"Northeastern provides a wide variety of classes, experiences,
and choices that you feel like you won't have enough time to complete
everything you are interested in."
~ Stacey, Class of 2013, PhD ECE Biomedical Optics
Where do I go if I have questions about a program or course offered by the Graduate School of Engineering (GSE)?
You can begin your search by reading about your program or course of interest on the GSE "Degree Programs" page. If you have further questions, you can visit the specific department or program’s homepage, which will contain appropriate contact information such as a phone number or email address.
What are the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS score requirements of the Graduate School of Engineering in order to be competitive for admission?
Please note that every element of any applicant's background is considered in the admissions process, that there is no single factor that determines whether or not a candidate is admitted, and that there are no guarantees of admission for any applicant. With that said, the average score of admitted students on the quantitative portion of the GRE is around 730 (which is a 157 on the GRE revised scale). Most programs look for at least a 700 (which is a 155 on the GRE revised scale) on the quantitative portion of the GRE to be marginally competitive for admission (although some programs will consider a slightly lower score if applicant has relevant work experience). The verbal portion of the GRE is generally not considered to be an important factor of admission. The minimum acceptable score on the Internet-based TOEFL exam for admissions consideration is 79. The minimum acceptable score on the IELTS exam for admissions consideration is 6.5.
What are your GPA standards for admission?
The Graduate School of Engineering does not have a minimum GPA standard for admissions consideration. Please note that the quality/difficulty of a candidate's undergraduate program is considered relative to the candidate's GPA. Applicants may address any perceived academic deficiencies in their statement of purpose.
What are my chances of receiving a funding award?
Each year the amount of money available for student funding awards varies. During the most recent admissions cycle, about 10% of admitted students received some type of funding award. The funding award process is highly competitive for incoming students, and the reality is that most new students do not receive funding awards. However, many students pursue Cooperative Education (co-op) opportunities to help defray the costs of their education. Domestic students may consider applying for financial aid and international students may find help regarding financial aid here.
What is the cost to pursue graduate studies through the Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University?
Most GSE programs are composed of 30 or 32 semester hours of coursework (at the MS level), and tuition cost is based on per semester-hour. Complete information on current tuition rates is on the Registrar's web site. In addition, international students may reference to the Declaration of Certification of Finances (DCF) form to see an estimate of expenses. This estimate includes tuition, fees, room and board, medical insurance, and miscellaneous expenses.
Can I be considered for Graduate School of Engineering PhD level admission if I only hold an undergraduate or bachelors degree (or equivalent)?
Yes, you would follow the normal Admissions procedure.
What are the possible options for housing?
While there are a limited number of on-campus graduate housing opportunities, most students generally live off-campus. Most students share an apartment, usually within walking distance of the campus. The price varies naturally depending on which part of Boston you choose to live in but you can contact the on off-campus housing office for more information
What is the weather like in Boston?
Boston has a continental climate with very changeable weather patterns such as wide temperature swings in a matter of days and unseasonal snowfalls. Summers are usually sunny, hot and humid. Winters, by contrast, are often very cold, windy, wet and snowy. Boston averages 43in/108cm of snowfall annually, much of it deposited in northeasterly storms. Fall (autumn) is particularly lovely when New England's trees wear their famously colorful fall foliage.
How do I get around Boston?
Most full-time students live within walking distance of the campus, which is very compact and which is located in the city of Boston, close to Symphony Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. Two subway ("T") lines run through the campus which supports easy access to downtown Boston, Cambridge and other parts of the city.
Given the volume of applications that the Graduate School of Engineering receives, it can take anywhere from one week (during the off-peak season, generally from May through September) to a few weeks (during peak season, generally from October through April) for your application to be reviewed for completion. Regardless, if you have taken all of the necessary steps to complete your application, please be patient as we complete our administrative processes. Login to your electronic application a few weeks after you submit it to check your status. If after a few weeks your status is still blank (or there is no status posted), please send an email to grad-eng@coe.neu.edu to inquire. General information can also be found on the Admissions page.
