Admissions

This is your source for application forms for admission and graduate assistantship, and instructions.

Applying

An outstanding scholastic record are required of all applicants. International students, except those who completed a degree at a U.S. school, must submit TOEFL scores. The Institution Code is 2927. The department code is  66 for the TOEFL. Women, African Americans, and Hispanics are encouraged to apply. If financial support is requested, completed applications must be received by February 1 for the fall term. Otherwise, the application deadline is March 1 for international students and July 1 for U.S. students.

Programs

The department offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

MBA/MSE

This program is only for those students seeking a professional M.S. Engineering degree.

Research Facilities

Graduate students have access to the University of Pittsburgh's top-notch research facilities.

Financial Aid

Teaching assistantships are available from the department and are awarded on the basis of scholastic record and letters of reference. Research assistantships are typically awarded to graduate students who have been in the department for at least one term and who have distinguished themselves by superior performance in course work or project work. A limited number of fellowships are also available. In 2018-19, typical stipends for teaching and research assistantships ranged from around $2200 to $2500 per month, plus tuition and medical benefits.

Cost of Study

The University of Pittsburgh is a top-ranked public institution that is committed to excellence. Pitt’s current tuition and mandatory fee rates can be found on the tuition website.

Living and Housing Costs

Students can rent furnished and unfurnished rooms and apartments near campus. The Housing Resource Center can be contacted for University-owned housing at 412-624-9900 or for off-campus housing at 412-624-6998. In collaboration with Pitt's Office of International Services, the Off Campus Living Office has produced a series of videos to help students and new faculty find housing in Pittsburgh. Everything from Pittsburgh's neighborhoods to renter's insurance, leases and more are included in the series. View the video series on the Student Affairs YouTube Channel:

Student Group

The department has over 180 graduate students, about half PhD students. Roughly one fourth of the graduate students are part-time, employed by industry in the Pittsburgh area.

Electric Power Engineering Post - Baccalaureate/ Graduate Certificate

The University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering has established an Electric Power Engineering Post-Baccalaureate / Graduate Certificate Program that rises to the challenge of meeting the nation's critical development needs for electrical energy professionals. This is the only distance-enabled program in electric power engineering that allows students to attend classroom lectures in real time, and also allows synchronous participation remotely via the Internet.

Location

Pittsburgh is a cultural city and has been a major center for industrial activity and technological innovation for many decades. In recent years, the city has been undergoing a phase of corporate growth, emphasizing high technology. Pittsburgh is one of the nation's largest corporate headquarters cities. It offers many cultural and recreational resources, such as the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Pittsburgh Opera Company, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and major-league sports.

The University

The University of Pittsburgh is located in the Oakland section of the city, about three miles from downtown. The University began in 1787 and thus is one of the oldest in the country. Today, the University has over 35,000 students, with nearly 10,300 graduate students, enrolled in 16 professional schools and the arts and sciences, including the School of Medicine, which is a world leader in organ transplantation.