Graduate applications


Graduate admissions process requirements vary between programs, refer to each specific program for requirements or contact the SSEBE Advising Office for additional information.

Application deadlines


PhD: January 1 for fall semester admissions and July 1 for spring semester admissions.

Master’s degrees: March 1 for fall semester admissions and October 1 for spring semester admissions.

It is particularly important for PhD applicants to get all materials to the Graduate Admissions Office by the priority deadlines.

Note: We do not preview applications. Students must apply to the university before their admission credentials will be evaluated. The admission decision will display in the applicant’s My ASU web-page.

Application process

Applications are made through ASU’s Graduate Admissions Office and not directly to the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.

  1. Fill out the online application at https://admission.asu.edu/graduate/apply
  2. Pay the application fee. No application will be reviewed unless the application fee is paid. ASU does not waive application fees.
  3. Send all official transcripts and documents to one of the following addresses, based on your mail service:

Regular Mail
Admission Services Applicant Processing 
Arizona State University
PO Box 871004
Tempe AZ 85287-1004

FedEx, DHL (any sender who will not send to a P.O. Box)
Arizona State University
Admission Services Applicant Processing
1150 East University Drive Building C, Room 226
Tempe, AZ 85281 

Application review and status

Applications are reviewed starting on the priority deadline date for each program.  Decisions are generally made within the 3-5 weeks following these dates.

My ASU:

After your application has been submitted online, you will receive an email acknowledgement that includes your ASURITE user ID and activation code. After you activate your ASURITE account, you may monitor the progress of your application at www.asu.edu/myasu

Missing items in My ASU checklist

When you check your status, you may notice that we are missing an item that you sent in.  Keep in mind that it takes about 2-3 weeks after the Graduate Admissions Office receives your document to scan it in and for it to show up in the system.

Admission decisions

The department CANNOT release admission status until the final admission decision has been approved by the Graduate Admissions Office. Admission status will also not be given over the phone at any time because of FERPA regulations. 

If you have been admitted, your official admission letter will be available on My ASU.

The official admission decision is communicated to you via a letter from the Dean of the Graduate College. There are three admission categories: regular admission, provisional admission and regular admission with deficiencies. You are strongly urged to contact the graduate academic advisor if you do not understand the requirements that you meet when admitted provisionally or with deficiency courses to take.

All admission decisions are final and will not be reconsidered for applied application term. Applicants can reapply to future terms if denied.

Documents and transcripts

International students, please go to: https://students.asu.edu/international/newgradstudents to see what documentation is required. Note that the TOEFL requirements are as follows:

GPA and other requirements

MS/MSE. applicants: A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the junior/senior years of their undergraduate degree program.

PhD applicants:  If you have earned a master’s degree, a cumulative GPA of 3.2 in graduate level coursework is required. Exceptional undergraduate students may apply and be admitted directly to the doctoral program. Note that faculty sponsorship is necessary for admission. All prospective applicants should get in touch with one or more faculty working in their area of specialization, express their desire to work with them and get at least one faculty member’s agreement that he/she would be their doctoral studies advisor.

Official GRE scores

The GRE is no longer a requirement for any of SSEBE’s MS or MSE programs.

GRE scores are required for all SSEBE PhD programs. 

Have ETS send your official scores to institution code 4007.  For more information about registering to take the GRE, go to www.ets.org. If you are interested in taking the GRE at ASU, contact ASU’s University Testing Services at http://www.asu.edu/uts/. Prospective students should note that the following two requirements need to be met for consideration for admission: (a) minimum score in the Quantitative section is 700 (GRE General Test) or 155 (GRE revised General Test), and (b) the accepted minimum of combined Quantitative and Verbal scores is 1100 (GRE General Test) or 301 (GRE revised General Test). Higher scores than those listed above will be needed for those seeking any form of financial assistance.

Letters of recommendation

  • PhD applicants are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation.  The online application will prompt you for the email addresses of your recommenders and will send an electronic recommendation form directly to your recommenders.
  • MS applicants for Civil Engineering are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation.  Construction Management applicants are not required to submit letters of recommendation. The online application will prompt you for the email addresses of your recommenders and will then send an electronic recommendation form directly to your recommenders.
  • MSE applicants for Construction Engineering are required to submit 2 letters of recommendation. Sustainable Engineering applicants are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation. The online application will prompt you for the email addresses of your recommenders and will then send an electronic recommendation form directly to your recommenders.

Resume/CV

  • PhD applicants are required to submit a resume or CV.
  • MS/MSE applicants applying to Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Construction Engineering and Construction Management are encouraged but not required to submit a resume or CV. Applicants applying to the MSE in Sustainable Engineering are required to submit a resume or CV.

Personal statement

  • PhD applicants are required to submit a personal statement.
  • MS/MSE applicants are required to submit a personal statement.
Visa/i20 information

The Graduate Admissions Office strictly enforces the following deadlines for issuing I-20’s.  Therefore, it is imperative that international students submit their completed application and all other required materials at an early date.

  • For more information about the I20 process and deadlines, please go to: students.asu.edu/international/immigration
  • You are not required to submit a financial guarantee form unless you are admitted and plan to attend ASU.  RA/TA offers can be included in the financial guarantee form. 
Financial aid

Domestic Students may fill out a FAFSA and apply for need-based aid through ASU’s Financial Aid office: students.asu.edu/financialaid

Teaching and research assistantships

Full-time graduate students (both domestic and international) are eligible to be awarded teaching or research assistantships.  Your application for admission will be reviewed by faculty, and RA/TA positions will be awarded to the most competitive applicants.  No separate RA/TA application is required.  Priority for RA/TA positions is given to PhD students.

Merit-based fellowships

Applicants are encouraged to review Graduate Student Support and fill out the online application to be reviewed for our fellowship awards.  Faculty members review these applications for competitive awards such as the Engineering Dean’s Fellowship and Science Foundation Arizona fellowships.