Graduate Application Overview
Thank you for your interest in the graduate program in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida! Please read the instructions below thoroughly before starting your application. Failure to follow the instructions will result in significant delays in receiving your admission decision and may negatively effect your application decision. Be sure to include your UFID in any communications with the ECE Department and the Office of Admissions.
Application Requirements
A successful application to the ECE graduate program includes the following for all students:
- Three letters of recommendation (preferably from individuals that can assess your ability to succeed in a graduate ECE program)
- Statement of Purpose:
- All applicants: At the end of your statement of purpose (on a separate page), answer the following two questions. Note there are strict word count limits. Responses that exceed the word count will be evaluated negatively. On a separate page at the end of your statement of purpose, copy the questions below and provide your response to each while adhering to the strict word limit
- Why are you interested in attending the University of Florida? [Response has a 20 word limit]
- Briefly describe the most challenging or impactful project/problem you have worked on. [Response has a 40 word limit]
- PhD applicants only: Please include the following in the first two sentences of your statement of purpose:
- Faculty advisor of interest (up to three faculty members)
- Area of interest (must be one of the areas below)
- Computer Engineering
- Electronics
- Electrophysics
- Signals and Systems
- All applicants: At the end of your statement of purpose (on a separate page), answer the following two questions. Note there are strict word count limits. Responses that exceed the word count will be evaluated negatively. On a separate page at the end of your statement of purpose, copy the questions below and provide your response to each while adhering to the strict word limit
- Resumé or CV
- For reviewing purposes, unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to the UF graduate application. After admission, official transcripts from all previous college-level study can be sent to the UF Office of Admissions in one of the following ways:
- By mail, sent directly from your previous institution to the UF Office of Admissions
- UF Office of Admissions, 201 Criser Hall, 1478 Union Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
- Electronically, via an official agency (e.g. National Student Clearinghouse)
- In person, bring sealed official documents with you to the Office of Admissions
- UF Office of Admissions, 201 Criser Hall, 1478 Union Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
- By mail, sent directly from your previous institution to the UF Office of Admissions
International applicants
For the review process, international applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates (in the native language and an official English translation) to the application. After admission, official transcripts and degree certificates (in the native language and an official English translation) from all previous college-level study will be required.
International applicants must also submit official English language test scores, unless exempt.
We recommend that you keep the tracking information for your application packet, and write your UFID number on any documents sent to the Office of Admissions.
Application Instructions
Please follow these directions for successfully submitting the required application and supporting documents. Failing to follow these instructions will cause significant delays in processing your application.
Step 1: Fill out a graduate application with the UF Office of Admissions
Notes on sections of the UF application follow:
- Program of Study: Select “Electrical and Computer Engineering” as your program of study. Do not select “Computer Engineering.” If you select “Computer Engineering”, your application will be referred to the Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering, and the ECE Department will not have access to your application materials.
- Applicants to the PhD program will automatically be considered for the MS if not admitted to the doctoral program. Do not fill out separate applications to the MS and PhD programs.
- You do not need to specify a “program specialization” or “department contact name”. These fields do not affect your application and can be left blank.
- Test Score Information
- Our program does not require GRE scores.
- English Language Test Scores
- TOEFL (iBT & Home Edition) – Code 5812, No Department Code
- TOEFL (PBT)
- IELTS Academic (Electronic Scores Only, Account Name: The University of Florida)
- Test scores must be official, sent directly from the testing agency to the UF Office of Admissions
- Duolingo test scores and IELTS Indicator are not accepted
- Information on the UF Graduate School’s English proficiency requirement can be found here.
- Additional Questions
- Statement of purpose: There is no word limit on the statement of purpose you submit with your ECE application. The application portal states that the limit is 400-500 words, but you will still be able to upload something longer or shorter. Please refer to the application requirements section above for our additional requirements for the statement of purpose.
- Special Programs Application: the fellowships listed in this section require separate applications. Selecting “Applied for funding” will not enter you into consideration for these funding programs. Please check the “Applied for funding” button only for funding programs to which you intend to submit a full application. For information on how to apply to the funding programs listed in this section, see the OGMP funding page and the NSF and NIH websites.
- You do not need to check the “Assistantship” and “Fellowship” boxes to be considered for ECE departmental funding. All eligible applicants are automatically considered for available funding. See our graduate funding page for information on funding opportunities in ECE.
- Letters of Recommendation
- Please be sure to include the email addresses for three recommenders. After the application is submitted, it will not allow you to go back and add more recommenders.
When you submit your application to the Office of Admissions, you will be issued an 8-digit UFID number. You will need your UFID number in order to return and check your application status.
Step 2: Send required materials to the Office of Admissions
Send only the materials listed below to the Office of Admissions. Do not send additional materials (e.g., merit certificates, publications, etc.) with your transcripts. Additional materials will not be attached to your application and will not be considered during application review. We will not send an admission decision until all required application materials have been received. Please send the following to the Office of Admissions:
- Please review the English Language Testing Exemptions to determine if you are required to submit an English language test score. If applicable, TOEFL score reports can be sent directly from ETS to institution code 5812. Electronic IELTS scores can be sent to UF using the IELTS Results Service E-Delivery. Test scores should be sent to our account name: The University of Florida. Please note that UF does not accept paper Test Report Forms or unofficial copies of IELTS Test Report Forms. Duolingo test scores are not accepted.
- For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents: For the review process, upload unofficial copies of your transcripts to the application. After admission, official transcripts from all colleges attended will be required.
- For International Applicants: For the review process, upload unofficial copies of the transcripts and diplomas/degree certificates (in the native language and an official English translation) to the application. Official transcripts and diplomas/degree certificates from all schools attended in the original language, accompanied by an official English translation will be required if you’re admitted.
Step 3: Check Your Application Status
Due to Federal and State privacy laws, we are unable to answer any questions concerning the status of your application over the phone. Do not call the ECE Student Services Office to inquire about your application status. Click “Check your application status” above to check the status of your application with the UF Office of Admissions. Questions regarding the status of your ECE application should be sent via email to office@ece.ufl.edu. Always include your UFID number in emails to the Student Services Office.