PhD Program

1. Applying To Graduate Study In ECE / Application Requirements

What is the application materials’ submission deadline?
All application materials should be submitted by January 4th.

How should I submit my application?
In order to apply to the ECE Department, you will be required to submit your application online. The ECE Department does not mail out hard copy applications.

Can I apply for Spring admission?
No.  We do not accept applications for admission in the spring semester.  We only accept applications for consideration for fall admission. 

What are the Minimum Requirements for all ECE applicants?
The ECE Department looks for all applicants to be able to meet the following minimum criteria:

• GPA: Minimum Grade Point Average: 3.5/4.0 or above
• Class Standing: Student should be in the Top 5% of their class or above
• GREs: Both versions of GRE scores are considered acceptable.
• “Old” Version of GRE Score Minimum Requirements: 500-Verbal, 750-Quantitative, 5.0/6.0-Analytical.
• “New” Version of GRE Score Minimum Requirements: 153 – Verbal,159 – Quantitative, 5.0 - Analytical
• Please note that if any of your the individual areas of your GRE scores do not meet the suggested minimums, you are still encouraged to apply.
• TOEFL: Please carefully review all of the details below regarding the TOEFL.

The above polices are determined by the Cornell Graduate School and may be viewed here. All graduate fields at Cornell University are required to adhere to them.

Which degree program should I select on the application form?
Regardless of if you will have earned either a Bachelor's or a Master's degree, you should be applying directly to our PhD Program.

Please note that we (ECE) do not offer an MS only program. We (ECE) only accept applications for out PhD Program. If you are interested in earning a Master's Degree only please review our M.Eng. Program.

May I waive the application fee?
In cases of extreme financial need, Ms. Barbara Edinger from the Cornell Graduate School directly. Her office will consider a request for a fee waiver however, the School of Computer and Electrical Engineering is not authorized to grant such requests.

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2. Items To Accompany Application Submission

What items should be submitted along with my application?
All ECE applicants are required to submit each of the following items:

• Application: You are encouraged to apply online.
• Statement of Purpose
• GRE scores.  ALL applicants are required to submit GRE scores (scores must be officially submitted by ETS, photocopies are not acceptable)
• TOEFL scores. ALL international applicants are required to submit a TOEFL (scores must be officially submitted by ETS, photocopies are not acceptable). Please note that Cornell does NOT recognize anything other than the TOEFL as an English language ability indicator.
• Transcripts: one from each university you have attended. Each transcript must be translated into English. You should plan to upload a scanned copy in PDF format in your online application. No hard copy Transcripts will need to be submitted.
• You may upload a scanned copy of your transcript into the CollegeNet Online Application System. Please use the following guidelines to do so:
• Scan at the lowest dpi document (use under 200 dpi whenever possible).
• Ensure that the institution name and other identifying marks are not missed during the scanning process, and that it is clearly legible and can print on 8 ½" x 11" size paper.
• Save your document as a PDF file.
• Scanning in gray scale or black and white may produce the best results.
• If you upload a scanned copy of your transcript, you do NOT have to provide an official hard copy version to accompany your application. You will only need to provide an official hard copy transcript if you are made an offer of admission and you choose to accept it.
• If the scanned file is too large then make a photocopy first then scan the photocopy.
• Recommendation Letters: a minimum of three (3) letters are to be submitted, with at least two (2) of them from faculty.
• Resume or CV: optional
• DO NOT submit copies of papers, publications, projects, CD-roms, floppy discs, books, etc... If you have materials that you would like to have our faculty review, please post them online and include a link to them in your Statement of Purpose.

If I have hard copy items to submit, where should I send them? We strongly encourage you to upload any items online directly into your application. If you have supporting documents that can only be submitted in hard copy, use the following address only:

Cornell ECE/Graduate Admissions
Attn: Manager of Student Services
223 Phillips Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-5401

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3.GRE and TOEFL

Are GRE scores required from all applicants?
Yes, ALL applicants are required to submit valid GRE General Test Scores (the Subjective scores are not required).  There are no exceptions or waivers granted.  All three sections of the exam (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical) are required.

Where should I submit my GRE/TOEFL scores?
Your scores will be submitted directly to Cornell University, not to the ECE Department.

What Code(s) should I use to submit my GRE/TOEFL scores?
GREs - You need to use the Institutional Code of 2098 for Cornell University and the Departmental Code of 1203 for Electrical and Computer Engineering.

