University Of California Riverside
900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, United States

The University of California, Riverside is a public land-grant research university in Riverside, California. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The main campus sits on 1,900 acres in a suburban district of Riverside with a branch campus of 20 acres in Palm Desert.

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is concerned with the creation of materials with novel properties and their use in a variety of fields ranging from ultra-fast computer chips and high-efficiency solar cells to high-powered jets, and even beauty products. Today, engineering innovations are increasingly dependent on breakthroughs in materials at the micro- and nanometer scale. Students in MSE acquire a solid background in the basic sciences and in the engineering of materials, with hands-on laboratory experience in nano-scale materials characterization and processing. This program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in fields such as nanotechnology, electronics, computing, the biomedical, automotive and aerospace industries, as well as government agencies and research laboratories.

The Program of Materials Science and Engineering offers the M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Students may obtain an M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering through one of two plans:

Admissions Process

The primary objective of the admissions process is the selection of those students most likely to complete their chosen graduate programs with distinction. After consultation between the program and the Graduate Division, the final authority to admit rests with the Graduate Division Dean.

Applicants are initially reviewed and rated based on their overall undergraduate and, where appropriate, post-baccalaureate GPAs. However, the evaluation process is intended to be flexible, and departments take a variety of other factors into consideration, including test scores, GPA in the major subject, letters of recommendation, and the reputation of the degree-granting program or institution. Soon after the department forwards its recommendation to the Graduate Division, the applicant is notified in writing (first, via email) of the Deans decision.

If admission is offered with work still in progress, official transcripts reflecting the satisfactory completion of this work and the awarding of the degree (where appropriate) must be submitted as soon as possible. An offer of admission is valid for a specific quarter only; admission may not be deferred to a later quarter. Accepted students who wish to be admitted for a subsequent quarter must reapply and, if additional course work has been completed, submit updated transcripts.

Please note that all applicants must submit a new application and application fee if reapplying for a later quarter.

Please see our FAQ section for more information.

Online Application

A non-refundable application fee is required, and payment can be made using (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) prior to submitting your online application. As application fees vary, please review the below information to determine your required application fee. 

International Applicants

  • All programs: $155
  • MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA programs: $180

We require transcripts with final grades or most recent grades (if degree is in progress) from all college-level institutions you have attended. We also require proof of any degree awarded to you. Confirmation of your degree can be a degree posting on a transcript or a copy of your degree certificate.

We only require UNOFFICIAL transcripts for the review of your application. DO NOT send official transcripts electronically or by mail. All transcripts and academic documents uploaded to the online application system are considered unofficial.

GRE Requirement 

UCR(s) Graduate Council has approved temporarily waiving the GRE requirement for the 2024-25 application cycles.  

We will accept the GRE General Test at Home version for the 2024-25 application cycles. Only the Biophysics graduate program requires the GRE Subject exam. 

GMAT Requirement

The A. Gary Anderson School of Management (AGSM) accepts the GMAT or GRE General exam if you apply to the MPAc, MFin, MBA, MS in Business Analytics, or PhD programs. For more information on the GMAT exam, visit Graduate Management Admission Council

All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not earned a undergraduate must submit passing current exam scores - TOEFL – 80IELTS – 7.0

Graduate programs require three (3) letters of recommendation. Submitting more than three letters does not improve your standing as an applicant. At least two of these letters should be requested from professors in your major subject.

The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to state your specific interests with respect to the program to which you are applying. Your intended area of specialization, career objectives and research interests and experience are of interest. 

International Application Timeline

Fall - May 1

Winter - July 1

Spring - October 1