Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Program Overview

We seek to attract excellent and motivated students who aspire to learn by research. Students entering the program have generally received a M.S. degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field in engineering. Applicants with other backgrounds outside engineering will be evaluated individually and may be required to first complete undergraduate technical course work in the first semester. Part-time study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree is also possible for engineers who are employed in the vicinity. Applications are accepted from the United States and around the world. For international applicants, an English Proficiency Examination (TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo) is required. 

You can quickly verify the feasibility of your admission by viewing our requirements:

Minimum Requirements for Admission (PDF)

Requirements for Ph.D. Students (PDF)

The main asset of the UVM mechanical engineering graduate program is the human factor that is our dedicated faculty and staff, and motivated students. –Professor Frederic Sansoz, Graduate Program Director

Concentrations

Currently, the program offers areas of specialization in:

• Biomechanics and Biomaterials
• Control and Design of Mechanical Systems
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Thermodynamics, Fluids and Energy
• Computational Mechanics

Curriculum

We continuously update our curriculum to address modern topics in mechanical engineering, and to offer a breadth of courses that makes studying in our program more flexible, whether you intend to earn an Ph.D. as a continuing student from local industries, or directly obtain a doctorate right from your bachelor. Most of our graduate students are full-time and actively engaged in research projects with one or two faculty mentors who will be dedicated to your success. The size of the program also enables you to have close interactions with the rest of the faculty, and to regularly participate in the life of the program via our weekly seminars and invited speaker presentations.

Details about our Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering are available in the Graduate Catalogue:

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering catalogue listing

Graduate level courses in Mechanical Engineering

Deadlines

Applications are evaluated based on transcript information, statement of purpose, English Proficiency Examination (if applicable) and recommendation letters to develop a complete understanding of an applicant's likelihood to succeed in advanced study of mechanical engineering at UVM. While applications are reviewed as soon as they are received, we appreciate your patience until the admission decision is made. The deadlines for application submission are:

January 1 for fall admissions.
October 1 for spring admissions.

Admissions

The Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in mechanical engineering. Each student must meet the general requirements for admission as outlined under the regulations of the University of Vermont Graduate College. Typically, students entering the program have received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a closely-related field. Applicants with other backgrounds will be evaluated individually and may be asked to complete prescribed undergraduate technical course work. Areas of research interest in the program currently include: Aerospace Engineering, Turbulence, Complex and Bio Fluids, Multiscale Mechanics, Robotics, Nanomaterials & Composites, Energy Harvesting, System Control & Diagnostics, Biomechanics & Orthopedics, Biomaterials, and High-performance Computing.

Specific Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

An accredited master's degree in mechanical engineering or closely related discipline is required. Completion of the general (aptitude) portion of the Graduate Record Examination is required.

To be considered for admission, students must complete an official application using the Graduate College application instructions.

Outcomes

Outcomes for our Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering include:

1. Have an in-depth understanding of the foundational concepts in the field of study.
2. Be skilled at communicating technical results in both oral and written form.
3. Have a comprehensive knowledge of the literature relevant to the research or seminar topic.
4. Have a detailed knowledge of the research methodologies relevant to the research or seminar topic.
5. Have advanced-level breadth in areas complementary to a major field of study.
6. Be able to independently design and conduct research projects.

Costs and Funding

Funded Assistantships

A limited number of funded graduate research and graduate teaching assistantships (GRA or GTA) are available in the department each year and will be offered based on merit, research fit and continuity of progress to PhD students and some M.S. students. Funding offers are made available to you by faculty advisors, generally soon after you have received the Program’s admission decision, and renewed on a yearly basis.

Students who have questions about the funding process may send their query to the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program Director.

More

Faculty and Research

The success of our graduate program is built on a distinguished faculty whose research is recognized nationally and internationally through innovation, dissemination of knowledge in high-impact journals, and research awards. Recently, our faculty have won major awards from the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. Clearly, our focus is to create a research environment that is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative from which our students can thrive. 

Learn more about Faculty Research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Accreditation and Professional Licensure Information

Recent Graduate Student Thesis

Popular Mechanical Engineering Careers

• Mechanical Engineer
• Aerospace Engineer
• Automotive Engineer
• Contracting Civil Engineer
• Control and Instrumentation Engineer
• Maintenance Engineer
• Nuclear Engineer

Where Some of our Alumni Work

• IBM
• Chrysler
• NASA
• General Dynamics
• General Electric
• Monsanto
• Mariner Petrochemical
• Ford Motor Co.
• Microstrain
• BioTek Instruments