TOEFL – You need to use the Institutional Code of 2098 for Cornell University and the Departmental Code of 66 for Electrical and Computer Engineering.

I’ve taken the GRE/TOEFL more than once.  Which set of scores will be reviewed?
The ECE Department will receive all of your scores.  The scores that you have self-reported on your application will be the ONLY scores that will be reviewed.

If I’ve already taken the GRE/TOEFL, how long are my test scores valid?
GRE scores are valid for up to five (5) years from the original date of the exam.  TOEFL scores are valid for up to two (2) years from the original test date.  In order to ensure your scores are both valid and up to date, contact ETS directly.

I’m an International Applicant.  Do I have to submit a TOEFL score with my application?
If you come from a country where English is not the native language, you MUST submit TOEFL scores from an exam taken within the last two (2) years.

How do I know if I qualify for a TOEFL exemption?
The TOEFL is not required of applicants who have studied full-time for two (2) or more years in a college or university where English is the language of instruction and the college or university is located in a country where English is the native language.  This is a policy of the Cornell University Graduate School and no exceptions will be made.

What is the deadline for submission of GRE/TOEFL scores?
All official GRE/TOEFL scores must be submitted by January 4th.  It is the responsibility of the APPLICANT to ensure that official scores are submitted by the deadline date.  Be sure to self-report all available scores on your application and have the official scores sent immediately!

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4. Updating Application, Checking Status, Application Results

How can I update any information on my application after I have already submitted it?
Send an email to Scott Coldren.  Under normal circumstances, you should receive a reply with roughly 48 hours.

How may I check the status of my application?
Send an email to Scott Coldren.  Under normal circumstances, you should receive a reply with roughly 48 hours. Please note that ECE does not use the Embark Online System, so your status will NOT be updated there.

How will I receive my application submission results?
You will be contacted via email with the results of your application submission.  You will not receive a hard copy results letter.  Be certain that the email address you provide in your application is valid. 

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5. Available Funding Opportunities For Applicants

What types of funding are available for applicants?

There are three types of funding available that are awarded to our best applicants.  Each of them include a full tuition waiver, an academic year stipend and a Student Health Insurance package provided through the University.  We are actively recruiting students from Under-Represented Minority Groups.

Fellowships:  Generally, our fellowship offers will be made to our very best applicants and for the most part last only one (1) year or less.  Stipends for fellowships tend to be slightly higher for the first year only.  Applicants who are awarded fellowships enter the program without any formal obligations such as teaching or research for a specific group.

Diversity Fellowships: Cornell ECE offers several Diversity Fellowships and encourages our applicants to apply for them, if they qualify (US Citizens or Permanent Residents only).  Included are a Colman Fellowship, a Sage Fellowship, and simply a Diversity Fellowship.  Each of these funding opportunities is geared towards providing aid for applicants that meet the following criteria:

1. A history of overcoming disadvantage
2. First-generation college student
3. Raised in a single-parent household
4. Member of an underrepresented minority group (American Indian or Alaskan Native, Black/African American, Mexican American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Puerto Rican, Other Hispanic)

If you meet the criteria listed above, we would encourage you to visit Page 8 of the online application and submit a supplemental essay that clearly demonstrates how any of these eligibility criteria apply in your case.  Please be sure to include at least a sentence or two at the conclusion of your Statement of Purpose (located on Page 7 of the online application) that you have submitted this essay and that you hope to be considered for this Fellowship opportunity.

Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA):  GRA offers come directly from faculty members who have expressed an interest in having a specific applicant join their research group directly upon entering the program.  The faculty member making the offer will become the applicant’s advisor upon entering the ECE program.  Being admitted as a GRA does not have any teaching obligations and applicants are expected to immediately begin focusing on research in the group of the faculty member who made the initial offer. 

Teaching Assistantship (TA):  TA offers come directly from the ECE department.  Admitted applicants are expected to perform the required duties of a TA; these duties may include teaching recitations, holding office hours, grading homework assignments and exams, and overseeing lab sections.  The specific duties of a TA are determined by the instructor of the course that they are assigned to. 

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6. Contact Information

Cornell ECE Student Services Office
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-5401
Email - Scott Coldren
Phone – (607) 255-4304
Fax – (607) 254-3508

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7. Helpful Links

• Apply Online
• ECE Homepage
• ECE Faculty broken down by area(s) of research
• ECE Courses offered
• Cornell University Homepage
• Cornell Graduate School
• Cornell Engineering
• Cornell Office of Research and Graduate Studies