PhD Frequently Asked Questions

What are the minimum requirements to be considered for admission in the Engineering Education graduate program?

Admission for graduate study in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech is granted by a departmental review committee and/or the Department Head. Admission normally requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program.

For a regular student status, a student with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 semester hours may be granted regular admission status.

Occasionally, a graduate student is admitted on provisional status if the GPA for the last 60 semester hours is between 2.75 and 2.99. Upon completion of no fewer than 9 credit hours of course, the Graduate Committee may recommend that the student be admitted as a regular student. Provisional student status is allowed for no more than 12 semester credit hours. While on provisional status, a student must earn a GPA of at least 3.00. Students on provisional status are ineligible for financial aid. International students are not eligible for provisional status.

What must my application include before I will be considered for admission?

Visit our Application Page for current information needed for consideration.

What materials are required for students transferring to the ENGE PhD program from another Virginia Tech department?

All of the same materials (i.e., Tablet PC, software, etc) are required. This is a department policy.

Can I apply if my undergraduate degree is not in Engineering?

Yes. Students with non-engineering backgrounds can be admitted for graduate study. These students will be expected to either complete courses or show proficiency by examination in certain fundamental areas such as mathematics and engineering mechanics. Specific requirements will be set by the Graduate Committee.

Does your department admit applicants for a spring semester?

Yes. For application dates for the upcoming academic year, please visit the Applications page for deadlines. However, due to course sequencing, students are strongly encouraged to begin the PhD in a fall semester.

What is your university code for me to use on my GRE and TOEFL tests?

Our university code is 005859. If you have your official scores sent to our university code, the Graduate School and the department will have access to the scores at the same time.

Can the TOEFL be waived (for international applicants only)?

The TOEFL can only be waived by our Graduate school. Many circumstances are an automatic waiver such as graduating from a U.S. university. Email grads@vt.edu for more information.

Can the GRE be waived?

The GRE test is a departmental requirement. Our department does not waive the GRE test. If prior GRE scores are expired, then the test must be retaken.

Can I pursue a degree in your department part-time?

Yes. Part-time students are not eligible for financial assistance from the department. Ph.D. students would have to meet the residency requirements set forth for research. Please see the Graduate Catalog for residency information.

Do you offer courses online?

Yes, but offerings are limited at this time.

What will it cost to be a graduate student at Virginia Tech?

Tuition and fees can be found on the Bursar's website. Please look under student and use the left hand menu for tuition and fees.

What kind of financial aid is available?

Our department offers a variety of financial opportunities. We have many assistantships and many different fellowships available. All applicants are reviewed for possible funding in our department. Applicants that meet requirements for available fellowships are nominated by the faculty.

What is an assistantship?

An assistantship is a contract where a graduate student works for pay. Most assistantships also cover tuition payments related to the amount of hours you are contracted to work each week. A graduate student is considered full-time in the department if he or she works 20 hours per week.

For a full-time assistant, the department would pay for in-state tuition and the academic fee in full. Graduate Research Assistantships are awarded by individual faculty members who have received research projects (e.g. from government agencies). The availability of GRA's and the amount of the award varies, depending on the projects that have been obtained and the funds allotted for GRA's in those projects. Typically, in engineering research carried out by a graduate student on a GRA becomes part or all of the research for the student's thesis or dissertation.

For Graduate Teaching Assistantships, each program area in the Department of Engineering Education is allotted a number of GTA's to award to graduate students. The amount of the assistantship varies, depending on the duties and number of hours associated with it. The duties may involve grading of homework for courses or supervising an undergraduate laboratory course.

What is a fellowship?

A fellowship is basically income for the student to help with cost of studies. Fellowship pay is not earned income like an assistantship. Many times a fellowship is combined with an assistantship. Sometimes promised income is part assistantship and part fellowship payments. Other times a fellowship can cover expenses on the student's behalf. An example would be the payment of the comprehensive fees in a semester. In cases as these, the fellowship is paid directly to the university.

How do I become an in-state student?

Graduate students are encouraged to look into in-state status. A form and guidelines can be found at our Graduate School website. International students are not eligible to become in-state students.

As an out-of-state student, will I become in-state if I have an assistantship?

No, but if you earn $4000 during an academic year (or $2000 in one semester), the out-of-state portion of the tuition can be complimentarily waived by the Graduate School .