PhD Mechanical Engineering at Rice University

Programme overview

The PhD develops command of advanced topics in mechanical engineering and advanced mastery of a subfield through original research. Each candidate completes a thesis making an original contribution to scientific knowledge, analytical, numerical or experimental.

Faculty: George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing | Department: Mechanical Engineering | Duration: 90 credit hours; completion expected within five calendar years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Houston, TX, United States

What you will study

Minimum 90 credit hours at 500-level or above; coursework/research split depends on entry degree (MS entrants 18/72, BS entrants 36/54). Milestones: qualifying exam by the end of the third semester, candidacy by the ninth semester, preliminary thesis evaluation, and a public oral defence before a committee of at least four.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Rice graduate programmes (university level): applicants should generally have at least a 3.0 (B) undergraduate GPA or equivalent; the GRE is generally not required, though individual programmes may recommend, strongly recommend or require it; a statement of purpose and reference letters may be required depending on the programme. International applicants need TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS 7 or Duolingo English Test 115 unless they hold a degree from an accredited US institution or an English-medium institution. Admission is decided at programme level.

Requirements published at program group level.

USD 66,784 a year (2026-27). School of Engineering and Computing: Masters & PhD full-time tuition ($33,392 per semester) for the school's standard full-time master's and PhD programmes; estimate, excludes fees and health insurance. Reduced rate of $3,710 per year applies to continuin Source

Most doctoral applications for Fall 2027 close December 1, 2026 (Mechanical Engineering December 15, Computer Science January 1, 2027); applications open September 1, 2026 through the Rice graduate portal (gradapply.rice.edu). Application fee is generally $85, waived for some doctoral applicants.

Explore more study programmes

Engineering