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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.
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
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.
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.
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?
Join Our Next Virtual Info Session
Connect with faculty experts to learn more about ways to enhance your career and research through Dartmouth Engineering’s graduate degree programs.
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Learn about the PhD program admissions process and how to prepare a strong application in time for the priority consideration deadline (December 15).
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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.