Skip to main content

Prospective Students

Application Requirements

Prospective students for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. program will apply through the Graduate College.

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive and requires submission of the following application materials:

  1. Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  2. A brief personal statement (no more than two pages) describing the applicant’s academic and professional background, research experiences and interests, career goals, and motivation for graduate study. This statement should clearly state at least one Ph.D. faculty member as a prospective advisor.
  3. A current resume or curriculum vitae.
  4. Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references that address your preparation for graduate study.
  5. (Optional) Official Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test scores. Although the GRE is optional, it is highly recommended for students who may have weaknesses in other areas (e.g. GPA, prior research experience) or have transcripts from international schools.

Funding Information

The ECE PhD program has funding available for incoming and continuing students in the form of Teaching Assistantships (TAs) and Research Assistantships (RAs). More funding opportunities can be found through the Graduate College.

Deadlines

Applications are rolling, but priority deadlines are:

Fall admission: February 15th

Spring admission: September 15th

Apply Now

FAQs

How many graduate credits can I transfer if I already have a bachelor’s or master’s degree?

The program allows students to transfer up to 9 credits for bachelors or 22 credits for a masters.

What is the application fee? And what is the process for fee waivers?

The application fee is $65 for domestic students and $95 for international students. Fee waivers are requested by individual faculty members. Students seeking a fee waiver should reach out to faculty members of interest to request a waiver.

What are the GRE requirements for this program?

The GRE is optional, but highly recommended for students who may have weaknesses in other areas (e.g. GPA, prior research experience).

What are the English proficiency requirements for this program?

International applicants must demonstrate appropriate levels of English proficiency in order to be admissible to the program. English proficiency requirements can be found on the International Graduate Application Process website. They are currently pBT: 60 or iBT: 80 for the TOEFL and 6.5 for IELTS and IELTS Online.

Do I need an advisor before I apply?

Yes, admission and funding require students to identify a willing faculty advisor.

How do I find an advisor?

Students are encouraged to reach out to faculty in their research area of interest to discuss advising. Faculty research information is available in our directory.

How do I fund my degree?

Exceptional students may secure funding through their faculty advisor. More funding opportunities can be found through the Graduate College.

How do I make living arrangements or find housing?

Boise State Housing supports graduate students with a number of slots for on-campus housing.

What if I have more questions?

Please contact ecephd@boisestate.edu.