Graduate Student Services
As a graduate student in the VCU College of Engineering, you will become part of the new frontier in engineering through the discovery and acquisition of new knowledge. As a student in our graduate programs, you will be challenged to new levels of independence, initiative, resourcefulness and collaboration. The VCU College of Engineering has state-of-the-art facilities and faculty members with international reputations. These assets translate into amazing research opportunities for emerging scholars and superior preparation for the next generation of research, industry and higher education leaders.
Before admission to candidacy for the doctorate, students must have:
- Completed required coursework
- Successfully completed the comprehensive examinations
- Fulfilled all additional departmental requirements
After reaching candidacy, doctoral students become eligible to enroll in the ENGR 701 (9 credits) section under their advisor during Fall and Spring semesters.
Advising
In order to complete the requirements for M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the College of Engineering, students must design and implement an original research project. The progress of this project is guided by a faculty adviser and monitored by an advisory committee.
Students receive guidance and counsel on their research project from the graduate program director before the permanent adviser is appointed. The permanent adviser holds primary responsibility for directing the development of the student in the program and providing the appropriate guidance and counsel.
An advisory committee is appointed shortly after the permanent adviser is chosen. The advisory committee serves as both an examining and consultative body. Committee members hold a special responsibility as a source of counsel for the student. For details, students should contact either the graduate program director or the program chair.
Frequently Asked Questions
New students
- To attend VCU, accept your offer of admission in the online application portal and provide any pending documentation that may be listed. Then, review the following applicable resources:
- Graduate Student Checklist
- International Student Checklist
- After accepting the offer of admission, contact the Global Education Office (GEO) at GEOIS@vcu.edu to obtain a Form I-20 in order to study on a visa.
- Find Housing:
- On-campus housing
- Off-campus housing
- International student housing guidance
- Attend a virtual Graduate Admissions Event for new engineering students.
- Add new student orientation sessions to your calendar:
- Graduate School orientation
- Global Education Office orientation (international students)
- College of Engineering orientation with same-day departmental orientation
- Review the Academic Calendar for important dates.
- Plan to register for classes by reviewing the schedule of classes and registration dates.
- Enroll or opt-out of the student health insurance plan (when eligible).
- Review the university billing schedule. Billing statements include tuition, fees, and health insurance premiums, and are issued by email after registering for classes every semester.
- Learn about life on campus.
The Office of Admissions requires final documentation, such as official copies of transcripts, degree diplomas, and/or test scores. If you need to provide final versions of materials like these, it will be noted in the online application portal. Any pending documentation must be submitted in order to finalize your admission.
Students should provide all pending documentation as soon as possible before the start of their first semester to avoid registration holds being placed on their account. When all final documentation is received, the pending documentation requirement will be cleared and the admission will be fully finalized.
Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions.
Students who are admitted with provisions to complete should consult their graduate program director for details. When all required provisions are complete, the graduate program director will be able to confirm this and notify the Office of Graduate Studies.
Bridge Program: Students admitted with a provision to complete a degree’s “Bridge Program” must complete all required courses in consultation with the graduate program director. Upon completing all required Bridge Program coursework–typically with earning a B grade or higher in each course–the student can begin taking standard degree coursework. It is important to note that Bridge Program courses are taken prior to and in addition to the standard number of courses or credits required by a degree.
Contact your designated graduate program director with academic or degree-related questions. Doctoral students may have an additional faculty advisor who is specific to their research.
- Biomedical engineering: Dean Krusienski, Ph.D.
- Computer science and Data science: csgrad@vcu.edu
- Engineering, with a concentration in:
- Aerospace engineering: Karla Mossi, Ph.D., mnegrad@vcu.edu
- Chemical and life science engineering: Nastassja Lewinski, Ph.D.
- Electrical and computer engineering: Afroditi V. Filippas, Ph.D., ecegradinfo@vcu.edu
- Engineering management: Karla Mossi, Ph.D., mnegrad@vcu.edu
- Environmental and sustainable engineering: Nastassja Lewinski, Ph.D.
- Rehabilitation engineering: Dean Krusienski, Ph.D.
- Systems engineering: Afroditi V. Filippas, Ph.D., ecegradinfo@vcu.edu
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: Dean Krusienski, Ph.D.
- Mechanical and nuclear engineering: Karla Mossi, Ph.D., mnegrad@vcu.edu
- Pharmaceutical engineering: Thomas Roper, Ph.D., tdroper@vcu.edu
Newly admitted students can sign up for classes as soon as registration opens for their term of entry. There is an opportunity to register during the College of Engineering’s graduate student orientation session, however, earlier registration is recommended.
To get started:
- Reference the course registration guide.
- Add important registration deadlines to your calendar.
- View course offerings on the schedule of classes.
- Register for classes using eServices when registration is open.
- As needed, request a course override and seek help from your advisor.
- After registration, monitor your student email for the semesterly billing statement.
- Avoid potential registration holds by providing any pending documentation listed in the online application portal.
