FAQ

The Lyle School of Engineering offers curricula leading to M.A., M.S., Doctor of Engineering and Ph.D. degrees. The M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees generally are directed toward specific branches of engineering and applied science, whereas the curricula for the professional degree of Doctor of Engineering is directed toward professional practice based on a broad range of engineering fundamentals. All doctoral programs are individually designed in conference between the student and their supervisory committee.

For more information on specific areas of study, please visit our Graduate Programs page.

Our office is here for you and eager to answer any questions you may have! Contact our Office of Graduate Admissions if you are interested in a graduate program and Karla Hernandez if you are interested in an undergraduate program.

Graduate students who would like to be considered for financial aid must first be accepted for admission to the Lyle School of Engineering. When a student receives admission to the Lyle School of Engineering it will be stated in the offer letter if they have been awarded funding (which is in the application portal). Limited graduate scholarships are available.

Financial assistance is available to students via teaching and research assistantships. These are limited and highly competitive. If interested, students must contact departments and faculty directly to see if there are any open positions.

For other sources of financial aid, or more information on how to apply for financial aid, students should visit Student Financial Services.

 

Graduate tuition and fees vary based on your program and enrollment. Visit SMU Student Financial Services for current tuition rates, fees and cost of attendance information.

Applicants must submit transcripts from each higher education institution attended, regardless of whether a degree was earned. Lyle School of Engineering will accept unofficial transcripts for admissions review, but all admitted applicants must provide official transcripts before course registration at SMU.

Submit transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. You may submit unofficial transcripts for admission review. If admitted, you must provide official transcripts before registering for courses at SMU.

Transcripts are considered official when they are sent directly from your previous institution to SMU. This should include a final transcript from your bachelor’s degree conferring institution. A final transcript is printed after graduation and includes information about your degree(s) conferral.

For additional questions about transcript requirements, please contact the Lyle Graduate Admissions Office.

No. You do not need to obtain a separate transcript evaluation. SMU will evaluate your transcripts as part of the application review process.

Degree Conferral means that your graduation date has been granted on your transcript. Transcripts will show expected graduation dates until the conferred date is awarded. 

An enrollment hold will be place on a students account after the first semester and will not be removed until transcripts are received. 

Applications will not be considered unless the complete official transcripts of the applicant’s prior undergraduate and graduate work are in the possession of the SMU Office of Admission. The transcript is regarded as official only if it is received directly from the registrar of the institution in which the work was done, or if it is an original and authenticated transcript bearing the institutional seal.

Transcripts can be sent digitally through transcript services and/or other universities, or they may be mailed to SMU. 

Electronic PDF Delivery (PREFERRED): Institutions may send official electronic transcripts to gradappmaterials@smu.edu. This option is highly recommended as it is quicker and less likely to get lost in transit. Electronic transcripts must be sent securely (e.g., Scrip-Safe, NSC) from the transferable institution. SMU will not accept official electronic transcripts sent by students.

Hard Copy Delivery: Hard copy transcripts must be sealed and sent by the applicant’s institution to the address below.

SMU Graduate Application Processing
P.O. Box 518
Dallas, TX 75275-0518

Official transcripts must be sent directly to SMU by the issuing institution. Transcripts sent by the applicant are not considered official.

To start a new application, or edit an existing application, please visit the SMU Graduate Application.

First time users: Creating an account is your first step to applying to SMU as a graduate applicant.

Returning users: Please log in to choose the application you wish to complete, or to review the status of submitted applications. You may also start a new application as a returning user.

Apply as an international applicant if you require an F-1 or J-1 student visa to study at SMU.

Apply as a domestic applicant if you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or hold H-1 or H-4 visa status.

Applicants with other visa statuses should contact SMU Lyle Graduate Admission for guidance on which application to use.

International applicants can visit SMU International Office (IO) for information about visas, immigration requirements and resources for international students.

SMU Lyle accepts graduate applications for fall, spring and summer entry, with priority, regular and final application deadlines for each term. Apply by the priority deadline for priority consideration for available scholarships. 

