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Details and helpful tips
The University of Michigan is open to prospective students from all walks of life — whether you’re coming straight from high school, transferring from another college, another part of U-M, or even from another country. This page is designed to help you join Michigan Engineering. We know the process can feel complicated, but you’ve got this. Please ask for help at any point along the way.
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Tip: Get your application in before the deadline!
Applying early gives us time to respond to your questions and puts you in a great position for scholarships. Please visit the undergraduate admissions site for the most up-to-date information about U-M’s application changes.
- Nov. 1: Early action deadline (first-year students only)
- Feb. 1: Fall term application deadline
First-year students
If you haven’t attended any institute of higher learning post-high school, you should apply for first-year admission.
First-year requirements
Our admissions criteria are based on the strength of your academic preparation to pursue an engineering degree. The requirements also help assure each student who is accepted has the interest and motivation to be successful.
The application review focuses on:
- The strength of your college preparatory background, including the degree of difficulty of courses selected (with special emphasis on mathematics and science)
- The record of academic achievement
- Special or unique accomplishments
- ACT or SAT scores, if available
- TOEFL, MET or IELTS results (for international students)
Each application receives a holistic, individualized review. No special class rank, grade point average, test score or other qualification by itself will assure admission. We look beyond grades and test scores to recruit the most dynamic group of students possible.
Application review process
Paperwork and deadlines
Applying to U-M requires the following items:
- Completed Common Application including U-M specific questions
- High school transcript
- School Report
- Letter of Recommendation
- SAT or ACT score, if available and you wish them to be considered
- Additional items may be needed for international or home-schooled students
Dates and deadlines
- Oct. 1: FAFSA and CSS Profile open
- Nov. 1: Early Action deadline
- Dec. 15: Suggested filing date for FAFSA and CSS Profile
- Feb 1: Final application deadline for Fall term
- Mar 31: Deadline for filing FAFSA and CSS Profile
Transfer students
We welcome transfer applicants from community colleges, two and four year colleges and universities. If you’ve attended a college or university after graduating from high school, you are considered a transfer student.
Transfer requirements
Competitive applicants for transfer admission will have completed prerequisite courses at their current school. You must have at least a 3.0 GPA to be considered for admission. Non-native speakers of English must provide proof of English proficiency.
Students wishing to transfer need to complete a series of prerequisite courses before applying to transfer. A letter grade of a “C” or better is required. Pass/Fail grades are only accepted if taken in specific semesters outlined by our Pass/Fail Grading Policy (see below).
Departmental credit is not accepted for transfer admission. Using the Transfer Credit Equivalency Database, please ensure that your prerequisite coursework is directly equivalent to the U-M course, and not Departmental credit. For questions, contact [email protected].
Any AP/IB exam credit must meet the U-M guidelines, regardless of whether your current institution granted you exam credit. Prerequisite coursework cannot be filled by placement exams administered at other institutions.
Pass/Fail Grading Policy
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pass/Fail grades are accepted for transfer coursework taken from the Winter 2020 term through the Summer 2021 term.
- P/F grades are not accepted for coursework taken in Fall 2019 or earlier.
- P/F grades are not accepted for coursework taken in Fall 2021 or later.
Math
- Calculus I – Math 115
- Calculus II – Math 116
- If AP credit was awarded for Calculus I or Calculus I & II, completion of one additional math course is required to fully satisfy the Calculus prerequisite requirement. Suggested additional coursework includes: Calculus III, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra
To request an evaluation of a Math course for transfer credit equivalency, use the LSA Course Equivalency System for Mathematics. Please check the Transfer Credit Equivalency Database before submitting a request as the course may have been evaluated already.
Calculus-based Physics
- Physics I- Physics 140 and Physics 141 Lab
General College Chemistry
- Chemistry 130 and Chemistry 125 & 126 Labs
OR
- Chemistry 210 and Chemistry 211 Lab
Computing
- Engineering 101, C++ preferred, or EECS 183
English Composition
- English 125
Transfer credit
Transfer Credit Equivalencies
You can use our course equivalency database to determine the transfer credit you will receive from courses taken at your current school.
- Courses not included in the course equivalency database will be evaluated during the review of your application.
- We are only able to pre-approve courses listed on the database.
- The Transfer Credit Approval Form is only for current, enrolled U-M students who want to take a course at another institution.
- Credit for AP, IB, A-level exams will be awarded for transfer students on the same basis as incoming first-year students.
Guidelines
The Course Guide and Bulletin outlines what you need to know about transferring to Michigan Engineering as an undergraduate, but here are a few key points:
- To transfer, a letter grade of “C” or better is required in each course. For information about Pass/Fail grades, please see our Pass/Fail Grading Policy under Transfer Requirements
- Transfer credit is processed and awarded within 4-6 weeks after we receive your enrollment deposit.
- You must be able to complete at least 50 credit hours of coursework on the U-M Ann Arbor campus, and a minimum of 30 credit hours of advanced (300-level or higher) technical courses as required by your degree program.
- Transfer credit is not awarded for placement exams administered at other institutions.
- You’ll get your transfer credit summary by email. It will show which courses will transfer and which will need evaluation.
Transferring to Computer Science
Students interested in transferring from a 2-year or 4-year institution to U-M to study computer science must choose one of two colleges: Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), or Engineering (CoE). More CS-specific transfer information.
Dual enrollment
Incoming first-year students who took one or more courses at a college or university while in high school may potentially receive transfer credit. If you’re seeking to transfer credits, please submit an official transcript from your accredited college/university. An official transcript should be mailed to:
Undergraduate Recruitment
153 Chrysler Center
2121 Bonisteel Boulevard
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2092
If the institution can send it officially electronically, it can be sent to [email protected].
