In general, the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering accepts PhD applications from applicants not currently enrolled at CU Boulder for the fall term only. To receive full consideration, students should submit all application items by the following deadlines:

  • International applicant deadline: December 1 by 10:00 p.m. MST
  • Domestic applicant deadline: December 15 by 10:00 p.m. MST

However, in limited cases, external PhD applications may be accepted and reviewed for the spring or summer semesters. Typically, these applicants are transfer students who have already identified a CU PhD advisor. In such instances, please email the graduate program team at megrad@colorado.edu prior to applying. Applicants in this scenario should plan submit all required application documents as soon as possible and no later than three months prior to the anticipated semester of beginning their studies at CU Boulder.