Online Master of Engineering: Computer Engineering Admissions

Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Engineering) places great value on professional and practical experience, and all applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree prior to starting the program. The admissions team will consider applicants holistically, considering applicants with a wide range of STEM-related educational backgrounds and professional experiences as eligible for the program. Specifically:

• Applicants with an accredited bachelor's level degree in engineering or with bachelor's level degrees in related STEM fields (eg. computer science, physics) should be well prepared for success in this program.
• Applicants with an accredited bachelor's level degree outside of engineering, but with relevant STEM experience and skills will be equally considered. (Please note that depending on the focus of the bachelor’s degree and skills obtained, additional prerequisite coursework beyond the degree requirements may be required.)
   

We encourage applicants to describe in their application materials how their educational background and professional experience can set them on a path for success in the program.

Not sure if you're ready? We encourage you to apply anyway.

If you are interested in the online MEng program, but uncertain about your readiness, we invite you to still apply. Dartmouth's Performance Pathway, a conditional admissions path for promising online MEng applicants, provides applicants with the opportunity to enroll in the first course as a non-degree student and, pending satisfactory performance and other requirements, transition into the full online MEng program. Explore the Performance Pathway FAQs to learn more.

Applicants will benefit from having demonstrated knowledge and previously developed skills across core foundational areas prior to taking the program, including linear algebra, calculus, probability and statistics, basic programming (eg. C, Python), digital logic, and analog circuit fundamentals.

For foundational technical skills and knowledge you will need to be successful in the program, we encourage you to explore Dartmouth's free online course: C Programming with Linux. Building skills in C programming, as well as confidence in command line interfaces, will be useful in specific courses such as Embedded Systems, and in more advanced courses in the curriculum.

Applicants who complete some or all of the C Programming with Linux specialization are encouraged to share their knowledge with the admissions committee in their application materials to represent their experience with relevant prerequisite knowledge. 

If you're uncertain about your readiness for the program or your chances of admission, we encourage you to apply anyway and to reach out with any questions. Applications are evaluated holistically, considering all of your materials and preparation. Some students may be offered conditional admission to the online MEng program through Dartmouth's Performance Pathway.

If you are admitted under the Performance Pathway, you will have the opportunity to take the first course in the program—Machine Learning—as a non-degree student. This is your chance to demonstrate your ability to succeed with our curriculum. Upon earning a satisfactory grade and fulfilling any additional requirements outlined in your admissions letter, you will be automatically transitioned into the full degree program for the following term.

Explore our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about Performance Pathway.

Applicants must complete the application for admission online. It is not necessary to send us a hard copy.

START YOUR APPLICATION

Updating Your Materials

Your test scores and mailing address can be updated at any time through your application status page. After submission, other components (resume, statement of purpose, essays, etc.) cannot be updated. Please be sure you have entered the most accurate information at the time of submission. Due to the volume of applications received, we cannot update these materials after submission.

Acknowledgement

After submission, you will receive an email acknowledgement through the application system.

Application Status

To see the status of your application, visit your online application status page. Please note that it may take a few days for application materials to be processed.

Application materials and supporting documents become the property of the Admissions Committee and are not returnable.

General Policies

False Statements/Materials: If a candidate for admission to Dartmouth makes a false statement or submits falsified material in connection with his or her application, and the misrepresentation is discovered after the candidate has been admitted, the offer of admission ordinarily will be withdrawn. If the misrepresentation is discovered after a student arrives on campus or at any time during their enrollment, the student will be subject to loss of credits earned and disciplinary action that could include separation from the College. If the discovery occurs after a degree has been awarded, the degree normally will be rescinded.

Equal Opportunity: Dartmouth Engineering actively supports equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race or ethnic background. No student will be denied admission or be otherwise discriminated against because of sex, handicap, religion, sexual orientation, race, color, or national origin.

Security and Fire Safety Report: Dartmouth prepares an annual Security and Fire Safety Report which is available to all current and prospective employees and students. The report includes statistics of reported crimes that have occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings, or on property owned or controlled by Dartmouth, and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus as well as reported fires occurring in residential facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, fire safety, and other matters. You may obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Director of Safety and Security and the College Proctor at +1 (603) 646-4000.

Prepare and upload a one- to two-page statement of purpose describing the following:

• What are your near-term and long-term career goals?
• How has your current career and/or academic work shaped or influenced your pathway?
• How will the online MEng: CE help you advance your goals, and what are your reasons for pursuing this program at Dartmouth? Include any information that does not appear elsewhere in your application that will help us evaluate your candidacy.

You will enter information such as your name, address, email address, phone number, biographical information, citizenship, etc.

This page will include questions aboutanticipated full-time or part-time course load, skills and knowledge preparation, and group work preparation (brief written descriptions). The supplemental page will also ask you to upload a statement of purpose (described in more detail above), a resume, and an optional essay described below.

Enter information about your academic background and experience, and upload your unofficial transcripts from all degrees earned (more detail on transcript requirements is given below).

Letters can come from academic and/or professional references and should be completed and submitted online directly by your recommender on their institutional letterhead.

You are encouraged to submit letters that speak to your current level of professional skill in engineering and related STEM fields, which may come from academic recommenders (eg. college professors), professional recommenders (eg. immediate supervisors, current or former employers, etc.), military recommenders, or all of the above.

Letters can also come from references from volunteer experience so long as the letter makes clear how the experience contributes to your readiness for the program.

Upload your resume or CV.

Non-US citizens must submit language proficiency test scores, with the exception of those who are earning or have earned a degree from institutions in the US or Canada, or who are from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the US.

For all graduate programs, Dartmouth Engineering accepts the following English proficiency tests: TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo. During the application process, self-reported scores are acceptable. However, once admitted, students will be required to submit official test results directly from the testing organization.

The ETS code for Thayer School is 3360.

When applying, you are required to submit unofficial academic transcripts from each undergraduate or graduate institution from which you obtained your degrees (eg. your bachelor's degree or other advanced degrees).

Applicants with international transcripts are strongly encouraged to submit a transcript evaluation from WES (World Education Services) along with their Dartmouth Engineering application. While a WES evaluation is not mandatory for admission, it can help expedite the admissions review process.

Admitted students: Thayer uses ReVera services to authenticate letters of recommendation and transcripts. Applicants who accept the offer of admission will receive an email with instructions on where to send official transcripts. This email will also include an e-release form to be signed.

500 words maximum

Dartmouth Engineering is committed to a climate that acknowledges and embraces diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, supporting a culture that fosters inclusion and actively pursues equity. Our commitment is driven by a belief that differences of opinions, experiences, identities, and perspectives are essential to building a stronger community. We encourage you to share how your personal perspectives and unique life experiences will contribute to Dartmouth and the engineering school community. Please feel free to share how any life experiences may have adversely affected your academic history.

Enter additional information about your employment history and professional experience.

GRE scores are optional for all Dartmouth Engineering graduate programs. If you would like to include GRE scores to give the admissions committee a better understanding of your qualifications, we accept self-reported scores at the time of application. If you enter self-reported scores, you will be required to provide official scores if admitted. Visit the ETS website and use code: 3360.