Admission Requirements

Thank you for your interest in our Civil and Environmental Engineering graduate program at UC Irvine. The application for the Fall 2026 admission cycle will be available on Oct. 1, 2025. Applications must be completed, and all supporting material submitted by the application deadline. The priority deadline is Dec. 15, 2025, and the general application deadline is Jan. 15, 2026. 

The department receives a large volume of graduate applications each year and the selection process is extremely competitive. Minimum requirements are as follows:

GPA

• MS Applicants: A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 during undergraduate study
• PhD applicants: Typically, a graduate GPA of at least 3.6

GRE

We do not require GRE scores for Fall 2026, but you may submit GRE scores if available. To send an official GRE test score to UCI, please select institution code 4859.

 

English Proficiency Tests Accepted

International applicants must take either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams. Please select institution code 4859 to have your official score sent to UCI.

• More information

 The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Test scores that are more than two years old are not acceptable.

TOEFL Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:

• A minimum score of 80 is required on the TOEFL iBT for tests taken prior to January 21, 2026.
• A minimum score of 4 is required on the TOEFL iBT for tests taken on or after January 21, 2026.

IELTS 

English language proficiency may also be demonstrated by passing the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Test scores that are more than two years old are not acceptable.

IELTS Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:

• An overall minimum score of 7 for admission, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module.

Transcripts

Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts directly to the online application for all institutions attended since high school. If an applicant is admitted, official transcripts will be requested only from the institution(s) where a degree was earned. Official transcripts should be submitted directly to the UCI Graduate Division office in 120 Aldrich Hall.

Statement of Purpose

This is required of all applicants.

Personal History Statement

This is optional for all applicants.

Letters of Recommendation

PhD applicants must submit three letters of recommendation.

MS applicants must submit at least one letter of recommendation.

• More information

Fees & Tuition

• Office of the Registrar

Financial Verification Requirement for International Applicants

International students must certify that they have support of approximately $57,895 for the first year of academic study to obtain a student visa. More information pertaining to this requirement is forwarded to international applicants upon acceptance.

• International Center

Because research and teaching assistantships are limited, they often are not awarded to graduate students until they have been enrolled for at least one quarter and have demonstrated excellent technical ability. In addition, in order to be eligible to TA students must complete the Mandatory TA Training (offered each September) and pass an English Proficiency Exam once enrolled at UCI.

The faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are actively involved with many research projects. Most employ graduate student researchers, who work closely with faculty on various research topics. Some of these positions provide financial assistance in the form of payment of fees, tuition, or a salary. Assistance varies from project to project. Additionally, the Department employs a number of Teaching Assistants every quarter. Your application will be considered for scholarship/assistantship when you indicate accordingly on the application itself.

• Graduate Funding

Please note that admission to the university is separate from an offer of financial aid. In other words, you should not expect any financial assistance from the department unless you are officially notified in writing of such an award by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, or by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Such letters usually do not accompany the admission letter itself, but are sent a short time after the admission letter.

Fee Waivers

Please visit UCI Graduate Division's website for further information on fee waivers. Note: Fee Waivers are available to qualified domestic applicants only.

 

Application Resources

To apply visit: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/index.php

Frequently Asked Questions: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/faq/

Please direct any questions to the CEE Graduate Department at gina.cho@uci.edu