• What is the deadline for applications?

  Spring 2021 (MSE only) – November 15, 2020

  Fall 2021 – December 31, 2020
  

• Will you accept late applications?

  No.
  

• Are conditional admissions available?

  No.  Conditional admissions are not offered.  Admission is determined using an applicant’s complete application and the compatibility of research and academic interests.
  

• When are decisions made?

  Review of applications by the departmental Admissions Committee begins after the application deadline has passed.  Decisions are not likely to be made until February or March.  You will be notified if you have been accepted, rejected, or waitlisted.  Please do not contact the department to inquire about the status of your application.  Due to the high volume of emails at this time of the year, it is not possible for us to read and respond to these inquiries.
  

• What materials are required for the application?

  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • GRE scores
  • Toefl/Ielts scores
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Transcripts

• Do I need to submit a Statement of Purpose AND a Personal Statement?

  You only need to submit a Statement of Purpose – typically 1-3 pages outlining your background and interests in civil engineering, why you chose to pursue it, events or places that inspired you, etc.  This Statement of Purpose will be read by the Admissions Committee.
  

• Do I need to submit a CV/Resume?

  NO.  You are welcome to provide it, but it is not necessary,

• I have a master's degree already. Can I still apply to your master's program?

  Yes
  

• I am potentially interested in a PhD but would like to pursue my Master's Degree first. Which program should I apply to? Is it possible to continue on towards a PhD after completion of the Master's Degree?

  Applicants should clearly indicate in their personal statement whether they are applying for the PhD or MSE program.  MSE applicants who might be interested in pursuing a PhD degree should certainly indicate this interest in their personal statement.  Students admitted as MSE candidates must apply again to be considered for the PhD program.
  

• I have a Bachelors Degree, but not in civil engineering. Can I still apply to your graduate program?

  Yes. Students with undergraduate degrees in engineering, physics, math, or applied math are encouraged to apply.  Liberal arts students, with a strong background in mathematics and sciences, are also welcome to apply.  Details on what may be required to get you up to speed are best discussed on a case-by-case basis.
  

• Should I email faculty to determine if they have openings?

  No.  While the department is always looking for bright, highly motivated students, if you find a faculty member’s research particularly interesting it is best to indicate this on your application and in your personal statement.  Direct emails to faculty and staff attempting to identify ‘openings’ is discouraged – faculty receive several such emails from international students every day and it is not possible for us to read them all.
  

• I submitted all my materials, but I have not received any confirmation. What's wrong?

  If you have submitted your application, please be patient.  We have begun using a new application system, called Slate, this fall, and you may not receive a confirmation indicating that your application (and required materials) has been submitted.   If you would like to know if it has been received, please contact the Whiting School’s Graduate Admissions team.

• My Toefl or GRE scores were sent to Johns Hopkins, but my application does not indicate that they have been received. What should I do?

  Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office.  They will work with you to locate these materials.

• I applied for admission last year but was not not admitted. Do I need to apply again?

  YES.  Unfortunately, we cannot pull your application from our old system.  This year, we are using a new online application program and we do not have the ability to pull in old applications.  You will need to reapply.

• How many applicants do you plan to admit?

  There is no pre-determined number, as it will vary from year-to-year.
  

• What is the acceptance rate for applications?

  The number of applications accepted varies from year to year and from  program to program.  The rate of application acceptance in previous years has no influence on the number of application acceptances in the current year as each application is considered on its own merits.
  

• What is the application fee?

  $25.
  

• Will the department waive the admission fee?

  Our application fee is only $25 and this very minimal fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing applications in the Graduate Admissions Office. In most cases, the answer is “No”.  However there are a few instances when the application fee can be waived:

  1. The application fee may be waived for applicants with documented (must be uploaded within the application) registration/participation in one of the following programs: GEM, Department Request, SACNAS, MMUF, POSSE, JHU Grad Student, McNair, ABRCMS, Vietnam Education Foundation, IRT, Graduate Horizons, Chocktaw/Chickasaw Scholarship Advisement Program, Baltimore Scholars Program, Leadership Alliance, UMBC Meyerhoff Program, LSAMP, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, Project 1000, MARC and University of Puerto Rico Students.
  2. To request a waiver based on financial hardship please select the option on the application and upload one of the following: FAFSA SAR Report, a letter from a college/university financial aid office, unemployment verification. Do not send tax returns. All documents will be reviewed and verified for satisfactory evidence. If the uploaded document is not accepted you will be contacted to resubmit or to pay the application fee. For further information please contact the Whiting School’s Graduate Admissions team.  If you are requesting an application fee waiver, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office.  Do not contact the department.

