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Applying

August 11, 2021

Applicants to MIT graduate programs who seek financial support from any of the fellowships, traineeships, or scholarships administered by MIT, including those granted by national agencies and foundations, should check the appropriate items on the online Graduate Application, and contact the graduate administrator of the department to which they are applying to explore financial aid opportunities. Additionally, […]

Awards

August 11, 2021

A fellowship or traineeship is an award to a graduate student that covers tuition partially, or fully, and also provides a stipend to help defray living expenses. A scholarship is an award that provides partial or full tuition. Most awards are made on the basis of merit, but in some circumstances can be based on […]

Diploma format

August 11, 2021

Master of Science: The diploma for a degree with specification reads as in the following example: “Massachusetts Institute of Technology upon the recommendation of the faculty hereby confers on (name) the degree of Master of Science in (department name) in recognition of proficiency in the general and the special studies and exercises prescribed by said Institute […]

Award of degrees

August 11, 2021

The application form for award of an advanced degree is available online through WebSIS. Students must submit this form to have their names placed on the degree list. Deadline dates for submitting advanced degree applications are listed on the Institute’s calendar, and processing fees will be charged for applications received after these dates. No later than […]

Degrees offered

August 11, 2021

Graduate degrees are awarded through each of MIT’s five Schools and through interdisciplinary programs. School of Architecture and Planning School of Engineering School of Science School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Sloan School of Management Interdisciplinary graduate programs

Joint theses

August 11, 2021

Each thesis should contain the original contributions of a single student. In certain circumstances, collaborative research leading to a joint thesis may be advantageous in a master’s degree program. Students who wish to embark on a joint master’s thesis project should consult first with their individual advisors, and also with the graduate officer or the chair of […]

Thesis research in absentia

August 11, 2021

Thesis research is ordinarily done in residence at the Institute. However, on some occasions and in some fields, work such as the gathering of data away from the Institute may be essential or desirable. While nonresident thesis research status applies only to doctoral candidates, thesis research in absentia may pursued by either master or doctoral candidates. The […]

Preparation of graduate theses

August 11, 2021

Prior to inclusion on a degree list, each accepted thesis shall be submitted to the headquarters of the department or program in which the candidate is registered. Master’s and doctoral theses must be submitted electronically. The process for electronic thesis submission is described on the website for the MIT Libraries. In order to permit evaluation and grading […]

Copyright and intellectual property policies

August 11, 2021

Students may apply to waive the Institute’s ownership of copyright to their theses and/or the Institute’s ownership of the intellectual property that results from thesis research. An important distinction is that copyright pertains only to the thesis document itself, whereas intellectual property ownership pertains to inventions and other developments described in the thesis document. Copyright […]

Holds and restrictions on thesis publication

August 11, 2021

Thesis research should be undertaken in light of MIT’s policy of open research and the free interchange of information. Openness requires that, as a general policy, thesis research should not be undertaken on campus when the results may not be published. From time to time, there may be good reason for delaying the distribution of […]

Nonresident doctoral thesis research status

August 11, 2021

Thesis research is ordinarily done in residence at the Institute. However, on some occasions, it may be essential or desirable that the student be absent from the campus during a portion of thesis research or writing. Nonresident doctoral thesis research status allows thesis research to be carried out while not in formal residence at the […]

Thesis

August 11, 2021

The thesis comprises an original investigation, including a written document on a subject approved by a departmental or interdepartmental graduate committee prior to the beginning of the research. Thesis credit cannot be granted for work done prior to registration as a graduate student at the Institute, nor for work initiated without prior approval by the […]

How leaving MIT convinced me to stay

How leaving MIT convinced me to stay

August 11, 2021

Industry or academia? It’s a question at the forefront of many MIT grad students’ minds. I first found myself at this crossroads at the end of my undergraduate career, unsure whether I wanted to follow the path of a practicing engineer or that of an academic researcher.

small silver slivers

small silver slivers

August 11, 2021

It was dark. Like the smallest sliver of a crescent moon, my roommate’s face was barely illuminated by the flickering glow of the twenty-six candles before her. It was just enough to see her manage a smile, lean forward, and, in a plume of smoke, send us into darkness again. It wasn’t the birthday she […]

Interdisciplinary master’s degree

August 10, 2021

A graduate student may apply to enter one of the following established interdisciplinary master’s degree programs, supervised by a special standing committee of the faculty: Computation for Design and Optimization Design and Management (Integrated Design and Management & System Design and Management) Health Sciences and Technology Oceanography and Applied Ocean Science and Engineering Leaders for Global […]

Interdisciplinary engineer’s degree

August 10, 2021

A graduate student may enter an interdisciplinary engineer’s degree program leading to a degree of Environmental Engineer or Materials Engineer. Specific information concerning these programs can be obtained from the graduate officer of the respective departments.

