Application Requirements

Domestic Applicants

Applying to ISE Graduate Programs as a Domestic Student

Domestic students are defined as U.S. Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and those individuals under Asylee, Paroled in Public Interest, or Refugee status.

If you meet one of these categories, you are eligible to apply to the Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering (ISE) graduate programs at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign as a domestic applicant.

Eligibility 

To apply to the MS or PhD in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), applicants must have:

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or mathematics from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S., or

• A comparable degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad.

A Master’s degree is not required to apply for the PhD program. Applicants who already hold a master’s degree in the same field may not apply for a second master’s degree.

Application Requirements

Applicants should apply to only one ISE graduate program per semester. All materials must be uploaded through the online application system.
Please do not send official transcripts, diplomas, or test scores by mail. You will be contacted if additional documentation is needed.

Required Application Materials:

• Online application
• Application fee: $70
• Academic Statement (recommended 750 words max):
  • Please write a statement that answers the following questions (recommended length: 750 words max):
    • How has your academic background, including any training, research, or other academic experiences, prepared you for graduate study
    • What are your intellectual interests and what scholarly questions are you interested in exploring in graduate study?
    • Are there any specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own that you would like to work with?
    • How will our program help you achieve your intellectual and professional goals?
• Personal Statement (recommended 250 words max):
  • Do you have any personal experiences, achievements, strengths, or circumstances not discussed in your academic statement that you would like to include or that you believe will help you succeed in our program?
• Resume/CV
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Transcripts (unofficial copies accepted if they include your name and university)
• GRE scores:
  • Not required, but highly recommended for PhD applicants.
  • Consider the GRE General Test at Home if in-person testing is not available.

All materials submitted will be used in the holistic review of your application.

Enrollment Options for University of Illinois Employees

Full-time employees of the University of Illinois will be admitted only as on-campus students and may complete this program on a part-time basis.

International Applicants

Applying to ISE Graduate Programs as an International Student

International students, defined as citizens and permanent residents of countries outside the United States, are encouraged to apply to the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering graudate programs.

If you are in the process of applying for lawful U.S. Permanent Residency, you should choose Adjusted Status as your citizenship type when completing your application

Before applying, please review the information below in addition to:

Graduate College Instructions for International Applicants

Minimum Admission Requirements by Country

Eligibility 

To apply to the MS or PhD in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering (ISE), applicants must have:

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or mathematics from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S., or

• A comparable degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad.

A Master’s degree is not required to apply for the PhD program. Applicants who already hold a master’s degree in the same field may not apply for a second master’s degree.

Application Requirements

Applicants should apply to only one ISE graduate program per semester. All materials must be uploaded through the online application system.
Please do not send official transcripts, diplomas, or test scores by mail. You will be contacted if additional documentation is needed.

Required Application Materials:

• Online application
• Application fee of $90
• Academic Statement (recommended length: 750 words max):
  • Please write a statement that answers the following questions:
    • How has your academic background, including any training, research, or other academic experiences, prepared you for graduate study?
    • What are your intellectual interests and what scholarly questions are you interested in exploring in graduate study?
    • Are there any specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own that you would like to work with?
    • How will our program help you achieve your intellectual and professional goals?
• Personal Statement (recommended length: 250 words max):
  • Do you have any personal experiences, achievements, strengths, or circumstances not discussed in your academic statement that you would like to include or that you believe will help you succeed in our program?
• Resume/CV
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Transcripts in both English and native language (unofficial copies acceptable, but applicant name and university name must appear)
• Certificate of degree in English and native language (if earned)
• GRE scores
  • Not required, but highly recommended for PhD Applications
  • Consider the GRE General Test at Home if you are not able to take it in person
• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (required for non-native English speakers; see details below)
  • Consider the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition as a potential option
• Evidence of financial resources (required for visa eligibility)
• Passport/Visa copy, if applicable, must be uploaded to the application. If you do not have a passport, you will be required to have one before the visa eligibility documents can be sent, if admitted. Please note: A visa is not required for students completing our online master's degree program.

English Proficiency Requirements

All applicants whose native language is not English must provide official results from either:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Official scores must be sent directly from TOEFL/ETS or IELTS and must be less than two years old from the start of your proposed entry term. You may send TOEFL scores to the university code 1836. IELTS score report forms should be submitted directly to the online application.

For minimum score requirements, exemptions, and additional details, visit The Graduate College's English Proficiency Requirement for Admission page.

Note: Admission exemptions do not extend to international teaching assistants. For details, see the English Proficiency Requirement for International Teaching Assistants. Please click here for a list of countries that qualify for an exemption from the admissions requirement.

Evidence of Financial Resources for Visa Eligibility

International applicants requesting I-20 or DS-2019 visa eligibility documents must demonstrate proof of sufficient financial resources to cover educational and living expenses in the U.S.

Financial documentation is required as part of the application process in order for visa eligibility documents (I-20 or DS-2019) to the U.S. to be issued. International applicants should upload the documentation directly to the online application using the Declaration and Certification of Finances form. This form includes the amount of funding required and the type of documentation required.

Applicants should upload the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form and supporting documentation directly to the online application.
This documentation verifies available funding and is required for visa processing, though ISE does not require proof of financial resources at the time of application.

Any funding or assistantship offers from the department will reduce the total amount you must show.