After registering for classes, tuition and fees are billed centrally by the university–not by the College of Engineering–at the start of every semester. See the billing schedule to review payment deadlines. If you have specific billing questions, contact Student Financial Services at (804) 828-2228 or stuacctg@vcu.edu.
Tuition and fees vary based on a student’s residency status with the state of Virginia. VCU determines this status (i.e., in-state or out-of-state) at the time of admission. Applicants determined to be Virginia in-state residents earn in-state tuition rates. Out-of-state and international students entering an eligible engineering master’s program automatically receive a distinct and highly competitive tuition structure by way of the Graduate Education Innovation Program. Estimate your tuition and fees with the VCU cost calculator.
Doctoral students: If you are supported on a graduate assistantship and have questions about tuition and fees, email the Office of Graduate Studies at gradengr@vcu.edu. It is important to know that, regardless of funding source, all students receive standard billing statement emails from the university.
Additionally, be aware that VCU student health insurance plan premiums are not covered by assistantships with the College of Engineering. All students enrolled in the VCU student health insurance plan must pay their plan premium fees as billed in eServices, or opt-out every fall and spring semester.
The VCU student health insurance program is available to full-time Ph.D. students and international students (those on F- and J-visas). A hard waiver will apply for these student populations, meaning that they will be required to enroll in the program if they are unable to provide proof of other insurance to opt-out. This program is managed centrally by the university and not by the College of Engineering.
Each fall and spring semester, all eligible students must either enroll and pay the insurance premium fee or opt-out by providing proof of other coverage. When no action is taken to waive coverage, students are automatically enrolled and responsible for plan premium fees that appear on their account. Approved insurance waivers from opting out do not roll over from one semester to the next.
Doctoral students: If you are supported on a graduate assistantship and are enrolled in the VCU student health insurance plan, be aware that plan premiums are not covered by assistantships with the College of Engineering. Plan premium fees are paid out-of-pocket by students and are listed as a “Health Insurance Premium” expense in eServices.
Step-by-step tutorials:
Questions? Contact the eligibility coordinators at gradhealthins@vcu.edu (full-time Ph.D. students) or intlhealthins@vcu.edu (international M.S. students).
Applicants admitted into a master’s program (M.S.) may request to defer admission by emailing the Office of Graduate Studies (gradengr@vcu.edu). New Ph.D. admits must consult with their advisor and/or graduate program director to request approval to defer their admission.
Requests to defer are considered for up to one year from the original term of entry, and there is no added fee to defer admission. If approved, the applicant will be assigned a defer request form to complete in the online application portal. Once this form is completed, the applicant will receive an updated offer of admission to accept for the new term. Deferral requests are only considered for fall or spring semesters.
Continuing students
Register with eServices as soon as registration opens. This helps ensure entry into your desired courses and provides timely calculation of the semesterly billing statement.
Register now:
- Reference the course registration guide.
- Add important registration deadlines to your calendar.
- View course offerings on the schedule of classes.
- Register for classes using eServices when registration is open.
- As needed, request a course override and seek help from your advisor.
- After registration, monitor your student email for the semesterly billing statement.
Registration Holds: Students with past unpaid billing statements or health insurance premiums may have a registration hold placed on their account by the university. If you are entering your second semester and have an admission-related hold, visit your online application portal to check for any pending documentation you need to provide, and contact the Office of Admissions with questions.
Doctoral students: Students supported with graduate assistantship funding are required to be registered for a full-time course load before any funding can process. All graduate assistantships require full-time enrollment in graduate-level coursework throughout each semester: Fall, Spring (9–15 credits required) and Summer (3 credits required). Under-enrollment or failure to enroll in any given semester during an award period results in immediate withholding of funding and automatic cancellation of stipend payments. Students should reference their signed award letter for more information and contact the Office of Graduate Studies gradengr@vcu.edu with questions.
Submit an override request form. Allow a minimum of 1–3 business days for processing after a request is submitted. Each request requires instructor approval. Contact your advisor with questions.
Please note, you may need to log into your VCU account before being able to submit a form.
Billing statements are issued centrally by the university at the start of every semester after a student has registered for classes. Billing statements include tuition, fees, and applicable health insurance premiums. The Student Financial Services team can be contacted at (804) 828-2228 or stuacctg@vcu.edu with billing questions. Visit the health insurance website for premium cost information.
Doctoral students: If you are supported on a graduate assistantship and have a question about tuition and fees, email the Office of Graduate Studies at gradengr@vcu.edu prior to contacting Student Financial Services or the Graduate School. It is important to know that, regardless of funding source, all students receive standard billing statement emails from the university. Additionally, assistantships within the College of Engineering do not cover VCU student health insurance fall and spring premiums.
The VCU student health insurance program is available to full-time Ph.D. students and international students (those on F- and J-visas). A hard waiver will apply for these student populations, meaning that they will be required to enroll in the program if they are unable to provide proof of other insurance to opt-out. This program is managed centrally by the university and not by the College of Engineering.
Each fall and spring semester, all eligible students must either enroll and pay the insurance premium fee or opt-out by providing proof of other coverage. When no action is taken to waive coverage, students are automatically enrolled and responsible for plan premium fees that appear on their account. Approved insurance waivers from opting out do not roll over from one semester to the next.
