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Graduate admissions

Three students in from of an experimental rig.
Students stand in front of one of the experimental rigs in the Advanced Propulsion and Power Lab.

Applications to the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering may be submitted online through the Virginia Tech Graduate School application system.

To be considered for funding, students must submit all applications by:

  • Fall semester: December 30
  • Spring semester: September 1

Admissions requirements

An applicant should have:

  • A bachelor’s degree, typically in engineering, mathematics, or physics from an accredited institution.
  • Evidence of genuine promise of success in graduate study, such as a good academic record. (A 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale is strongly recommended.)
  • For international applicants, official results from an English proficiency test such as the TOEFL Examination. (A score of 90 or higher is strongly recommended.)

How to apply ›

  • Official transcripts should be sent to the Graduate School.
  • Statement of interest and curriculum vitae should be attached to the online graduate application.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores no longer required.
  • Submit three letters of recommendation.
  • Submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores (international applicants only).
  • Submit Immigration Information Form (international applicants only).

For more information on admissions requirements and procedures, see the Graduate Study Policies and Procedures Manual

Students with non-engineering backgrounds

Requirements for degrees focusing on applied physics, space engineering, and applied mathematics differ slightly from those of other specializations—some required courses from the aerospace and ocean engineering department are replaced with courses from physics, electrical and computer engineering, or mathematics.

These programs are tailored for students who do not have a background in engineering and are interested in applying their skills to solving aerospace problems. Interaction with disciplines outside the usual engineering environment results in new approaches to analyzing and solving problems.