Electrical Engineering

Application

Complete the Electronic Graduate Application on the UCR Graduate Division web site.

Application Fee

The nonrefundable $75.00 application fee can be paid by international money order or check.

International students must pay the $75.00 application fee before their application will be processed.

If you pay by check, please make the check payable to the Regents of the University of California. If a check is written for you by someone else, be sure your name and other identifying information (applicant ID, date of birth, department to which you are applying, etc.) appear on the face of the check.

A check submitted from abroad must have on it the name and address of the U.S. bank through which international transactions are cleared. It also must be micro encoded at the bottom to conform to electronic Federal Reserve Processing. Cash, UNESCO coupons, international postal money orders, or Eurochecks cannot be accepted.

The $75.00 application fee is devoted to the administrative cost of processing all applications received, and is not refundable under any circumstances, regardless of the outcome, the date of filing, time of review, or if, for whatever the reason, the application is withdrawn.

Disclaimer, Signature and Fee Payment Form

All applicants must submit the Disclaimer, Signature and Fee Payment form to the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Official Transcripts

International applicants must submit two copies of official transcripts in their original language with English translations prepared by the issuing institution. Notarized documents are not acceptable. Official transcripts (with English translations) must be sent directly to the Department of Electrical Engineering from the issuing institution or you can mail the transcripts yourself provided they are sealed within the original envelope of the issuing institution.

Certificate of Degree

Two copies of the Certificate of Degree must also be submitted. The certificate must be issued in the original language and accompanied by an English translation prepared by the issuing institution. Notarized documents are not acceptable. Certification of Degree must be sent directly to the Department of Electrical Engineering from the issuing institution or you can mail the certificates yourself under the provision they are sealed within the original envelope of the issuing institution.

Applicant Statement of Purpose

Please state your specific interests on the Statement of Purpose form with respect to the research area of specialization to which you are interested within our program, special qualifications, awards, career objectives and research goals and experience are of particular interest. Send this form directly to the department.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required in support of all applications for admission. At least two of these letters should be requested from professors in your major subject. The letters must be on official letterhead from the institution from which you are obtaining the recommendation.

Enter the appropriate personal information at the top of each Letter of Recommedation form and present one to each person from whom you are seeking a recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the attention of the graduate advisor in the Electrical Engineering department office. You should supply your recommender with the correct address or an addressed envelope.

Applicants are not permitted to inspect letters of recommendation in their UCR files. If you are admitted to UCR and enroll, you may then have access to your letters of recommendation unless you previously waived the right of access on the form.

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

Each applicant is required to submit the GRE score to the Electrical Engineering graduate program at UCR. International applicants should refer to the section entitled Additional Information for Foreign Applicants for GRE requirements on the UCR Graduate Division Web site. Consult with the department academic program assistant for the current requirements.

GRE scores from the General Test must be submitted directly from Education Testing Service (ETS) to our university. Current scores are preferred. Computer-based testing (CBT) may be obtained by contacting ETS at the address below, and by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL, or by consulting the GRE website. Fellowship applicants should take the exam in time to meet the departmental deadline. Applicants should plan to take the GRE prior to December to ensure the timely receipt of their test scores for admission consideration. Keep in mind that it may take up to four weeks for test scores to reach us from ETS.

Applications for the GRE can be obtained from:

Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
USA

Be sure to list the GRE institution code for UCR: R4839 and the Electrical Engineering department code: 1203 on your application.

In order to maintain the high standards of our program, the department requires a GRE minimum score of 1100. Applicants applying for fellowship awards are expected to have a higher score.

Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The TOEFL test is required for all international applicants and permanent residents (non-U.S. residents) whose native language is not English. Applicants who received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited university where the primary language of instruction is English can request to have the TOEFL requirement waived by contacting the Graduate Advisor who will determine if the English proficiency of the applicant is sufficient to succeed in the graduate program.

The required minimum TOEFL score is 550 on the Paper-Based Test (PBT), 213 on the Computer-Based Test (CBT), and 80 on the new internet-Based Test (iBT).

TOEFL scores older than two years are not accepted. Scores expiring before the entry term of the applicant is not valid for admission purposes.

Official score must be submitted directly from ETS to UC Riverside.
UC Riverside code: 4839
Electrical Engineering department code: 66

Admitted applicants who are expected to be Teaching Assistants are required, upon arrival at UCR, to take the TOEFL Academic Speaking Test (TAST). The TAST evaluates English speaking proficiency at the intermediate to advanced levels. TAST is developed from the speaking section of the next generation TOEFL test. The TAST presents test takers with integrated speaking tasks that simulate real world academic situations.

Financial Verification Statement

International applicants must complete and return the International Student Confidential Financial Statement. U.S. immigration law requires that international applicants, if admitted, must show documented evidence of sufficient funds to cover all fees, transportation, and living expenses for the first year of their studies at UCR and that a sponsor is committed to their financial support beyond this date. Proof is required before a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS2019) for a visa can be issued.

Visa Procedures

Please note, visa regulations and procedures are subject to change with limited or no notice provided by the federal government.  The department attempts to provide the most accurate and current information available.  We recommend you consult with your local consulate office regarding the latest visa regulations and procedures. 

An I-20 form is issued to an admitted applicant who applies, and is qualified, for an F-1 (student) visa. The DS2019 form is issued to admitted applicants who apply, and are qualified for a J-1 visa. J-1 (exchange visitor) status is appropriate for students whose programs of study are substantially funded by the U.S. government, their home government, an international or nonprofit organization, or UCR.

Unless you have been officially notified in writing of an award from the department or the UCR Graduate Division, you should not expect any financial support from UCR. Teaching and research assistantships, fellowships and stipends, as well as tuition fellowships, are not guaranteed for the full academic year or for subsequent years of study, unless stated in writing.

A student on a student visa cannot accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year in the U.S. Spouses of F-1 visa holders (F-2) are not allowed to work under any circumstances.

Mail all documents to:

Graduate Advisor
Department of Electrical Engineering - 100
Suite 343 Engineering Building Unit 2
University of California
Riverside, CA 92521-0429
USA
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.ee.ucr.edu

Visa and Immigration Information

The UCR International Services Center provides assistance to UCR students and faculty who entered the Unites States with a visa (F-1, J-1, H-1B, etc.).

Contact information:

International Services Center
Room 1669 Statistics Computer Building
University of California
Riverside, CA  92521

USA 
Telephone: (951) 827-4113
Fax: (951) 827-3778