Please allow 4-6 weeks for your transfer credit to be processed once U-M has received your transcript. For more information regarding engineering transfer credit policies, please see our Transfer Credit Approval Form (TCAF) Guidelines webpage.
Paperwork and deadlines
- Completed Common Application including U-M specific questions
- Final high school transcript with graduation date, or GED
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, including any dual enrollment or summer coursework
- List of all current coursework, and future coursework planned to be taken before enrollment at U-M
- If English is not your first language, an English proficiency exam score is required (TOEFL, IELTS, MET).
- Optional items:
- ACT or SAT exam score
- Letter of recommendation
- Resume
Dates and deadlines
- Oct 1: Application deadline for Winter admission
- Feb 1: Application deadline for Fall admission
Already a U-M student?
Dual degree: If you’re currently enrolled in another school/college on the Ann Arbor Campus and wish to pursue an additional bachelor’s degree in the College of Engineering, you’re considered a dual degree student.
Cross campus: If you’re already a University of Michigan student in another school or college and want to transfer into Michigan Engineering, you’re a cross campus student.
Note: A Cross-Campus applicant that completes the required courses and is above a 2.5 is not guaranteed admission into the College of Engineering. Incoming students must remain in their home unit for a year before applying to transfer into the College of Engineering.
Combined cross campus: If you previously transferred from another institution into the University of Michigan, and would now like to transfer into the College of Engineering, you are a combined cross campus student. You’ll need to meet the external transfer requirements.
U-M Flint: If you’re transferring to U-M Ann Arbor from U-M Flint, you are a transfer student, but be sure to take note of our academic partnership with your school.
Beginning in Winter 2024, any student who is admitted to the University of Michigan in Fall 2023 or later with an interest in computer science (CS) will additionally need to be selected for the major in order to declare CS.
Dual degree requirements
Eligibility
Students who began their college career on the Ann Arbor campus will need to have at least a 2.5 GPA to be eligible for the dual degree program and completed the transfer course requirements. If a student started their college career at another school but is now a current student on the Ann Arbor campus, they will need to have at least a 3.0 GPA and completed the transfer course requirements.
Please reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment via [email protected] and request a Multiple Dependent Degree Program (MDDP) form. We strongly suggest that applicants meet with an academic advisor in the Engineering department that they wish to major in to make sure that this is the right academic path and fit.
Cross campus requirements
Cross-campus transfer students have completed college coursework on the Ann Arbor campus only and have not exceeded 55 credit hours, excluding AP/IB credit and the prerequisite courses. If you are over 55 credit hours, you will need to apply for an exception to college rules.
Requirements
If you first attended another college or university after high school, transferred to U-M Ann Arbor and now wish to transfer to Michigan Engineering you may be considered a combined cross-campus applicant. Combined cross-campus applicants must meet the admission requirements of external transfer students. If you have questions about whether you may be considered a combined cross-campus applicant, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment.
Prerequisites
To be competitive for admission, cross-campus transfer students must complete the following prerequisite courses. You must have at least a 2.5 GPA to be considered for admission. Applicants must have the prerequisites completed before applying.
We require a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses. Pass/Fail grades are accepted for transfer coursework taken from the Winter 2020 term through the Summer 2021 term. P/F grades are not accepted for Fall 2021 or future terms.
At least one math course must be completed on the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor campus.
- Calculus: MATH 115 and MATH 116
- Physics: PHY 140 and PHY 141
- Chemistry: CHEM 130/125L/126L or CHEM 210/211L
- Computing: ENGR 101 or EECS 183
- English: Any course satisfying the First Year Writing Requirement (FYWR) for LSA is an acceptable substitution for ENGR 100 for transfer students. A list of available courses that meet the FYWR is available through the LSA Course Guide website LSA Course Guide. Below are some examples:
- CLCIV 101 or 121
- COMPLIT 122
- ENGLISH 124 or 125
- GTBOOKS 191
- HISTORY 195
- LHSP 125
- RCCORE 100
- SLAVIC 151
- HONORS 241.001
- HONORS 241.020
- HONORS 240.001
About advanced credit and prerequisites
If AP credit was awarded for Calculus I or Calculus I & II, completion of one additional math course is required to fully satisfy the calculus prerequisite requirement. Courses are: MATH 215, MATH 214 (for prospective IOE or CS majors), or MATH 216.
AP or IB credit may satisfy prerequisite requirements for calculus, physics and chemistry, depending on the exam and the score achieved. AP/IB Guidelines to see credit awarded for each exam.
Paperwork and deadlines
Cross campus paperwork
- Cross Campus Transfer application
- Essay (included in application)
- Optional resume
Cross campus dates and deadlines
- Oct 1: Application deadline for Winter admission
- Feb 1: Application deadline for Fall admission
Dual Degree deadlines
Please submit your application at least 4 weeks prior to the term you want to be admitted into.
After the application has been submitted to the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, it will be reviewed by one of the staff members. If an applicant is eligible, the form will be returned with one of the staff member’s signatures. Afterwards, the student will submit the signed form to the College of Engineering’s Registrar’s Office via [email protected].
International students
We welcome international applicants. You’re an international applicant if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Not a U.S. Citizen or permanent U.S. Resident
- Do not speak English as a native language
- Attended school outside of the U.S.
The University’s Undergraduate Admissions site can help you prepare your application, including details like:
- Academic requirements
- English proficiency requirements
- Essay guidance
- Deadlines
- Visa requirements