M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Program Overview

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

Elevate your career

For over 60 years, graduate students from the University of Vermont Mechanical Engineering Program have helped to shape the future in academia as distinguished professors, in industry as engineers and entrepreneurs, and in government positions as program directors for national funding agencies or scientists at national laboratories.

The success of our Master’s program is built on an expanding foundation of internationally recognized faculty-led research, with collaborative funding partners across a wide range of innovative industries and national agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.

When you earn your master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UVM, you’ll be in demand and at the forefront of addressing complex and rapidly evolving global challenges.

Concentrations

Research with global impact

The mechanical engineering faculty at UVM works closely with students in five core research areas: 

1. Computational Multiscale Simulations & Theory
2. Thermo-fluid & Aerospace Engineering
3. Medical Research
4. Dynamical Sensing, Robotics and Control
5. Materials Science and Engineering.

Learn more about research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Curriculum

Our M.S. program curriculum is continuously updated to address emerging topics in mechanical engineering and to offer a breadth of courses that makes studying in our program more flexible, whether the student intends to earn an M.S. as a continuing student from local industries or directly obtain a doctorate right from the bachelor's degree. 

Most of our graduate students are full-time and actively engaged in research projects with one or two faculty mentors who are dedicated to their success. The size of the program also enables them to have close interdisciplinary interactions with the rest of the college and university, as well as the adjacent Larner Medical College.

Details about our M.S. program in Mechanical Engineering are available in the Graduate Catalogue:

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering catalogue listing

Graduate level course listings 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 a decision is made regarding admission. The deadlines for application submission are:

Fall Deadline: Rolling, Priority deadline for funding January 1st
Spring Deadline: Rolling, Priority deadline for funding October 1st

Admissions

We seek to attract excellent and motivated students who aspire to learn through hands-on research. Students entering the ME Master’s program have normally completed a B.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 coursework in the first semester. Part-time study leading to the Master of Science 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 Master's Students (PDF)

Graduate College application instructions

Outcomes

Career outlook

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow at a brisk 11% over the next decade, with a current median annual wage of $102,000, and those on the high end of the pay scale earning over $150,000.

A graduate engineering degree will allow you to command a more competitive salary when applying to upper-management roles and increase your earning potential throughout your career.

Where our alumni work

Our graduates find employment in industries such as aerospace, auto, energy, and power generation, defense, manufacturing, as well as federal, state, and local government roles. With the support of the CEMS Career Readiness Program, CEMS graduate students have landed jobs with leading tech companies in the state, across the country, and around the globe.

Some of our graduate employers:

• Agilent
• Beta Technologies
• Benchmark Space Systems
• Collins Aerospace
• US Department of Defense
• GE Aerospace
• General Dynamics
• GlobalFoundries
• Hayward Tyler Inc.
• Lockheed Martin
• MicroStrain by HBK

M.S. program outcomes

1. Have 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.

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

Meet Our Faculty

In the Mechanical Engineering program, our faculty are leading researchers in their fields with the awards, funding, and research publications that have helped the University of Vermont reach the coveted R1 Research University status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Accreditation and Professional Licensure Information