Chapter 3: Admissions

Applications

Applications for admission and related deadlines are available on the graduate School of Engineering website: Graduate Admissions

Application Requirement Details

1. Online Application
Submit your online application using the Slate application system https://slate.scu.edu/apply/. Complete an application using your personal email address as the username and create a password. Application status and official decisions are made available through the Slate portal.

2. Nonrefundable Application Fee:
All applicants to any School of Engineering program are required to submit a nonrefundable $100 application fee.

3. Official Transcripts: 
Domestic Applicants - On the Slate application, list any degree program in which you are currently enrolled, as well as every institution you have previously attended.

•  Official transcripts from EACH degree-granting institution. The official transcript must include the degree received and the date of conferral. Note: We do NOT accept transcripts sent directly from students; transcripts are ONLY ACCEPTED from the University.
• Acceptable transcript delivery methods include certified electronic transcripts that are passcode-protected, digitally signed, and sent from the issuing institution or its authorized agent to gradengineeradmissions@scu.edu.

International Applicants - Students attending a university OUTSIDE of the United States must submit a transcript evaluation report from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES), or SpanTran. The report must include a course-by-course evaluation, which will verify a GPA based on a 4.0 scale and the U.S. equivalence of each educational credential. Please refer to the ECE, Spantran, or WES website: www.ece.org or www.wes.org  To use SpanTran's evaluation service, start your evaluation request form here. (There is no exception to this requirement.)

Please note: A copy of your original transcripts will be attached to the report, and you do not need to send any additional transcripts. 

4. Official GRE Scores
Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores must be sent directly to Graduate Engineering Programs by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Our institution code is 4851. Additionally, students can send a PDF copy of their results to gradengineeradmissions@scu.edu. For information on the GRE, please visit the website: www.ets.org/. Required for all PhD applicants.

5. Official TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo Scores
For non-U.S. citizens or students who have received a degree from a university outside of the United States, we will accept scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS), or Duolingo. Our institution code is 4851. Test scores over three years old will not be accepted. Additionally, students can send a PDF copy of their results to gradengineeradmissions@scu.edu. This requirement is waived for those who attended an institution within the U.S.

Program Details

B.S./M.S. Degree Program (Current undergraduate SCU students)

The School of Engineering’s B.S./M.S. program at Santa Clara University allows current undergraduate students to begin graduate coursework while completing their bachelor’s degree. Students typically finish their master’s degree within one year after earning their bachelor's.

Eligibility requires a minimum GPA of 3.000 in the student’s major. Students must formally apply to the M.S. program after petitioning to graduate, usually in the winter quarter of their senior year. Juniors and seniors may take up to 20 units of graduate-level (200-level or higher) courses, which can be transferred toward the M.S. degree.

Open University

For those who want to update their skills and learn new technologies without the commitment of earning a graduate degree, Open University allows students to enroll in graduate-level classes.

• A maximum of 16 units may apply toward the degree if the courses are in the same discipline to which the student is accepted.
• Note 1: Santa Clara University does not issue F-1 visas to applicants who wish to enter directly into Open University.
• Note 2: Open University students are not eligible to enroll in undergraduate classes.

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs provide an opportunity for continued learning and skills refreshment for engineering professionals at the graduate level.

• Depending on the certificate program, students will complete 16-18 units of coursework.
• All certificate units in the discipline may be applied toward a master’s degree. Students who wish to pursue a Master’s degree must submit a separate online application. The application fee will be waived for currently enrolled certificate students. The general  TOEFL test requirements for graduate admission to the master’s degree will be waived for students who complete a certificate with a GPA of 3.500 or higher.
• Note 1: Santa Clara University does not issue F-1 visas to applicants who wish to enter directly into the Certificate Program.

Master’s Program

Our master’s programs extend the breadth and depth of undergraduate knowledge, leading to professional work. Completion of the degree requires 46 units.

Ph.D. Degree

Our research-intensive Ph.D. program prepares students for careers in research and design.  

Ph.D. degrees are offered in the Departments of Bioengineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. This is a full-time program. Students must complete 72 units.

Engineer’s Degree Program

This unique program is designed for the practicing engineer. Completion of the program requires a minimum of 46 units beyond the master’s degree.

Admission Deferrals

Any student who has been admitted and made a deposit to a degree program and wishes to defer their admission for the current academic year (the year listed in your acceptance letter) must submit a deferral form prior to the start of the quarter listed on the student’s admission letter. If a student wishes to defer into the next academic year, they must submit a new application (please note: admission is not guaranteed, and any previous enrollment deposit is non-refundable). Please email gradengineeradmissions@scu.edu for the deferral form.