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M.Eng. Application Details

The Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering seeks highly motivated applicants with excellent academic records. Each applicant's potential for successful graduate study is evaluated by the Graduate Coordinating Committee, made up of faculty members from the Graduate Field of Biological and Environmental Engineering.

Criteria

We use several criteria to review applications, including, but not limited to:

  • Interests and motivation: The application requires a one- or two-page statement of purpose describing the applicant's reasons for undertaking graduate work as well as an explanation of academic interests, including how they relate to undergraduate study and professional goals.
  • Related work and/or research experience: Training in a work or research environment can be valuable experience for undertaking graduate studies. Applicants should include a summary of such experience in the statement of purpose.
  • Prior academic training and record: Applicants to the M.Eng. program must have a baccalaureate degree (bachelor's degree) in an area of engineering, physical science or biological science with a strong preparation in mathematics and physics. They should have introductory-level knowledge of biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, organic chemistry, physics, statistics and computer programming plus a working knowledge of calculus and differential equations. Course work or experience in biological or environmental engineering is desirable but is not required.
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (for international applicants): High proficiency in the English language is essential for admission to our graduate program. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam. Students who have studied full-time for two or more years at a college or university in a country in which English is the native language and where English is the language of instruction are exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS. The Cornell University Graduate School has strict minimum scores for admission. Applicants must meet or exceed the minimum on the Internet-based test - Writing: 20; Listening: 15; Reading: 20; Speaking: 22. Applicants must receive an overall band score of 7.0 or higher for the IELTS exam.
  • Letters of recommendation: Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or employers who can assess the applicant's academic potential for a graduate program are required.
  • Interviews: We encourage students to contact perspective faculty members to ascertain mutual interaction. Depending on the time frame and individual situations, prior to acceptance, we may conduct phone interviews with promising applicants to better assess their interests and compatibility with our department as well as his or her communication skills.

Online application & fee

The Cornell Unviersity Graduate School uses an online application; complete instructions for the online application may be found at the Graduate School application website. The form is easy to use and applications are received immediately. The application fee is USD $105.

Application deadlines

  • Fall semester M.Eng. applications are due by March 1. Early admit applications from Cornell M.Eng. students are due April 8.
  • Spring semester M.Eng. applications are due by October 1. Early admit applications from Cornell students are due November 8.

Timetable with key dates

Fall Semester

  • March 1: All application materials received by the Graduate School
  • End-March: Review of applications by the BEE Graduate Coordinating Committee
  • End-March: Notification of acceptance
  • April 15: Applicants accept or reject offers
  • Third week of August: Accepted students arrive on campus for orientation and start of Fall semester
  • April 8: Early Admit Option (for Cornell students only) - Cornell students who are within one to eight credits of completing their engineering baccalaureate degree may apply to the MEng program as early admit students. The early admit application must be made in the semester prior to the last undergraduate term.

Spring Semester

  • October 1: All application materials received by the Graduate School
  • Mid-October: Review of applications by the BEE Graduate Coordinating Committee
  • Mid-October: Notification of acceptance
  • November 15: Applicants accept or reject offers
  • Third week of January: Accepted students arrive on campus for orientation and start of Spring semester
  • Nov 8: Early Admit Option (for Cornell students only) - Cornell students who are within one to eight credits of completing their engineering baccalaureate degree may apply to the MEng program as early admit students. The early admit application must be made in the semester prior to the last undergraduate term.

Application details

  • Statement of purpose: The statement of purpose is submitted online following the instructions for the online application. It is not necessary to send a hard copy to the field.
  • Letters of recommendation: Letters can be submitted online following the instructions for the online application. If unable to submit online, recommenders may choose to send a copy via email to the field: Brenda Marchewka, Graduate Field Assistant, at bls19 [at] cornell.edu (bls19[at]cornell[dot]edu).
  • TOEFL/IELTS: TOEFL/IELTS exams must be taken no more than two years before the application is submitted. Scores are sent directly to the Graduate School. The institutional code for Cornell University is 2098; the department code is no longer required.
  • GRE is not required.
  • Official transcripts: Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate studies (if applicable) should be scanned and uploaded into the online application as part of the submission process. For students who are subsequently admitted and accept the offer of admission, a formal paper transcript will be required prior to matriculation.
    • Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA greater than 2.7 may be admitted directly by decision of the BEE graduate field. Students with a cumulative GPA between 2.5 and 2.7 may be admitted conditionally by recommendation of the field and approval of the College of Engineering Master of Engineering Committee. (The GPA values are based on a 4.3 scale.)
    • Applicants may be admitted with science and engineering degrees that are relevant to research programs in the graduate field of Biological and Environmental Engineering. It is expected that master of engineering candidates who do not have a comprehensive background in engineering will use the program as an opportunity to reinforce their understanding of core topics and expand their breadth of knowledge in the field by enrolling in appropriate advanced undergraduate courses. Candidates develop their course plan together with their M.Eng. faculty advisor.

Please note that the Graduate School will not accept official materials sent by email or fax; these are discouraged by the field as well.

Graduate tuition rates are usually announced in January of each year.

Contact us

Questions? At any time, questions about the M.Eng. application process may be directed to:

Brenda Marchewka
Graduate Field Assistant
bee-grad [at] cornell.edu (bee-grad[at]cornell[dot]edu)
Phone: 607-255-2173

Professor Sunny Jung
Director of Graduate Studies
Graduate Field of Biological and Environmental Engineering
bee-grad [at] cornell.edu (bee-grad[at]cornell[dot]edu)
Phone: 607-255-5798