The status on my electronic application reflects that my application is pending committee review. When will I receive my decision?
During any Fall admissions cycle, if applicants apply around November up until mid-January, they will generally receive their decision before April 1. If applicants apply from mid-January though mid-April, they will generally receive their decision by mid-May. For all other applicants, they can expect to receive their decision about one month after their application status reflects that their application is pending committee review. General information can also be found on the Admissions page.
I am an admitted international student and need to get an I-20 to attend. How do I do that?
Print out the Declaration of Certification of Finances (DCF) form, complete the DCF form, attach all required supplemental documents, and mail the packet to the address on the form (PDF copies generally cannot be accepted or used). You will receive a confirmation email within about one week after we have received the form; if there are any documents missing we will let you know. Once your DCF form is complete, the International Student and Scholar Institute (ISSI) processes the form. Please allow at least ten business days for ISSI to produce and mail the I-20; allow another 5-7 business days for the mailing service to deliver the I-20. In addition, please note that all international students must complete and submit the DCF form; this includes students who have assistantships or those who are sponsored by their government. International students who already have a student visa from another university must complete the 121 Transfer-In form as well. General DCF information can also be found here.
I was admitted to Northeastern University. Now what?
Please login to your electronic application, click the link to your decision letter, read your entire letter carefully, and take any appropriate action. Otherwise, please visit our New Student Information page for orientation and other information.
What courses should I take in my first semester?
It is generally recommended that students take core courses in the first semester as they are pre-requisites for many of the advanced courses. You should visit the New Student Information page for further details.
How do I register for classes?
Course registrations are generally done online using myNEU, an online services community for Northeastern students. For domestic students, once you have received a Northeastern ID, you may register for classes. However, new international students can register for courses only after receiving immigration clearance from the ISSI office. You should visit the New Student Information page for further details.
What is the policy for NU snow closings, cancellations, and delayed openings?
I need proof that I am enrolled at Northeastern. What do I do?
Students needing verification of enrollment on Northeastern University letterhead may obtain this in person at the Registrar’s Office at 120 Hayden Hall.
What do I do if I receive an error message when I click on the Apply to Graduate link on myNEU?
This is most likely because your expected graduation date is not listed for the current year you are applying in or you are applying after the deadline. Please contact the Graduate School of Engineering to update your Expected Graduation Date.
I have been appointed as a Stipended Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant. How do I get paid?
Step 1: If you are an international student and you do not have a Social Security Number, the Graduate School of Engineering will produce an “Engagement Form” for you. This form is provided to the International Student and Scholar Institute (ISSI) on campus so that they can process a Social Security Number for you. If you are a newly-admitted student, the “Engagement Form” will have been provided to the ISSI Office for your arrival check-in. Otherwise, please request the Engagement Form from the Graduate School of Engineering.
Step 3: All students: Your stipend will be paid directly into your bank account on the 15th and the 30th or 31st of each month during which you hold your assistantship. If your Direct Deposit has not yet been set up, you will collect your paper paycheck at the Human Resources office at 716 Columbus Avenue.
I have been appointed as a Stipended Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant. When can I expect to see my tuition credited to my student account?
While your tuition waiver will usually be credited to your student account within the first 5 weeks of the semester, it can sometimes take up to 8 weeks. If you are concerned about your tuition waiver, please contact the Student Financial Services office in 354 Richards Hall, 617-373-2270, studentaccounts@neu.edu. If you register for a course late (after the course add deadline), you will need to notify Student Financial Services of the late registration so that your account can be reviewed for a tuition waiver.
I can’t register for a course using the online registration system. What do I do?
Once you are registered as a student at Northeastern, you can access hourly on-campus job postings through Northeastern’s Student Employment web site. The Student Employment office manages all student employment on
campus. The Student Employment web service is available to help students and employers in the job posting and hiring process. Students must log into the Student Employment web service through the Self-Service tab on myNEU in order to apply for a job.
