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Admissions Criteria

The fundamental requirement for admission is a bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field from an accredited institution. The degree must represent the completion of a program equivalent in scholarship to that offered by the University of California.

Completing the Application Process

  • Application Fee

    The nonrefundable application fee must be paid online by credit card (VISA or MasterCard) prior to submission of your application. Please note that regardless of circumstances or application outcome, this fee is not refundable.

    $80.00 for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents
    $100.00 for international/non-immigrant applicants

  • Transcripts of Academic Record

    All transcripts should be mailed to:
    UCR-ONLINE MS Engineering Program 
    Off-Site Admission Center- Mail Stop 380
    3075 W. Ray Road Ste. 200
    Chandler, AZ 85226, USA


    Domestic Applicant

    It is very important that all transcripts be sent directly to the graduate program for the ONLINE MS Engineering.   If they are sent to any other office, the review of your application will be delayed. You must submit one official copy of transcripts from ALL academic institutions you have attended since high school (secondary school) to the graduate office for the ONLINE MS Engineering program. There are two ways to do this:

    Have official copies of your transcripts sent directly from the Registrar of the academic institution
    Request official copies and send them yourself in the original sealed University envelopes. DO NOT OPEN THEM.
    Records submitted for review may not be borrowed, photocopied, returned to you or sent elsewhere.


    International Applicants

    It is very important that all transcripts be sent directly to the graduate program for the ONLINE MS Engineering.   If they are sent to any other office, the review of your application will be delayed. Applicants are required to submit an official copy of transcripts and degree certificates that are in the original language accompanied by certified English translations from each academic institution attended after secondary school.  Specially prepared English versions are not acceptable in place of documents issued in the original language. If translations are not available from the institution itself, they may be prepared by government or official translators. For translations to be acceptable, they must bear the stamp or seal of the issuing institution or governmental agency and the original signature of the translator. They must be complete and exact word-for-word translations of the original documents, not interpretations. Grades must not be converted to a US scale. These records should be sent directly from the Registrars Office of the academic institutions you have attended to the graduate program for the ONLINE MS Engineering.  If this service is not available, applicants may also request official signed copies and send them in the institutions' original sealed envelopes. Official records are original documents issued by the institution which bear the actual signature of the registrar in ink and the seal of the issuing institution. Notarized documents are not acceptable.

    Records submitted for review may not be borrowed, photocopied, returned to you or sent elsewhere.

  • Graduate Record Exam

    Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for both domestic and international:

    Scores are accepted that have been taken within five years from the date of anticipated enrollment at UCR. For example, if you intend to enroll beginning Fall 2015, the test date should not be older than September, 2011. Dates and information for computer-based testing (CBT) may be obtained by consulting the Educational Testing Service (ETS) GRE Web site  or by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL. Applicants should plan to take the GRE early to ensure the timely receipt of their test scores for admission consideration. Keep in mind that it may take more than one week for test scores to reach us from ETS.

    Be sure to list the institution code for UCR as R4839.

  • Verification of English Proficiency

    Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

    All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not earned an advanced degree at an institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This exam is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and offered in nearly every country abroad. This exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. The minimum acceptable scores are: 550 for the written exam; 213 for the computer-based exam, and 80 for the internet-based exam (iBT). Dates and information for TOEFL may be obtained by consulting or by calling 1-877-863-3546. Keep in mind that it may take up to two weeks for test scores to reach us from ETS.

    Be sure to list the institution code for UCR as R4839.


    International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

    UCR will accept scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) which is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. The minimum acceptable score is an overall band score of 7 with no individual section score less than 6. Please request an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS. Remember to order the TRF from the test center where you took the test and ask the administrator to send the official TRF to:

    Graduate Admissions Office
    Graduate Division
    University Office Building
    University of California, Riverside
    Riverside, CA 92521  USA

    For more information about registering for this exam or to locate the office of any test center, consult the IELTS website.

  • Letters of Recommendation

    Three letters of recommendation are required in support of your applications for admission. At least two of these letters should be requested from professors in your major subject.  If you are currently enrolled in or have completed a graduate degree, a letter of recommendation is required from your program or thesis advisor in that program. Applicants are not permitted to inspect letters of recommendation in their UCR application files. If you are admitted to UCR and enroll, you may then have access to your letters of recommendation unless you previously waived the right of access on the form.

    Applicants must enter their three recommenders profile and contact information directly into the electronic application.  Recommenders will be notified by email and provided instructions about how to submit a letter online.  All letters of recommendation must be received electronically so they are attached to the appropriate applicant file for review. Hard copy Letters of Recommendation are not accepted.

Because the MSOL program is self-supporting and not state-funded, students do not qualify for Cal Vet Tuition/Fee Exemptions.

Attention Prospective International Applicant

If you are currently in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa as a student or visiting scholar (J1 or F1 visa) you are not permitted by the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to enroll in a graduate program at UC Riverside, regardless of whether an additional visa is required or not. The visa you currently hold is exclusive to the institution who issued it. If you submit an application to the Engineering MS ONLINE program, it cannot be reviewed for admission and the paid application fee can not be refunded.

GradSIS Application Instructions

You are about to enter the GradSIS system for submitting your application.
Please pay attention to the following Instructions for completing GradSIS application:

  1. Start a new account by entering your email, choose a password and insert the other required information (in red).
  2. In the next page, begin your application by selecting “Complete a New Application to Graduate Status”
  3. Begin the application by clicking on “General Information/Degree Program Biographical Information”
  4. Then insert your name and select “Engineering – MS in Engineering (Online)” from the drop-down menu and proceed to complete the application using the instructions provided on the pages.
    On the following page, please indicate the area of specialization or research concentration.

 

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Questions? Speak with an Enrollment Advisor