How to Apply to Graduate Programs | Penn State Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering

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Students in Lab

The John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) offers a vigorous graduate education with some of the top researchers in the nation. Thank you for considering us for your graduate education.

All interested students must apply to The Graduate School.

Visit The Graduate School for information on how to apply to Penn State.

Admission is granted jointly by The Graduate School and EME. EME recommends admission to The Graduate School, and The Graduate School, in turn, monitors procedures and minimum requirements and makes the final decision on your admission.

Applying to EME Graduate Programs

Completed applications with all required documentation must be submitted before the following deadlines:

Spring Semester: September 15
Fall Semester: January 15*

*Students with especially strong credentials are encouraged to apply by January 2 to be considered for prestigious Penn State Graduate Fellowships (UGFs).

These deadlines apply to international students, U.S. citizens, and U.S. permanent residents. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Applications received after these deadlines may be reviewed but will not be considered eligible for graduate awards or funding opportunities through departmental assistantships. Please note that international students seeking to pursue careers in energy who are citizens of countries subject to U.S. sanctions and U.S. VISA restrictions may not be eligible for admission into the Energy and Mineral Engineering graduate program.

Learn About Graduate School Requirements

Before you apply, please review the Penn State Graduate School Requirements.

Submit Application Electronically

When you are ready to begin your application, use this link to apply electronically.

Make sure that you review ALL information on this page before submitting!

Make sure to include your application fee with your submission!

Submit Application Fee by Mail

If you do not wish to pay the application fee by credit card, please download the Application Fee Form and mail it along with your non-refundable application fee to:

Graduate Enrollment Services
The Pennsylvania State University
114 Kern Building
University Park, PA 16802

Materials You Must Submit with your Application

As part of your electronic application, the following materials must be uploaded through the Graduate School's Electronic Application Portal:

All international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received baccalaureate or master's degrees from an approved institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) examination. A TOEFL score of 550 on the paper test, a score of 213 on the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 on the Internet test is required for admission. On the Internet version, a minimum score of 19 is required on the speaking portion. The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a graduate degree from the following approved institutions: Australia, Belize, British Carribean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, United States, and Wales.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a single document.
Statement of Purpose. Important: Within your statement of purpose, please identify up to three (3) EME faculty members with whom your academic interests most closely align. This identification may help in expediting and streamlining the review process of your application.
Three letters of recommendation. Letters must be uploaded by each of your referees via the GRADS electronic portal. Reference letters can come from a mix of letters from individuals in academia and/or industry who can elaborate on your potential to be successful in the EME research environment. A Letter of Evaluation Form may also be filled out by the referee and submitted electronically within the Reference Submission Portal.
When applicable, please upload copies of proof of financial support (corporate, government or personal sponsorship or scholarship) along with your statement of purpose (as a single PDF file).
Transcripts: Applicants are required to electronically upload copies of transcripts (or equivalent documents for institutions outside the U.S., e.g., degree/study certificates, diplomas, etc.) from all post-secondary institutions attended, in the language of instruction (and copies of an official English translation if English is not the language of instruction). Applicants recommended for admission who accept an offer through the online graduate admission system will be notified by the Graduate School that official/original transcripts/documents must be sent from the originating institutions in the official language of the institution(s) attended (and if the language of instruction is not English, an official English translation must also be sent). The Graduate School will review all official documents to finalize the offer of admission. An offer of admission will be revoked if official/original documents are not received by the Graduate School within specified deadlines, or if official/original documents differ from the copies uploaded by the applicant prior to the offer of admission. For applicants whose degree conferral is in progress at the time of uploading copies, the deadline specified for receipt of official/original documents will allow for the passage of the reported date of degree conferral, and that conferral must be confirmed on the official/original documents received by the Graduate School, in order for the offer of admission to be finalized.
We encourage applicants to provide Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, if available. We understand that due to the coronavirus, taking a GRE may be difficult or impossible. Thus, submitting GRE scores is optional, and you will not be penalized if you do not include them. The department will use a holistic evaluation method for admission recommendation. If you choose to submit GRE scores please inform ETS to send official score reports to Institution Code 2660.
All international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received baccalaureate or master's degrees from an approved institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) examination (Required for review of application). A TOEFL score of 550 on the paper test, a score of 213 on the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 on the Internet test is required for admission. On the Internet version, a minimum score of 19 is required on the speaking portion. The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a graduate degree from the following approved institutions: Australia, Belize, British Carribean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, United States, and Wales.

Contact the EME Graduate Office

If you have questions, please contact:

Sue Hyde
Graduate Program Coordinator
esh17@psu.edu
814-863-0373