Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-oriented degree requiring independent mastery of a field of knowledge. As such, the Graduate School and MAE offers considerable flexibility in tailoring individual programs. Students complete 90 credits, 51 research credits and 39 graded credits, in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering. MAE is home to more than five hundred graduate students, with more than two hundred pursuing a PhD.

How to Apply

  • Submit a University of Florida Graduate School Application
  • Under Program of Study, select Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering – Doctor of Philosophy
  • A $30.00 (non-refundable) application fee is required
  • Submit all required materials
  • Monitor your application in the App Status portal

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester

  • Priority consideration for Ph.D fellowships and admission: December 5
  • Domestic deadline for admission and Graduate Research Assistantships: June 1
  • International deadline for admission and Graduate Research Assistantships: March 1

Spring Semester

  • Domestic deadline for admission and Graduate Research Assistantships: November 1
  • International deadline for admission and Graduate Research Assistantships: September 1

Applications for Summer Semesters are not accepted

Applications submitted after the application deadlines listed above may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements

Due to current admission examination testing difficulties amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, in sync with the UF Graduate School, has made the GRE optional for applicants seeking admission through Fall 2023.

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or a closely related STEM discipline
  • A clear “Statement of Purpose” indicating goals to be achieved in specific area(s) of study
  • A minimum of 3 letters of recommendation. An applicant who has completed their Master’s degree with thesis option in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UF must provide written recommendation from their master’s degree supervisory committee
  • International applicants only: IELTS with a minimum score of 6, or TOEFL with a minimum score of 80 (internet based) or 550 (paper test), with some exemptions
  • Upper-division undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • GRE scores are not required for admission.
  • Due to our large volume of applicants, satisfaction of the minimum requirements does not guarantee review of application materials or admission to our graduate program. See the Average Applicant Profile page for guidance.

Application Status

  • Admissions decisions are rendered by the MAE Graduate Admissions Committee in conjunction with MAE faculty. In most cases, applicants must receive a funded Graduate Assistantship (GA) offer to qualify for admission
  • Admissions decisions are typically sent 60 to 90 days after the priority deadline has passed.
  • View your application status online in the App Status portal

Spring Visit

  • Spring Visit is the annual PhD visitation event at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Prospective students from around the nation visit for a weekend research information sessions, faculty meetings, tours and other events.
  • Spring Visit is by invitation only. Invitations will be sent following the priority deadline, no later than December 31st.
  • Graduate School Pre-eminence Award (GSPA) fellowship awardees must attend Spring Visit to remain eligible.

Funding

  • Graduate Assistantships
    • Graduate Assistants, or Research Assistants, work on a research project in conjunction with their faculty mentor
    • Graduate Assistantships include a stipend, tuition, and GatorGradCare Health Insurance, and are renewable annually
    • For more information review our Available PhD Research Positions page
  • Fellowships
    • The Graduate School Preeminence Award (GSPA) provides new engineering PhD students with four to five years of full funding. Funding coverage includes tuition waiver, GatorGradCare Health Insurance and a monthly living stipend ($30,000 annually). Full details may be found on the Graduate School website.
    • GSPA awardees must attend Spring Visit to remain eligible.

Tips

  • Don’t miss our emails! Add GradAdmissions@mae.ufl.edu to your known senders list.
  • Submit all of your application materials by the priority deadline.
  • Secure a graduate assistantship position. This is a critical step in the admissions process. Communicate with faculty early and often.
  • Be professional, courteous, and detailed in your communications.
  • Do research before contacting faculty. Incorporate specific relevant details into your communications.
  • The following email example is likely to receive a positive response: “I read your paper on 3D Bioprinting; I found the additive manufacturing process fascinating! I have some experience with additive manufacturing in Dr. Person’s lab at the University of College, do you have some time to meet with me regarding research opportunities in your lab?”

FAQ

Is the GRE required for Admissions?

  • No, the GRE is not required for admission.

Do you accept the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam?

  • No, we do not consider the FE for admissions purposes.

What is the cost of attendance?

  • PhD students at MAE are fully funded, which includes a stipend, tuition, and GatorGradCare Health Insurance.
  • Fully funded PhD students are responsible for some student fees that are not included in the tuition. Approximate remaining annual fees are ~$1,967 ($81.96 per credit hour). These figures are based on the 2018-2019 fee schedule and are subject to change.
  • Current tuition and fee rates can be found here.

How are admission and funding decisions made?

  • The MAE Graduate Admission Committee, in conjunction with MAE faculty, review applications considering all provided details. The most successful applicants are those whom have strong research backgrounds, clearly articulate their research interests, and will seamlessly integrate into one of our research labs.

How many faculty should I contact regarding funding?

  • As many as possible. We typically recommend contacting any faculty with whom your research interests and experience are mutually compatible. Check the Available PhD Research Positions page for current open positions. Do not send mass emails or template emails, a smaller number of targeted, quality correspondences are better.
  • The following email example is likely to receive a positive response: “I read your paper on 3D Bioprinting; I found the additive manufacturing process fascinating! I have some experience with additive manufacturing in Dr. Person’s lab at the University of College, do you have some time to meet with me regarding research opportunities in your lab?”

I’m interested in working with Dr. Person, but I don’t see her listed on the Available PhD Research Positions page. What should I do?

  • Do not limit yourself to the current open positions. While those positions are the current areas of need, there are other options. Take a look at the Faculty Research Matrix for a comprehensive list of faculty and their areas of specialization.

What if I cannot attend Spring Visit?

  • Applicants who are invited to Spring Visit should attend if at all possible. If you are unable to attend Spring Visit, an alternate visit may be made available to you.
  • Note that Spring Visit is your best opportunity to secure a graduate assistantship position, so it is recommended that you attend if invited.
  • Graduate School Pre-eminence Award (GSPA) fellowship awardees must attend Spring Visit to remain eligible.

Is financial aid available for this program?