Admissions Procedures
Requirements
At MIT, a regular graduate student is one who is registered for a program of advanced study and research leading to a post-baccalaureate degree. A regular graduate student may concurrently hold an appointment as a research assistant, teaching assistant, or instructor. To be admitted as a regular graduate student, an applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor’s degrees are awarded before they enroll at MIT. Applicants are evaluated by the individual department in which they intend to register on the basis of their prior performance and professional promise, as evidenced by their academic records, letters of evaluation from individuals familiar with their capabilities, and any other pertinent data they submit. While high academic achievement does not guarantee admission, MIT expects such achievement or other persuasive evidence of professional promise. Specific admission requirements vary by department; please consult the catalogue and department or program website for the requirements of individual departments. In general, most departments require significant work in mathematics and the physical sciences in addition to preparation in a specific field of interest, but some admit students with as little as one year each of college-level mathematics and physical science. Students with minor deficiencies in preparation may be admitted, but they must make up prerequisite general or professional subjects before proceeding. Notification of admission for September is usually sent to applicants before April 1. Most departments inform applicants for January/February and June admission as soon as the review of their applications is complete. For