Doctoral students: If you are supported on a graduate assistantship and are enrolled in the VCU student health insurance plan, be aware that plan premiums are not covered by assistantships with the College of Engineering. Plan premium fees are paid out-of-pocket by students and are listed as a “Health Insurance Premium” expense in eServices.
Step-by-step tutorials:
Questions? Contact the eligibility coordinators at gradhealthins@vcu.edu (full-time Ph.D. students) or intlhealthins@vcu.edu (international M.S. students).
A Plan of Study form is used to outline the path to your degree. A submitted plan is conditional and based on the assumption that a student will complete the degree within the university’s time limit for completion. Plans of Study can be updated or amended with an advisor, as needed.
To check your degree status, use Degree Works as found in eServices. To review degree pathway information or to see course options, reference the VCU Bulletin links below.
Master of Science (M.S.)
- Biomedical engineering
- Computer science
- Data science
- Engineering, with a concentration in:
- Mechanical and nuclear engineering
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Yes, by submitting a travel grant request to either the Graduate School or College of Engineering. Funds are to support current degree-seeking graduate students with travel costs related to presenting research or academic work at conferences, summits, etc. Funds are limited, and requests are approved on a first-come, first-served basis for those who are eligible.
- Graduate School travel grants are up to $500. Check your eligibility and apply.
- College of Engineering travel grants are up to $250 for presenting a poster or up to $300 for giving an oral presentation. Complete a Graduate Travel and Conference Grant Application and email it to gradengr@vcu.edu to apply.
Keep your receipts! If you are approved for a travel grant, be sure to keep documentation for your travel expenses in order to be reimbursed. Instructions for submitting receipts will be provided by the office awarding you a travel grant.
Career resources:
- Engineering Career Services is available to all engineering graduate students. This office hosts professional career fairs and works with dozens of employers to post jobs on Handshake.
- LinkedIn Learning offers casual online course modules to build specific skills or gain industry insights in topics like business software, career development, or Six Sigma quality control.
Research resources:
- VCU Libraries:
- Julie Arendt (jaarendt@vcu.edu), science and engineering research librarian.
- Engineering research guides.
- Open and affordable course content with zero textbook cost information.
- Graduate-only study spaces and free room reservations.
- Publishing and copyright support with VCU Publishing.
- TechTransfer and Ventures offers support related to intellectual property and patenting.
Student groups:
- Engineering Graduate Student Association (EGSA) - egsa@vcu.edu
- VCU Rams Connect student activities and organization portal
- RecWell student gyms, group exercise, and activities.
Campus resources:
- VCU Graduate School student resources
- Division of Student Affairs on-campus resources
- Office of Student Advocacy - submit a concern or question
- Office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity - request an accommodation or disability-related support
- Transportation and getting around campus:
- Parking on campus
- Parking in Richmond (includes street parking when on campus)
- RamBikes
- GRTC (Bus Rapid Transit)
- RamSafe (evening transportation service)
- Housing resources:
- On-campus housing
- Off-campus housing
- International student housing guidance
- Food security and other goods:
Cardinal Education is an online consortium consisting of the state of Virginia’s public engineering schools. Students enrolled at one member school are able to take select online courses available from another participating member school.
Requests to register for a consortium school’s online graduate engineering course must be submitted at a minimum of four weeks in advance of the consortium school's registration deadline. Students studying on a visa should be aware that registration in an online Cardinal Education course may affect their full course of study requirement.
To request to register for an online Cardinal Education course, first review available course offerings and then, after selecting a course you wish to take, obtain program director and/or advisor approval via email. Once you have approval, forward the email to gradengr@vcu.edu with your program director copied, and provide the following details. Please do not request to register for a Cardinal Education course you are unsure about or do not have advisor approval to take.
- Your full name
- Your V-number
- Your VCU degree and program
- Your registration status for the semester (full-time or part-time)
- Cardinal Education course(s) details:
- Course prefix and number
- Course CRN number
- Course name
- Host university’s name
- Desired semester
Next steps for the request will be provided by email from gradengr@vcu.edu. Each request requires multiple levels of approval, including that of the consortium school’s course instructor. Registration is not guaranteed until receiving final confirmation. Limits and restrictions apply, such as VCU transfer credit limitations and graduate program director discretion.
Yes! Consult your advisor and graduate program director to register for internship credits. If you are looking for an internship, ask Engineering Career Services about opportunities.
International students interested in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) must consult the Global Education Office (GEO) at GEOIS@vcu.edu along with their advisor.
Doctoral students: If you are funded on a graduate assistantship and will be away on an internship at any point during the award period (e.g., away on a paid summer internship), alert your graduate program director and gradengr@vcu.edu as soon as possible. An internship can affect a student’s assistantship eligibility and stipend.
Students need to apply to graduate in eServices at the beginning of the semester in which all program requirements will be completed. All eligible students will be notified by email when to apply and should be alert to important deadlines.
All graduating engineering students are also advised to complete the career exit survey when notified by Engineering Career Services.