Are international students allowed to work off-campus while studying?
F-1 students can work off-campus in their area of study only as part of an approved graduate co-op. It is possible for students to go a co-op after one semester as long as their GPA is at least 3.200 and they meet the other program requirements. More information on the legalities regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students can be found here
Are industry internships available during the summer?
Industry internships at Northeastern University are part of the co-operative plan of education. Co-ops are usually 6 or 8 months in duration. This program does not as a rule support summer internships or co-ops of 4 months or less, as they are regarded as being too short for a true educational experience. Students are not restricted to the Boston area for co-op, and may go on co-ops elsewhere in the U.S.
What are the job prospects after graduation?
The Career Services office at Northeastern holds career fairs in both Fall and Spring semesters. Many companies also carry out on-campus recruitment. Students nearing graduation use HuskyCareerLink to learn about job opportunities.
Can I just take one or two TSM courses without having to apply for a degree?
Yes, you may apply as a Special or Non-Degree student. However, you still need to submit transcripts and recommendations. This option is only available to part-time students, and is not available to international applicants. The maximum number of courses that a Special student can take is three (3). To take any more courses, a student will need to apply to join a formal degree program.
What are the research opportunities on the TSM program?
The TSM program is a professional master's program, not a research program. Students who wish to do academic research should apply instead to a research master's degree program at Northeastern with, for example, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Is it possible to get fellowships or scholarships?
The only scholarship available to new students is the Dean's Scholarship. The TSM program offers a limited number of Dean's Scholarship to new students each semester. All new students who apply by the deadline are considered automatically for the Dean's Scholarship, therefore students do not need to apply for the Dean's Scholarship explicitly. To have a real chance of getting an award, a student must be ranked in the top one third of their program’s incoming class. Students selected for the Dean’s Scholarship will be notified separately by the Graduate School of Engineering. For full-time students with a Dean's Scholarship, the tuition is reduced by one-third for the duration of their program of study at Northeastern. For part-time students, the tuition is reduced by one-quarter. (Note: Dean's Scholarships are awarded only to new, incoming students, not to continuing students.) No fellowships are specifically available for this program. Most fellowship programs administered by the University are open only to United States citizens or permanent residents.
Does the TSM program provide RA/TA positions?
SGAs (Stipended Graduate Assistantships), in the form of either Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Research Assistantships (RAs), are not available to students on the Telecommunication Systems Management program nor to any master's students at Northeastern. Students may be employed as graders or lab assistants on courses at Northeastern, usually on a semester basis. In general, students need to have completed at least one semester of study before becoming eligible for such a position. To be qualified for a grader or lab assistant position in a TSM course, a student will need to have demonstrated prior knowledge of the course material and to have a high overall GPA. With these positions, students are expected to provide up to 10 hours of support during each week of the semester. There is no tuition remission associated with these positions.
What would be the job profile of a typical graduate of the TSM program?
Graduates of the TSM program have been very successful in finding positions in the telecom industry. Because the TSM program is truly interdisciplinary, the job profile depends on a student's area of specialization and prior work experience. However, most TSM graduates join the telecommunications workforce through technology positions. Although the TSM program is a relatively new program, our alumni have been active in letting us know of job opportunities for our current crop of TSM graduates.
How long has the TSM program been in existence and how many students are currently in the program?
The Telecommunication Systems Management program started in the fall of 2002 with just four students, and our first graduates entered the workforce in May 2004. We now have over 100 students active in the program.
What other activities are TSM students involved in?
In the past, many TSM students have taken advantage of free passes to attend the VON Conference which until recently was held in Boston each fall. VON is an industry conference that focuses on voice and video over IP, and telecom convergence in general. Many TSM students also participate in activities of the NU student branch of the IEEE and the Graduate Engineering Bridges (GEB) organization.
