Graduate Education

Morrill Engineering Program

Graduate school is an excellent opportunity to enhance one's undergraduate background and refine an area of concentration. Technical enhancement is very important to potential employers. At the College of Engineering, graduate education is focused at the departmental level, and those interested in a master's or doctoral degree should first contact the graduate education coordinator or a faculty member in the department of interest. Formal application is made to the University of Illinois Graduate College .

Students desiring a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) should select corporate positions where project leadership responsibility can be obtained within the first two years, then apply for admission into an MBA program. Many MBA programs now require experience prior to admission, yet they allow the GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) scores to be valid for four or five years after the test date. If you are in that category, be sure to check with your schools of interest.

Some graduate programs require the GRE (Graduate Records Examination) for admissions or the awarding of fellowships. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to take the examination in the spring of their junior year. Both the GMAT and GRE are available via computer at selected sites and can be taken at various times depending upon your location. The university's testing site is in the basement of the Student Services Building, corner of John and Sixth streets.

Some engineering graduates have chosen the joint programs in Law and ILIR (Institute of Labor & Industrial Relations), or Law and MBA.

Online graduate education
Individuals interested in online master's degrees and online graduate certificates in engineering and computer science should contact the Office of Continuing Engineering Education.

Fellowships
Fellowships provide a means of funding graduate study. Applications are due as early as November for some fellowship programs, and some require that the student's undergraduate degree be in the same field as the graduate program. In addition to National Science Foundation (NSF), sources you might review awards through Mathematics, Natural Sciences & Engineering.

Prospective graduate students are encouraged to investigate the basis of admission into the program and school early. For example, review the requirements for fellowships or assistantships versus admission. Be certain whether the program admits primarily doctoral aspirants or prefers master's candidates. At the Illinois, fellowships and research assistantships are awarded primarily to those seeking doctoral degrees.

Other engineering fellowships
A partial list of fellowships of particular interest to engineering students.

GEM Fellowship
For students from under-represented groups in engineering who wish to obtain a graduate degree in engineering, the GEM Consortium offers summer employment, a tuition grant and, a stipend for graduate school. Currently, more than 75 universities, including Illinois, provide GEM-supported graduate degrees. Employment is provided by the 50-plus employer members of GEM. Applications must be submitted on-line no later than November 1, annually.

Support for Under-Represented Groups in Engineering (SURGE) Fellowship Program ( SURGE)
SURGE is a comprehensive package of stipends, services, and activities to recruit persons from under-represented groups into engineering doctoral programs and support them for a maximum of five years. A SURGE Fellowship provides a stipend of $17,000 and payment of tuition and fees each academic year. Applicants must be United States citizens or have permanent resident status. Applicants must be entering an engineering PhD program with a stated intention of pursuing the degree on a full-time basis at Illinois. Students do not apply directly for the SURGE Fellowship; they must be recommended by their admitting department.

Multi-Cultural Engineering Recruitment for Graduate Education Program (MERGE)
MERGE brings promising graduate school prospects from diverse cultures to the campus for an expense-paid, in-depth view of the outstanding programs and facilities available for graduate study at the University of Illinois. To be eligible, one must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; and be currently enrolled, or have recently completed an accredited curriculum in engineering, physics, or chemistry.

For additional information contact:

Morrill Engineering Program (MEP)
206 Engineering Hall, MC-272
1308 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
217/244-3815
email: mep-coe@uiuc.edu

SURGE Fellowship information:
Preston L. Ransom
Assistant Dean and Director
303 Engineering Hall, MC-266
1308 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
217/244-2578

Financial aid information:
Office of Student Financial Aid
620 E. John St.
Champaign, IL 61820
217/333-0100