Interdisciplinary doctoral degree

August 10, 2021

Established interdisciplinary degree programs A graduate student may apply to enter one of the following established interdisciplinary doctoral degree programs, supervised by a special standing committee of the faculty: Individually tailored interdisciplinary degree path A doctoral student may also propose an individually tailored path whose boundaries overlap two or more departments. The student should consult with […]

Interdisciplinary degree paths

August 10, 2021

MIT offers many established interdisciplinary graduate degree programs for both masters and doctoral students. Find the programs listed in the MIT Bulletin. Occasionally a doctoral student may desire an individually tailored program whose boundaries overlap two or more departments. The initiative for arranging such an interdisciplinary program lies with the student. If the interdisciplinary degree proposal […]

Language proficiency

August 10, 2021

There is no Institute language requirement; however, several departments require that a candidate be able to read or speak a second or third language with intermediate competence. A student may satisfy the requirement in one of three ways: by fulfilling the requirement before entrance by passing one or more intermediate or advanced subjects with a […]

Doctoral degree

August 10, 2021

MIT offers the degrees of Doctor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy interchangeably in the engineering and science departments (except biology and brain and cognitive sciences) and in the fields of medical engineering and medical physics. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded in architecture; biology; brain and cognitive sciences; computational science and engineering; […]

Simultaneous award of bachelor’s and master’s degrees

August 10, 2021

An undergraduate student of the Institute who is enrolled as a candidate for the bachelor’s degree may be admitted by a department as a candidate for the master’s degree. Students must register as graduate students for at least one regular academic term (not the summer session) to be recommended for the simultaneous award of the […]

Simultaneous registration for two master’s degrees

August 10, 2021

A student may request approval to pursue masters degrees in two fields simultaneously, using a single thesis or two separate theses to meet the degree requirements for each department. A student who chooses this academic degree path is thus pursuing dual degrees, as opposed to an interdisciplinary degree in two or more research fields. The link to […]

Master of Finance

August 10, 2021

For the degree of Master of Finance, the student must have completed satisfactorily a minimum of 66 units of graduate subject credit from within a program of study that includes a slate of required courses, restricted and general electives, and a proseminar. The candidate must also have been in residence as a graduate student for […]

Master of Business Administration

August 10, 2021

For the degree of Master of Business Administration through the two-year MBA program, the student must have completed satisfactorily a program of study of at least 189 units that includes a set of required core subjects, at least 144 units of elective graduate subject credit, and four regular academic terms in residence, as acceptable to […]

Master of Applied Science

August 10, 2021

For the degree of Master of Applied Science with specification of the field in which the student has specialized, the student must have completed satisfactorily at least 90 units of credit (including at least 66 units of graduate subject credit) from within a program of study that includes a slate of required and elective courses, […]

Engineer’s degree

August 10, 2021

The program for an engineer’s degree requires more advanced and broader competence in engineering and science subjects than for the master’s degree, but with less emphasis on original research than a doctoral program. In general, the engineer’s degree requires two academic years beyond an undergraduate degree. The following engineer’s degrees are awarded: Civil Engineer (CE) […]

Master in City Planning

August 10, 2021

For the degree of Master in City Planning, the student must have completed satisfactorily a minimum of 126 units of graduate subject credit. The student must also have completed a thesis acceptable to the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and have been in residence for a minimum of two regular academic terms.

Master of Architecture

August 10, 2021

The graduate degree Master of Architecture is awarded upon the satisfactory completion of a program of study of at least 312 units of graduate subject credit and a thesis, both acceptable to the Department of Architecture. The program requires three and one-half academic years of residence. Advanced entry may be considered for students with a […]

Master of Engineering

August 10, 2021

To be awarded the graduate degree of Master of Engineering (MEng) with specification of the field in which the student has specialized, the student must have completed satisfactorily at least 66 units of subject credit (including at least 42 graduate units) and a thesis which collectively constitute a structured program of at least 90 units […]

Master of Science

August 10, 2021

For the degree of Master of Science, the student must have satisfactorily completed a program of study of at least 66 units of graduate subject credit and a thesis, both acceptable to the department in which he or she is enrolled. If 34 units and the thesis are in a single field, as determined by […]

Master’s degree

August 10, 2021

Graduate students may pursue work leading to any of the following master’s degrees: Master of Science (SM); Master of Engineering (MEng); Master of Architecture (MArch); Master in City Planning (MCP); Master of Finance (MFin); Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Applied Science (MASc). Each graduate program is described in individual department or program […]

Grade reports and transcripts

August 10, 2021

Students may view their grade reports on WebSIS. Students may order either paper or electronic transcripts of their academic record for a fee. Students should note that the following conditions will not appear on an external transcript: Vice Chancellor’s Warning Denial of further registration Certificate program completion Grades earned in cross-registered courses at Harvard and Wellesley subjects […]

Subject credits and designations

August 10, 2021

Credit units, which indicate a subject’s time distribution, are represented by three numbers separated by dashes in the “Subject Listings” of the MIT Bulletin, (for example, 2-0-10). The number of units assigned for recitation and lecture appears first; for laboratory, design, or fieldwork second; and for preparation, third. All of the units added together represent the […]

Cumulative rating

August 10, 2021

To be recommended for an advanced degree, a student must meet the minimum requirements of graduate study and research, including a high cumulative rating. The cumulative rating of graduate students is computed from grades received in all subjects (excluding doctoral thesis) taken for credit as part of the student’s graduate program (including registration as a […]

Excused absences

August 10, 2021

In some circumstances, a student may request to be excused from missed academic work including a midterm or final examination; final paper or project; qualifying exams; thesis committee meeting; and/or attendance in the classroom or lab. In order for the request to be considered, the student must have verifiable medical or personal issues. If you […]

Grades

August 10, 2021

Definitions of MIT grades for graduate and undergraduate students may be found in the MIT Bulletin. Please see Graduate Academic Standards regarding academic expectations for graduate students. Note that when an excused absence involves a missed final exam or final project, a petition is required to change the “O” grade that the student will receive for that subject to a grade […]