How to Apply to Engineering at MIT: One University-Wide Admission, No Required High School Courses, Choosing a Department at the End of First Year, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Undergraduate engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is offered by the School of Engineering, but MIT admits to the Institute as a whole: you do not apply to a specific engineering major. This guide follows MIT’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computer Science and Engineering (6-3) sits in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and has its own guide on this site, so it is not covered here.

1. Engineering degrees at MIT

• Eight departments (School of Engineering undergraduate page): Aeronautics and Astronautics (Course 16), Biological Engineering (20), Chemical Engineering (10), Civil and Environmental Engineering (1), Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (6), Materials Science and Engineering (3), Mechanical Engineering (2) and Nuclear Science and Engineering (22). The page describes “more than 20 undergraduate majors”.
• Degree: the undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Science (SB). The catalog lists engineering degrees including Aerospace Engineering (16), Biological Engineering (20), Chemical Engineering (10, 10-C), Chemical-Biological Engineering (10-B), Materials Science and Engineering (3, 3-A), Archaeology and Materials (3-C), Mechanical Engineering (2), Mechanical and Ocean Engineering (2-OE), Nuclear Science and Engineering (22), and, in EECS, Computer Science and Engineering (6-3), Electrical Engineering with Computing (6-5) and Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making (6-4), plus Climate System Science and Engineering (1-12).
• Flexible SB in Engineering: the catalog lists 1-ENG, 2-A, 10-ENG, 16-ENG and 22-ENG. The catalog text says the flexible degree is offered by Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, or Civil and Environmental Engineering, while the list also includes Nuclear Science and Engineering (22-ENG); the two are not fully consistent, so check the department pages. The degree lets students meet department-based core requirements and add a concentration. For Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1), the catalog lists the Engineering degree (1-ENG).
• ABET accreditation: the School of Engineering page, the catalog and the admissions pages we read do not state ABET accreditation. Check department pages or ABET’s website.
• Practice opportunities: the catalog describes the sophomore Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP, with internships and experiential workshops) and SuperUROP for juniors and seniors. It does not describe a required co-op program.

2. Admission and choosing a major

• No department on the application: the MIT application has an essay asking “What field of study appeals to you the most right now?”, chosen from a drop-down list, followed by 100–200 words on what led to the interest. The pages we read do not say whether the choice limits what students can major in later.
• First year is undeclared: the catalog says the first-year curriculum for all undergraduates includes physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and the humanities, arts and social sciences, and students usually choose a Course (major) at the end of the first year, with the end of the second year as the latest. The Registrar says most students declare in the spring term of the first year, by the spring Drop Date, after meeting their advisor; the declaration takes effect at the start of the summer term, with a new departmental advisor. The Office of the First Year adds that students may remain undesignated sophomores.
• Capacity: the catalog says MIT may limit enrollment in particular fields to balance resources with student interest. Whether a department has a grade threshold is not stated on the pages we read; ask the department’s undergraduate office.
• Changing majors: the catalog says selecting or changing a Course “can be made with relative ease in the second year”; the Registrar has a separate “Changing a major” page that we did not read.
• First-year grading: pass/no-record in the first term and the January Independent Activities Period; A, B, C or no-record in the second term.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• No required high school classes for domestic or international applicants, though students should show competence in the fields they will continue to study.
• Math: every MIT student, regardless of major, must take or receive credit for single-variable calculus (18.01) and multivariable calculus (18.02). MIT recommends math throughout high school and at least exposure to the foundations of calculus by graduation (the course may be called A Level Mathematics, Higher Level Mathematics and so on).
• Science: the General Institute Requirements include two semesters of calculus-based physics (mechanics, electricity and magnetism), one of chemistry and one of biology. MIT recommends at least introductory physics, chemistry and biology in high school but sets no specific science course requirement, and notes that IB students may be limited in how many sciences they can take.
• Humanities, arts and social sciences: MIT students take at least eight such classes and choose a concentration, plus a communication requirement. MIT recommends challenging high school courses in areas like English, history, economics, music or languages.
• AP, IB and other credit: MIT grants credit only for certain AP and other exams, and departments decide. Credit is awarded as the equivalent MIT subject or unrestricted elective, recorded with a grade of S and not counted in averages. The international exams page covers A-levels, Cambridge Pre-U, IB, the French Baccalauréat and Abitur. That page describes the policy for the Class of 2030 (entering fall 2026); policies for later classes are typically posted in mid-April or May of the entering year. Advanced Standing Exams are held in August or January/February. AP and IB scores are self-reported and verified at enrollment.

