MDE Application Requirements

Application Requirements

Below you’ll find an overview of the basic application requirements for consideration for the Master in Design Engineering (MDE) program. These requirements and related policies are revised annually in the fall. Complete instructions are available in the application, which is available from mid-September through early January.

Eligibility

The MDE program requires 2-years of full-time work experience after college. Note that time worked between submitting your application up to the start of the fall semester will be counted towards the 2-year work requirement. MDE applicants should also aim to demonstrate technical literacy through their application materials, which might include mathematical skills at the level of calculus, statistics, and/or experience in coding applications and using advanced computer simulation tools. For students without sufficient experience, a small number of electives and/or online courses can be used to “top up” their technical background.

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Transcripts from Prior Institutions

Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities from which you have earned credit or have received a degree and should include your name, the school name, degree, major, degree date if awarded, and a semester-by-semester course breakdown with corresponding grades. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. All transcripts must be uploaded directly into the application.

Transcript FAQ

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to obtain three letters of recommendation, ideally at least two from college or university instructors. If you have been out of school for several years, you may request letters from employers or other persons in a position to evaluate your professional abilities and academic potential.

Recommendations FAQ

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Essays

Applicants must submit responses to both the general GSD community essay and any required program-specific essays. Essay prompts vary by program and are only available in the graduate application.

Essays FAQ

Portfolio

MDE applicants should provide three to five examples of their work, design, and/or research that are most relevant to the MDE program. Examples may be professional or academic and may encompass designed, researched, and/or actualized work. Projects may include but are not limited to, products, mechanical systems, buildings, functional materials, electronic systems, organizational systems, and recommendations regarding processes. Demonstration of technical literacy and innovation is desirable. Projects should be submitted in PDF format and include a description of the project as well as supporting documentation, which may consist of images or a supplemental video (uploaded in addition to the PDF portfolio). Applicants may also include a list of additional relevant projects. If the submitted work was produced as part of a team or group, a clear explanation of your individual contributions should also be provided.

Portfolio FAQ

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Resume

Upload a resume or CV that includes full and part-time employment, education, fellowships, extra-curricular university activities, community service, honors, awards, professional registration and societies, publications, avocations, hobbies, and travel. If you served in the military, indicate rank on entry and rank on separation. Please provide a complete employment and educational history, including information about any gaps. While brevity is valued, please do not feel limited to one page.

Resume FAQ

GRE (optional)

GRE scores are optional for MDE applicants. If you have not taken the GRE and have not submitted scores, the weight of other components of your application will be spread across your materials during the review process. Your application will not be disadvantaged if you choose not to submit GRE scores.

We recommend considering how GRE scores may be of benefit to your application. For example, they can be used to balance a lower than average GPA or to demonstrate competency in a particular area such as mathematics.

GRE FAQ

TOEFL

International applicants must take the TOEFL test and submit official scores to the GSD by the application deadline with the following exception. Applicants who hold or are in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree that includes a minimum of three years of in-person, full-time study where English is the sole medium of instruction in the following countries are exempt from the TOEFL requirement: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, and the United States. An official transcript for the relevant bachelor’s degree, showing three full-time years in residence, must be uploaded into the appropriate section of application.

Appropriate English proficiency is incredibly important for success at the GSD, and so we encourage applicants to diligently prepare for the TOEFL to achieve your highest possible score.