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Holistic Policy

Our admissions focus is on seeking positive indication of potential success in the program. These indications include:

  1. A personal statement describing the applicant's laboratory, field, or applied interests, career plans, and discussion of how the program can serve to further these interests and plans will be examined for evidence of the appropriateness of the candidate to the program.  
  2. A detailed examination of the student's transcript. Grade point average per se is not weighed heavily as most candidates for admission have grade point averages greater than 3.0. Accordingly, we examine the coursework on the student's transcripts as evidence of his/her research interests. Positive indicators of potential success in our program include greater than average course work in the biological and physical sciences, mathematics, or fields of engineering.  Similarly, evidence of experimental research previously undertaken is viewed as a predictor of future research productivity.  For students interested in specialization at the Master's level, appropriate coursework in relevant background areas is taken into consideration.
  3. Submission of Verbal and Mathematics GRE and Analytical scores is required. High GRE scores are viewed as positive indicants, whereas low GRE scores need not exclude a candidate who shows positive indicators in other areas. Successful applicants will typically present the following scores:
    • Master's applicants - 155 or higher on the Quantitative section, 145 or higher on the Verbal section, and 2.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing section.
    • Doctoral applicants - 160 or higher on the Quantitative section, 150 or higher on the Verbal section, and 3.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing section.
  4. Letters of recommendation offer evidence of the applicant's commitment to experimental research (as in letters from an undergraduate research sponsor). Evidence of success in relevant employment will be considered for the master's degree.
  5. A resume indicating the applicant's educational, research, and work experience. Evidence of success in relevant employment will be considered for the master's degree.

The department mission is to train students to be enthusiastic about conducting research.  We seek students who show aptitude in as well as motivation for research. Students interested in the M.S. program will have their records examined for indicators of potential to succeed in related settings. 

The Department of  Materials Science and Engineering follows the application priority dates set by UNT Admissions.

Fall applicants: We begin awarding assistantship funding on January 15th each year. For priority consideration, submit all required application materials no later than March 1st.

Admission Criteria

Our admission requirements are the same for M.S. and Ph.D. students. In order to apply for admission and financial support, the following documents are required (Items 3, 4, and 5 should be emailed to lisa.dunlop@unt.edu):

  1. GRE Scores (official scores are submitted via ETS)
    • Verbal
    • Quantitative
    • Analytical
  2. Official Transcripts of all past degrees and currently enrolled programs (if applicable)
  3. Statement of purpose for graduate study in the department and after graduation written by the applicant
  4. Three recommendation letters indicating research and academic potential as well as ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. Recommenders should state whether they have recommended or are recommending other applicants to the department.
  5. CV detailing education, research experiences, publications, conference and presentations, and other critical information related to the graduate admission.
  6. Although not required, applicants with publications or other scholarly works are encouraged to include those as part of the package.

Application Process

Please follow UNT Admission Office's application steps.