International students are highly encouraged to apply as early as possible to allow additional time for required international student processes.

Some programs may have different application deadlines or requirements. Review your program page for program-specific information and visit the Lyle admission page for current application deadlines.

 

Application fee waivers may be available through select SMU Lyle recruitment events or promotional opportunities. Eligibility and availability vary. Contact the Lyle Director of Graduate Recruitment, Kelley Taptich at lylegrad@smu.edu for information about current fee waiver opportunities.

All graduate applicants are required to submit:

• Completed online application
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• English language proficiency test scores or an approved waiver, if applicable
• $75 application fee

Additional requirements for Ph.D. applicants:

• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores
• Résumé or CV
• Statement of purpose

Master’s applicants may also submit for consideration:

• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores
• Résumé or CV
• Statement of purpose 

SMU’s school code for GRE scores is 6660.

Additional requirements may vary by program. Review your program page for program-specific application requirements.You can view your programs specific requirements in the most current SMU course catalog.

For specific questions about your program of interest, please contact the appropriate program director or email lylegrad@smu.edu.

Official test scores are required when applicable and must be sent directly to SMU by the testing organization. This includes required GRE and English language proficiency test scores.

Transcripts do not need to be official for admission review. You may upload unofficial transcripts with your application; official transcripts are required after admission and before enrollment.

Three letters of recommendation are required for Ph.D. applicants and optional for master’s applicants.

If you choose or are required to submit recommendations, add your recommenders and their contact information in the application. SMU will email each recommender with instructions for submitting their recommendation.

You do not need to wait for your recommendations to be received before submitting your application.

Additional requirements may vary by program. Review your program page for program-specific application requirements or contact lylegrad@smu.edu with additional questions.

If you do not have relevant professional work experience to include on your résumé or CV, please include relevant academic experience, internships, research, projects, technical skills, leadership experience and other accomplishments that demonstrate your preparation for graduate study.

Résumé and CV requirements vary by program. Review the requirements for your selected program to determine whether one is required. If you have additional questions, please reach out to the program director or contact lylegrad@smu.edu.

A statement of purpose is an opportunity to provide additional context about your preparation for graduate study, your academic and professional interests, and what you hope to accomplish through your selected program.

Consider addressing:

• Your academic and professional goals
• Why you are interested in your chosen field of study
• Relevant academic, professional, research or project experience
• Why you are interested in your selected SMU Lyle program
• How graduate study at SMU Lyle supports your future goals

Focus on the experiences and goals most relevant to your intended program.

Master’s applicants may submit a statement of purpose to support their application; it is required for Ph.D. applicants.

After submitting your application, allow 24–48 business hours for your application status and checklist to update.

Log in to your SMU graduate application portal to review your application status, check for missing materials and view updates throughout the admission process.

If your checklist still shows missing materials after 48 business hours, contact Lyle Graduate Admission at lylegrad@smu.edu.

After submitting your application, allow 24–48 business hours for your application and checklist to update. We will contact you if additional materials are needed to complete your application.

Once your application is complete, typical admission review times are:

• Master’s applications: two to three weeks
• Doctoral applications: four to six weeks

You will receive an email when an admission decision is available.

You can also log in to your SMU graduate application portal to check your status throughout the process. If your completed application has been under review longer than the typical timeframe, contact the SMU Lyle director of graduate recruitment at ktaptich@smu.edu.

You cannot make changes to your application after it has been submitted.

However, if SMU requests additional materials, you can upload them through the Upload Materials section of your graduate application status portal.

Application-related documents may also be sent to gradappmaterials@smu.edu.

Check your application checklist before submitting additional materials to confirm what is still needed.

GRE score expectations may vary by program. Review your program page or the current SMU catalog entry for your program of interest for program-specific admission requirements.

If you have questions, please contact lylegrad@smu.edu or contact the program director directly.

GRE scores are required for Ph.D. applicants and optional for master’s applicants, unless otherwise specified by the program in the current SMU catalog program page.

Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. applicants who have earned or are currently pursuing a Master of Science degree are not required to submit GRE scores.

GRE scores must be from a test taken within the past five years.

GRE scores are optional for most master’s applicants, so a waiver is not required. GRE scores are required for Ph.D. applicants unless an exception is specified by the program.

Review your program's admission requirements for program-specific GRE requirements in the SMU catalog or contact lylegrad@smu.edu.

A student may waive English Language Proficiency Requirements if the student received a bachelor's or master's from an English Language Institution located in: United States, Canada (except Quebec), United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, American Samoa, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Singapore, Trinidad/Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Pacific Trust. You can have this requirement waiver by contacting the Lyle Graduate Admissions Office.

The institution code for SMU is 6660. No department code is required. 

Test scores need to be received by the university officially. This includes GRE scores and English proficiency test scores (i.e. TOEFL, IETLS, and Duolingo).

One of the following tests must be submitted and must meet the outlined minimum score:

TOEFL (pre-2026): 80 out of 120
TOEFL (2026 an onward): 4
PTE: 55
IELTS: 6.5
Duolingo: 110

Home-based tests are also eligible upon approval

If you would like to know more about why you were denied admission, contact Lyle Graduate Admissions Office for information on the appeal process and/or reapplying. 

You will need to accept your offer in your application portal. 

No there is no deadline to accept. However, for international students accepting your offer starts the I-20 process. Students must then accept in a timely manner to complete those next steps.

No deposit required.

Orientation is held a week before classes begin. You will receive further information via email from the Lyle Graduate Office. 

These are tasks that are completed by a different office on campus. Please reach out to SMU OIT.

Your advisor information should be in your offer letter. If not please contact the Lyle Graduate Admissions Office.

9 credit hours.

Conditional Admission is an offer of Admission to the Lyle School of Engineering with terms. This offer is ONLY given to applications who have submitted official scores, been reviewed by the intended academic department, and had a decision made on their application file. 

The University and the ISSS office expect all new students to arrive on campus prior to the first day of classes to attend International Orientation. If you cannot arrive in time to attend orientation, which is scheduled before the first day of classes, we recommend that students defer their admission to a future semester.

Applicants may request a one-time deferral of their admission application within one academic year of their original application term. This deferral is free of charge and does not require resubmission of application materials.

For example, if you applied for Fall 2025, you may defer your application to any term up to and including Fall 2026 without incurring additional fees or providing updated documents.

If a deferral request is submitted after the one-year window, a new application and application fee will be required. Additional or updated documents may also be requested, depending on the program and changes to admission requirements.

To request a deferral, please email Lyle's Graduate Admissions Office with your full name and SMU ID number.

Ph.D. students who would like to request a deferral should contact their Ph.D. advisor and the Department chair of their intended program via email in addition to the Lyle Graduate Admissions Office.

For more information on deferring your admission, or information on late arrivals for graduate students, please visit the International Student & Scholars Services website.

After accepting your offer a new check-list will appear in your portal (sometimes you need to log back in) this check-list will include the items to submit for review before the I-20 can be requested. 

There could be two reason for this:

1. You have not set up your E-Ship Global Account.
2. You have not looked in your SMU email account for information from the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office. 

Please contact ISSS at isss@smu.edu.

After you have been awarded admission. This is one of the checklist items needed for the I-20. 

The minimum that must be shown is $48,774.

No, you may upload your offer letter showing the funding and the minimum will be adjusted. 

If you are seeking dependent visas for your spouse/minor children, you will need to provide additional documentation of financial support in the amount of $8,000 for your first dependent and $4,000 for each additional dependent. 

International students are permitted to enroll in one online course or a 3-credit hour course that counts towards the student’s full-time enrollment requirement. In other words, graduate students will need to be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of in-person courses.

You can visit the ISSS website for CPT information.

Contact for graduate admissions and international admissions to SMU Lyle

Anam Iqbal, Associate Director II, Graduate and International Recruitment 

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