4. Deadlines, materials and fees

• Early Action (EA): due November 1, decisions mid-December. Regular Action (RA): due January 4, decisions mid-March (the deadline page shows no year; the essay prompts for the same application are labeled 2026–2027). Only one application per entry year, and applicants denied in EA cannot apply RA. Reply by May 1.
• Application fee: $75, with fee waivers.
• Materials: the MIT application; the Secondary School Report and transcripts (including any college courses, with three years of subject grades if available); two teacher recommendations (one math or science, one humanities, social science or language is suggested), with an optional counselor letter; SAT or ACT.
• Testing: the SAT or ACT is required; the ACT writing and science sections and the SAT essay are not required. There is no cutoff or recommended score. Take required tests before November 30 for EA and before December 31 for RA. Scores are self-reported and verified at enrollment; MIT considers the highest section scores across sittings.
• Essays (2026–2027 application): four short essays of roughly 100–200 words (including the field-of-study question), four short responses of 40–50 words, and one additional-information box. The activities section holds four entries. Students in U.S. school systems fill out a self-reported coursework form; international school students’ transcripts are used instead.
• Interview: applicants may be contacted by an Educational Counselor; if none is available, the interview is waived without penalty.
• Other: MIT says it does not consider legacy status and has no quotas by school, state or region.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Cost: The cost page lists one price with no in-state or out-of-state split. The 2026–2027 listed price before aid is $92,760: tuition $66,720, student life fee $420, housing $14,090, food $8,104, books and supplies $930 and personal expenses $2,496. A travel allowance based on home address is estimated separately. First-year students must live on campus.
• Aid: MIT treats domestic and international students alike. Admission is need-blind and MIT meets 100% of demonstrated need; aid is based entirely on need, not merit. From 2025–2026, students whose family income is under $200,000 (with typical assets) attend tuition-free, and families under $100,000 (typical assets) are not expected to contribute. The median annual price paid by MIT Scholarship recipients was $10,268 in 2024–2025 (admissions page) and $11,432 in 2025–2026 (Student Financial Services page).
• Applying for aid: U.S. citizens and permanent residents submit the CSS Profile, the FAFSA and parent tax documents by November 30 (EA) or February 15 (RA), with offers in mid-January or mid-March. The aid application is separate from the admissions application.
• In-state preference or guaranteed admission: none is described on the pages we read.

6. International applicants

• Who counts as international: anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, wherever they live or study. MIT says domestic or international status does not change when or how you apply, or the financial aid you are offered.
• Grades and credentials: a school counselor or equivalent official sends the transcript, which should include three years of grades and results of external exams required for entrance to universities in your home country (examples: IB, A-levels, French Baccalauréat, CBSE). Predicted grades are accepted, and final grades are due only after admission. MIT does not convert grades to the U.S. system and sets no country quotas.
• English tests: strongly recommended if you have used English for fewer than five years or do not speak English at home or in school. Accepted tests are TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, Duolingo and Cambridge C1/C2. Minimum/recommended: TOEFL (before January 21, 2026) 90/100; TOEFL (from January 21, 2026, 1–6 scale) 5/5.5; IELTS 7/7.5; PTE 65/70; Cambridge 185/190; Duolingo 120/125. The pages list no country-based exemptions. RA applicants can send English tests taken through January 31.
• Aid: the same need-blind, full-need policy applies. International students submit the CSS Profile and parent tax documents (with English translations where needed) and do not submit the FAFSA. Proof-of-funds requirements are not described on the pages we read; ask Student Financial Services.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international page does not mention the Gaokao, and we found no China-specific page. The transcript section asks for results of external exams required for university entrance in your home country, with IB, A-levels, French Baccalauréat and CBSE as examples; the Gaokao is not named. How Gaokao results should be submitted is not published; contact MIT Admissions.
• Transcripts: sent by a school counselor or equivalent official through the MIT Secondary School Report form; services such as Naviance, Parchment and Cialfo, or PDF email, are also accepted. The pages do not say whether Chinese-language transcripts need translation or notarisation.
• Testing and English: the SAT or ACT is required; English test guidance is in the previous section.
• International curricula: A-level and IB results and predicted grades can be submitted; see Section 3 for credit.

8. Transfer students

• Eligibility: finished high school and will have completed at least two terms of full-time study with high academic standing before entering; students with more than five terms may not be eligible because of residency requirements; MIT does not award second bachelor’s degrees. First-year college students can apply no earlier than their second term.
• Deadlines: fall entry March 1, 2027; spring entry (February) October 15, 2026, open only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, so international students apply for fall (the catalog allows exceptions in extraordinary circumstances). Application fee $75; the aid deadline is February 15.
• Materials: the transfer application; all high school and college transcripts; two letters from college instructors (one in math or science); a School Official Report; SAT or ACT (take by October 31 for spring or March 31 for fall).
• Recommended courses: single-variable calculus, multivariable calculus, calculus-based physics, introductory biology and introductory chemistry; students with AP or IB credit should enroll at the appropriate level.
• GPA and credit: there is no minimum GPA, but competitive applicants generally have 3.5 or above and mostly A’s in math and science. Credit is evaluated by departments after admission, and MIT cannot assess it in advance. Transfer students typically lose at least one semester and most enter as sophomores. The catalog says there is typically space for only 20–30 transfer students a year. Students can use an Advanced Standing Examination to demonstrate credit.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Submit by November 1 (EA) or January 4 (RA) with transcripts and two teacher letters; take the SAT or ACT before November 30 (EA) or December 31 (RA)
• Take as much math (with calculus foundations), physics, chemistry, biology and challenging humanities as your school offers; no major is chosen on the application
• For aid, submit the CSS Profile, FAFSA and parent tax documents by November 30 (EA) or February 15 (RA)

International applicants (including China):

• Same timeline as domestic applicants; the SAT or ACT is required, and English scores at or above the recommended levels help
• Include external exam results required for university entrance at home; ask Admissions how the Gaokao should be submitted
• Apply for aid the same way: CSS Profile plus parent tax documents

Transfer students:

• Complete two terms and the calculus, physics, chemistry and biology sequence; apply for fall by March 1, because international students cannot apply for spring

Sources: MIT, School of Engineering undergraduate; Catalog: School of Engineering; Catalog: major course of study; Catalog: first year; Catalog: admissions; Registrar: declaring a major; Office of the First Year: major exploration; Deadlines and requirements; Tests and scores; International applicants; Academic foundations; Essays, activities and academics; Transcripts; First-year eligibility; AP and transfer credit; Transfer eligibility; Transfer deadlines; Transfer academic preparation; Cost overview; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Making MIT affordable; How to apply for aid. The first-year deadline page shows no year, while the essay prompts on the same application are labeled 2026–2027. The credit page describes policies for fall 2026 entry; check MIT for fall 2027.