Admissions for Online Programs

Online Graduate Programs

Are you ready to get started on your online journey to a graduate degree or certificate from WPI? Our dedicated team is available to help you through every step of the admissions process. With a rolling admission process, you can apply for an online program at any time with no application deadlines.

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Getting Started

Our flexible programs allow students with a technical bachelor's degree to take up to two WPI courses before formal admission into a master’s program. Credits from these courses may be transferred into a graduate program upon formal admission into that program. If you’d like to take a few courses before formally applying, the first step is to complete our enrollment form. Once submitted, a WPI representative will be in touch within 48 hours to get you registered into your first course. You can view our online offerings, by term, on the Registar’s site.

While WPI allows students to take two courses, we strongly encourage students to begin the application process right away. Successfully completing a course does not guarantee or equal admittance to a program.

For students who feel that they need to refresh some of their skills, or who receive a conditional acceptance, our prep courses may help. Admittance to a degree program is required for most prep courses.

Admissions Requirements

Entrance to a WPI online graduate program requires a relevant bachelor’s degree from a highly accredited university, preferably ABET accredited, if earned in the United States (especially for engineering programs). Students are permitted to apply with unofficial transcripts initially, however official transcripts are required once admitted and moving forward.

Contact

Phone:

508-831-5517

online@wpi.edu

Other application documents vary by academic department and type of program (master’s, PhD, certificate).

If your application requires a statement of purpose, here's a guide to help you get started.

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students who come from countries where English is not the first language. Scores must be sent to WPI (school code: 3969). To learn more about TOEFL and IELTS scores, visit the Graduate Catalog.

Build An A+ Grad School Application

Catalyst Blog: Big ideas, briefly

How to Apply

Go to the Graduate Admissions Application and create your admissions account. You have your choice of which email address and password you prefer to use for the system. Once your account is created, you can log back in at any time to upload materials or check the status of your application.

Your supporting documents should be uploaded directly into your admissions application. All documents, including unofficial transcripts from all universities attended previously, are required before an application can be reviewed. Please note that official transcripts are required once you have been admitted to WPI. Those can be sent to the attention of your Student Success Team Member at:

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI Online
100 Institute Rd
Worcester, MA 01609

Once all materials are submitted, you will receive a confirmation email and your application will be sent for departmental review. The review process may take up to six to eight weeks and you will be notified via email when an admissions decision is reached.

How to Complete your Graduate Application

Applying to Grad School at WPI

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)
Plan of Study (required after admittance)
Letters of Recommendation
GRE
Statement of Purpose
Resume

Biotechnology (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Bioscience Management Online (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Biomanufacturing Online (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Computer Science Online (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not Required

Construction Project Management (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Construction Project Management (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Computer Science Online (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Data Science (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Data Science (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Electrical & Computer Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Electrical & Computer Engineering MEng

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Electrical & Computer Engineering (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Environmental Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Fire Protection Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Fire Protection Engineering (Certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Life Sciences Management Online (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Mechanical Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Mechanical Engineering for Technical Leaders (METL) (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not Required, but will be considered if included

Power Systems Engineering (M.Eng)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Power Systems Engineering (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Power Systems Management (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Power Systems Management (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Robotics Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Not required

Robotics Engineering (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Systems Engineering (PhD)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Application Fee	$70
Application Deadline	Faculty review applications for this program 2x per year: November 1 (Spring) and March 1 (Fall).
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Not required
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Systems Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Systems Engineering (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Not required
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Required

Systems Engineering Leadership (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. ** Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application.
GRE	Required: GMATs may be accepted in the place of GRE scores. GRE/GMAT requirement may be waived for candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA, with a course of study that included at least two quantitative courses with a grade of 3.0 or higher AND who meet one or more of the following three requirements: Three or more years of professional work experience A professional certification such as INCOSE SEP, PMI PMP, CPA, CFA, CFP, or Six Sigma An existing master’s or earned doctorate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Supply Chain Essential (certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	One
GRE	Not required
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Business Analytics (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required. Applicants to the MSBA are also required to have prior college-level statistics preparation.
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of professional recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application. Academically qualified recommendations may be submitted, as needed.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Tell us who you are and why you’re interested in our program. We want to know why you are pursuing this master’s, what your long-term career goals are, and why you feel WPI will help you meet your goals.
Resume	Required

Information Technology (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of professional recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application. Academically qualified recommendations may be submitted, as needed.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Tell us who you are and why you’re interested in our program. We want to know why you are pursuing this master’s, what your long-term career goals are, and why you feel WPI will help you meet your goals.
Resume	Required

Medicinal Plant Chemistry (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study Required	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of professional recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application. Academically qualified recommendations may be submitted, as needed.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Required
Resume	Required

Robotics Engineering – AV Specialization (Certificate)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Not Required
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not Required
Resume	Not Required

Manufacturing Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required. Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, and official proof of a completed Bachelor’s degree before matriculating.
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of professional recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application. Academically qualified recommendations may be submitted, as needed.
GRE	Required for International Students Only
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required

Material Science & Engineering (MS)

Application Requirements
Official transcripts for all post-secondary colleges or universities (unofficial transcripts are permitted initially, prior to admittance)	Required. Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, and official proof of a completed Bachelor’s degree before matriculating.
Plan of Study (required after admittance)	Required (PDF)
Letters of Recommendation	Three letters of professional recommendation from individuals who can comment on your qualifications for pursuing graduate study are required. Please invite your recommenders to submit their letters electronically via the online application. Academically qualified recommendations may be submitted, as needed.
GRE	GRE’s are waived for 2021
Statement of Purpose	Not required
Resume	Not required