How to Apply: Doctoral (PhD) Programs
Students who have completed or are in the process of completing a four-year Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering, math or hard science may be eligible to apply for a Doctoral (PhD) program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
Explore the options below to learn more about:
Doctoral Program Application Deadline
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | December 15 |
| 11:59 PM (23:59), Pacific Time |
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. After this time, applicants will NOT be able to submit an application to a doctoral program.
The application must be submitted by the deadline even if recommendation letters and test scores have not yet been received. This is a separate module of the application so recommenders will still be able to add their letters, and applicants will be able to check the status of letters or even add/replace a recommender after the application has been submitted.
Doctoral Program Application Material Requirements
- Bachelor's degree of equivalent in engineering, math or hard science
- Official Academic Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Resume/ CV
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Demonstrated Research Ability & Experience
- GRE Required: Astronautical Engineering (ASTE), Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE)
- GRE Not Required: All Viterbi School PhD programs except ASTE and ISE
- English Proficiency scores (International Applicants only)*
Doctoral Program Application Steps
Step 1
Start the Application for Graduate Admission ($90 application fee)
Step 2
TRANSCRIPTS: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs. These instructions apply only to applicants to the master's and Ph.D. programs of the Viterbi School of Engineering
-
- Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
- Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
- If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
- For upload purposes, all transcript-related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
- If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
Step 3
Submit the following materials through the online application system:
- PERSONAL STATEMENT
- LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (3 required) from faculty members with direct knowledge of your research abilities. Recommenders included in the online application will be contacted by email. Your application may be submitted before letters of recommendation are received. The recommender module is separate.
- RESUME/CV
International Students should also submit the following:
-
- A report of your scores on the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Cambridge test sent electronically by the testing agency to USC. Please review USC's English Proficiency Criteria
- Applicants that have earned a previous degree at USC are exempt from the English Proficiency Requirement and do not need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores and watch the English Proficiency Requirement for International Students video
- Required official copies of materials from non-U.S. schools vary from country to country. Please see Admission Requirement by Country.
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