The Department of Materials Science & Engineering offers two Master of Science (M.S.) degrees. The M.S. Non-Thesis degree entails only coursework and does not involve independent research. The M.S. Thesis degree entails independent research conducted under the direction of a graduate research advisor.
The M.S. degrees in Materials Science & Engineering and in Nuclear Engineering consist of about 10 courses, totaling 30 credit hours. Graduate courses in the MSE graduate program include general materials science and engineering courses as well as specialized courses on biomaterials, ceramics, composites, electronic materials, and polymers. Graduate courses in the NE graduate program include general nuclear engineering courses as well as specialized courses on nuclear fuels and materials, fuel cycle, plasma physics, radiochemistry and nuclear forensics.
Students seeking the M.S. Thesis degree are prepared for research activities through exposure to research topics and approaches in required graduate courses and through formal laboratory instruction by research advisors and senior researchers.
To be eligible for admission to our graduate program, the applicant must hold a B.S. in an appropriate major. Due to the breadth of the MSE and NE graduate programs, students with degrees in materials, ceramics, metallurgy and other engineering, mathematics, or science areas such as biology, chemistry, or physics have found ample opportunities to pursue their research and training areas of interest.
To see side-by-side tuition and fee comparisons for Florida and non-Florida residents, visit https://ufedge.ufl.edu/online-graduate-programs/tuition-fees/.
Please refer to our MSE and NE pages for additional information on M.S. degree requirements.
Admissions RequirementsDeadlines
M.S. applications are considered for Fall, Spring, and Summer C only. The department has a rolling deadline for the M.S. program; however, we strongly encourage M.S. applicants to apply no later than 60-days before the start of a semester.
Suggested deadlines:
Fall – December 5th
Spring – September 1st
Summer C – February 1st
Admission Requirements
- Graduate applications are not reviewed for admission purposes until the application is complete. Fall classes start at the end of August each year, Spring classes begin around the first week of January, and Summer C classes begin around the first week of May. Applications and supporting documents must be completed in time for us to make a decision and to provide admission letters to the applicant. International applicants must allow enough time for the Office of International Students (UFIC) to process the paperwork to allow the applicant to obtain a visa.
- To be considered for departmental financial aid you should have your application complete by the deadline for admission.
- Fee Payment Cover Memo (for fees paid by personal check or money order)
- The Department follows the UF Graduate Admissions requirements.
- Two UF units review your application to the UF Graduate School: the UF Office of Graduate Admissions and the MSE Department.
- The office of Graduate Admissions determines your eligibility for admission to the university, and the department determines your eligibility for our graduate program.
- Admission is based on the entire graduate application.
- Submit official transcripts from each university attended to the Office of Admissions.
- A short statement of purpose.
- This statement may outline your background, relevant experience, the reason for pursuing graduate studies, and why you are interested in MSE at UF. The statement may also be used to describe unique academic pathways, performance or other factors that may be used in a holistic evaluation of the applicant.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- These letters may evidence technical competency, academic strengths and weaknesses, and/or interpersonal and communication skills. Please do not send these to the department. They should be submitted online.
- Strong background in engineering or science with at least a B average (GPA=3.0/4.0) for all upper-division undergraduate coursework.
- All entering students are expected to be competent with using computers to solve problems (e.g. use of spreadsheets) and present results (e.g. use of word processing and presentation software).
International Students
All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to:
- submit official evidence of English language proficiency
- meet the minimum score requirements
- have a college-level education that is equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate (B.S.) degree. Transcripts and an official copy of the degree certificate in the native language and an English translation must be submitted.
The university does not accept scores compiled from multiple tests to meet English proficiency requirements.
Once a student is officially admitted, the MSE Department will request an I-20 from the University of Florida International Center (UFIC).
International applicants are required to document proof of financial support for the first year. The International Student Advisors at the UFIC will contact admitted students via email to request this information.
Additional information about the I-20/DS-2019 process as well as additional resources for international applicants can be found at the UFIC website or at the International Admissions information page.
How Do I Begin The Application Process?
Note: you will be directed to the University of Florida General Admissions webpage. Choose the appropriate application and follow the directions provided.