculty member, as well as the research funding availability of each a faculty member.

Can I enroll in Chemical or Nano Engineering courses without being matriculated in a degree program?

Yes! If you are interested in enrolling in Nanoengineering or Chemical Engineering classes without being matriculated in a degree program you may do so through UCSD Extended Studies' Concurrent Enrollment Program. 

Students are not guaranteed enrollment into a course but are recommended to provide additional supporting documentation for their enrollment.