• I am applying to 2 different departments. Do I have to pay the application fee for both?

  Yes.
  

• I have received/will receive a 2-year degree from a university in an English-speaking country. Can I be waived the Toefl/IELTS requirement?

  Possibly.  If you graduated with a higher education degree from one of these countries (scroll down to Option 3), the English language proficiency requirement can probably be waived.  If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

**For 2021 Applicants Only** GRE Accommodations Due to COVID-19

In response to the test accessibility issues caused by COVID-19, the Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) has decided to make the GRE exam optional for the 2021 admissions cycle. This only applies to graduate applications for the following start terms: Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021. For those applicants that have GRE scores ready, we will accept them. Please note, there will be no admissions advantage in submitting GRE scores. Likewise, there will be no disadvantage to any applicant for not submitting GRE scores. Our programs engage in holistic admissions review, and we expect many competitive applications will not include GRE scores this year.

• I want to apply, but won't be taking my GRE or Toefl until January. Will my application still be considered?

  Applications must be complete as of December 31, 2018 in order to be reviewed.
  

• What is the minimum score required on the GRE?

  GRE scores are one of a number of factors taken into consideration when reviewing applications.  These include (but not limited to) personal statement, transcripts, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation.  Although there is no minimum requirement, we recommend a minimum combined score of 317.
  

• I have received/will receive a 2-year degree from a university in an English-speaking country. Can I be waived the Toefl/IELTS requirement?

  Possibly.  To view the Toefl/IELTS waiver policy, click here.  To request a waiver of the Toefl/IELTS requirement, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office.

   

• What are the minimum scores required on the TOEFL or IELTs exams?

  TOEFL and IELTS scores are one of a number of factors taken into consideration when reviewing applications. These include (but not limited to) personal statement, transcripts, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation.  Although there is no minimum requirement, the Whiting School of Engineering recommends a minimum of 100 for the IBT, 250 for the CBT, and 600 for the PBT, and a score of 7.0 for IELTS.
  

• Do I need to send in my OFFICIAL test scores now?

  You can enter and upload unofficial copies of your GRE, TOEFL and IELTS scores when you apply.  If your application is under serious consideration, or you have been admitted to the program, we may contact you to request that you provide official scores and documentation.
  

• Is a Professional Credential Evaluation Required?

  For all foreign academic work we strongly recommend that you submit a professional credential evaluation from one of our recommended resources: One Earth, WES, or ECE. Credential evaluations allow the departments to better assess your academic records. These evaluations do not replace the transcript, you are still required to upload these documents as instructed.

• What is the application fee?

  The application fee for the department is $25.
  

• Will the department waive the admission fee?

  Our application fee is only $25 and this very minimal fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing applications in the Graduate Admissions Office. In most cases, the answer is “No”.  However there are a few instances when the application fee can be waived:

  1. The application fee may be waived for applicants with documented (must be uploaded within the application) registration/participation in one of the following programs: GEM, Department Request, SACNAS, MMUF, POSSE, JHU Grad Student, McNair, ABRCMS, Vietnam Education Foundation, IRT, Graduate Horizons, Chocktaw/Chickasaw Scholarship Advisement Program, Baltimore Scholars Program, Leadership Alliance, UMBC Meyerhoff Program, LSAMP, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, Project 1000, MARC and University of Puerto Rico Students.
  2. To request a waiver based on financial hardship please select the option on the application and upload one of the following: FAFSA SAR Report, a letter from a college/university financial aid office, unemployment verification. Do not send tax returns. All documents will be reviewed and verified for satisfactory evidence. If the uploaded document is not accepted you will be contacted to resubmit or to pay the application fee. For further information please contact the Whiting School’s Graduate Admissions team.  If you are requesting an application fee waiver, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office.  Do not contact the Department.

• I am applying to 2 different departments. Do I have to pay the application fee for both?

  Yes.
  

• Are there any teaching or research assistantships/fellowships available in the department? What are the chances I will receive one?

  Teaching and research assistantships and fellowships are allocated based on available funding, department needs, and student merit.  Admissions and funding decisions are made in early Spring, after the application period has closed.  Funds are awarded on a competitive basis so we do not allocate them or know your chances until we have received all applications.