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Discover Your Path to an Engineering PhD

As a Dartmouth Engineering PhD student, you'll be part of a close-knit community of scholars with a broad range of expertise who encourage collaboration across disciplines, departments, schools, and beyond. Our distinctive human-centered approach empowers students to learn, discover, and innovate—without boundaries—to solve for human need and address the most critical issues of our time.

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Focus Your PhD in Engineering With a Concentration

Customize your coursework and research as a PhD student. In addition to courses in applied mathematics and engineering, PhD students undertake a multi-year research project, usually part of a larger multidisciplinary project. These research projects are negotiated with a faculty mentor who sponsors the student in the program.

PhD students may elect to focus their coursework and research in one or more of the following program areas.

Program Areas

Biological/Chemical

Biomedical

Electrical/Computer

Energy

Materials Science

Mechanical/Operations/Systems

Why Dartmouth?

In Their Words: Engineering PhD Student Life at Dartmouth

Dartmouth Engineering PhD student Julia Huddy talks about the welcoming atmosphere at Dartmouth, working with her faculty advisor, and the advantage of being part of a tight-knit research community.

At a Glance

Engineering PhD students work closely with their faculty advisors in their labs to conduct innovative research.

Did You Know?

  • Each PhD student is matched with a faculty mentor who sponsors them throughout the program and supports their multi-year research project.
  • Students acquire technical depth in one of six focus areas while also gaining breadth of knowledge in related fields.
  • We have a dedicated career services office committed to helping you reach your career and professional goals.
  • The average starting salary for PhD graduates going into industry is $121K.
  • A master's degree is not required to apply to the PhD program.
Two female PhD Innovation alumni who later founded their own company, Nanopath, based in part on their Dartmouth Engineering PhD work.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

At Dartmouth, where half of the tenure-track engineering faculty have started companies, we are working to address the nation's growing need for people with both technical and entrepreneurial expertise. As part of that effort, you may:

  • Get involved with a faculty start-up
  • Gain training through the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship
  • Add your research to the list of patent applications filed by PhD candidates
  • Start your own company

Dartmouth Engineering pioneered the first-in-the-nation doctoral-level innovation program, where PhD students learn to translate research from the lab into the commercial sphere. Students interested in entrepreneurship can augment their PhD in engineering with the PhD Innovation Program.

Explore the PhD Innovation Program

Dartmouth Engineering faculty collaborate closely with PhD students in the classroom and beyond.

Personalized Mentorship

Dartmouth Engineering faculty are both experts in their field and generalists in the classroom, able to teach a systems approach to engineering problem solving with wide-ranging applications. They are active and renowned researchers who welcome collaborating with you on groundbreaking projects, providing personalized guidance and support throughout your doctoral program.

129k

estimated PhD funding package per year

Includes over $40k stipend, over $80k tuition remission, health insurance premiums, and more.

98%

job placement rate

Percentage of master's and PhD alumni who secure employment within six months of graduation.

Dec.15

priority deadline

for Fall term admission; applications are accepted on a rolling basis after December 15.

PhD Program Outline

Year 1

  • Six classes (typically)
  • Research equivalent to one course during term
  • Collaborate with your advisory committee to create a custom program of study
  • Research-in-Progress Workshop

Year 2

  • Take oral exam
  • Complete the 8–10 course requirement
  • Conduct research
  • Research-in-Progress Workshop

Year 3–4 (or 5)

  • Professional Skills Workshop
  • Research-in-Progress Workshop (yearly)
  • Defend research proposal
  • Write and defend research thesis

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Dartmouth PhD Engineering student works on his robotics research.

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Recent Dartmouth Engineering PhD graduates at graduation.

Thinking of Applying?

Learn about the PhD program admissions process and how to prepare a strong application in time for the priority consideration deadline (December 15).

HOW TO APPLY

Explore the Dartmouth Difference

Dartmouth's Engineering and Computer Science Center is home to a hub of collaborative innovation.

About Dartmouth Engineering

Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering was founded in 1867 as one of the first schools of engineering in the United States. All graduate programs at Dartmouth Engineering are highly collaborative, with opportunities to engage with faculty and students across the university, including Geisel School of Medicine, Tuck School of Business, the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Cancer Center, and other affiliated programs.