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 departments 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 departmental 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. Standardized Tests Only official GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS score reports are accepted. Photocopies of reports cannot be used under any circumstances. The MIT reporting code is 3514. Departmental codes, where available, are listed with departmental information. Graduate Record Examination Most MIT departments require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and an appropriate Subject Test. Please check departmental information for specific requirements. The fee for the GRE ranges approximately $130 to $175 US. The General Test is offered only on the computer in the US and in most locations around the world. The computer-based GRE General Test is available year-round, and appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to maximize your chances of scheduling your preferred test date and time. To register for the GRE General Test see www.ets.org/gre or call 1-800-GRE-CALL (800-473-2255). International English Language Testing System IELTS exam measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills -listening, reading, writing, and speaking- for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. Some programs or departments prefer students to take the IELTS exam. Please visit the MIT Academics page, http://web.mit.edu/education/index.html, for departmental contact information. To register for a test, consult http://www.ielts.org. Applicants who are tested after December 31, 2007 will not be considered for admission. Test of English as a Foreign Language Students whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 577 (233 for computer-based) is required for visa certification. Many departments have higher score requirements. See departmental information. for specific requirements. The fee for the TOEFL is $140 US. International students applying for graduate admission should take the TOEFL no later than December 31, 2006. To register, write directly to: TOEFL, Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154, call 1-800-GO-TOEFL (800-46-86335), or consult http://www.toefl.org/. Students wishing to take the test after December 31, 2006 will not be considered for admission in 2007. Online Graduate Application Menu Main Menu MIT Graduate Admissions Home