PhD in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering PhD candidates are leaders in research and education in academia and industry—they carry with them a strong network of peers built during their graduate studies. Students can enter the program directly after completing a bachelors degree, and earn a masters degree along the way or enter after completing a masters degree.
Degree Type
- Doctorate
RESEARCH
At Boston University, our Mechanical Engineering PhD candidates have the opportunity to study and research in a broad range of areas within the exciting field of mechanical engineering. We challenge our students to reach their potential as they create new knowledge and innovative solutions to pressing societal problems of today (and tomorrow). Our PhD students work closely with our faculty at the forefront of theoretical, computational, or experimental research in Robotics, Mechanics of Bio/Soft Materials, Sustainable Energies, and Space Technologies, among other inspiring areas of research.
EXPLORE OUR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH AREAS
COMMUNITY
We believe in the importance of strong community and create abundant opportunities for our students to collaborate and socialize with each other beyond the traditional boundaries of research areas and lab groups. Graduate socials, both formal and informal, a college-wide Student Association of Graduate Engineers, and an overarching culture of interdisciplinary research enrich the professional and extracurricular pursuits of our students. Beyond the BU campus, Boston provides a high-tech research community where external collaborations with industry, government and other universities are common. Moreover, the PhD experience also includes opportunities to present your work at conferences around the world, providing opportunities to network with peers around the globe.
VIEW OUR CALENDAR OF UPCOMING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING EVENTS
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
- All PhD students take a course covering basic teaching methods and philosophies and are required to satisfy a teaching practicum for a minimum of two semesters.
- Our post-master’s PhD candidates have no structured course requirements but they are required to complete 32 credits applicable to the degree at a 500 level or higher.
- Post-bachelor’s doctoral students are awarded MS degrees upon completion of the 32 credit hours of structured coursework and the PhD Prospectus Exam.
- PhD students must satisfy a residency requirement of at least two consecutive academic-year semesters of full-time graduate study at Boston University.
- Doctoral students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 to remain in good academic standing and to graduate. All graduate courses are counted in the GPA. Only grades of “B-” or better fulfill PhD curricular requirements.
EXTERNAL FELLOWSHIPS
The College of Engineering (ENG) is committed to five full years of financial support for graduate students in the ENG PhD program who maintain satisfactory academic progress. Entering PhD students are fully funded in their first year. During the first year, incoming PhD students must pursue research and funding discussions with the research faculty. At the end of the first academic year, PhD students must move to RA funding, while others continue on their external fellowship if applicable.
The Mechanical Engineering faculty are willing to work with students to develop the necessary research statements for these types of fellowships. Many of these are due in December or January. Thus they are more feasible for students who are already studying in our program.
Resources
Specific information for international students
View the PhD profile here
Please contact us if you have further questions. We would love to hear from you!