Graduate School FAQs

To be considered for an application fee waiver please email grad@wpi.edu.

• WPI program specific application requirements and tests can be found utilizing the application requirements page. Language Proficiency Scores and Waivers –  TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English. The English proficiency test score requirement is waived for individuals from an Anglophone region or in the last five years who attended institutions in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Anglophone regions of Africa, Canada or the Caribbean for at least two years of full-time studies. 
  • Master's degree language proficiency requirements-  Minimum TOEFL score of 84, IELTS of 7, or a Duolingo score of 115.  
  • Business program language proficiency requirements – Minimum TOEFL -90, Duolingo -115, IELTS-7, PhD TOEFL-100, IELTS - 7.5.    
  • Business School PhD language proficiency requirements- Minimum TOEFL-100, IELTS - 7.5. 
  • Business School PhD language proficiency requirements- Minimum TOEFL-100, IELTS - 7.5. 

All applications for our graduate degrees are on a rolling admission. However, if you would like to be considered for funding opportunities it is best to complete your fall application by February 1 and spring application by November 1.  

To request a waiver for documents required for your application you will need to email grad@wpi.edu. 

If you have problems with your application please contact grad@wpi.edu.

Depending upon which program you are applying to, decisions can take anywhere from 10-business days to 8-weeks from the time you have pressed submit on your application and uploaded all of your supporting documents. Contact your enrollment representative to find out how long your review will take.

WPI requires a minimum TOEFL score of 84, IELTS of 7, or Duolingo score of 115. We suggest retaking your test to achieve the minimum scores.

You can reach out to your Student Success Manager to inquire about curriculum and advisor assignment. To find your Student Success Manager please look by program, here.

To see a current listing of employers who have hired WPI graduates, and their starting salary please utilize First Destination Survey Dashboard | Tableau Public.

View our admissions requirements page. Type in your program of interest to view your programs specific requirements.

We understand online courses are not created equal. We know WPI’s online students are working professionals striving to balance busy lives and will work with you to deliver flexible and convenient programs that accommodate your schedule and fit your goals. Study, participate in class, complete assignments, and conduct group and project work from any location and often at a time that works for you. Learn more about how online learning works at WPI.

You will receive your I-20 paperwork when you have accepted WPI’s acceptance, completed your deposit, provided proof of finances in the application portal, and completed the I-20 paperwork. This typically happens in late March when the tuition has been set for the following year.  I-20s are typically issued at the beginning of March, after the Board of Trustees has set the tuition for the following academic year and after you have accepted WPI’s offer, deposited, received your Declaration and Certification of Funds (DCF) form, and have completed the I-20 paperwork in your application portal. For information about your I-20 or any questions about your visa or status in the US please contact IH@wpi.edu.

You can defer your admittance for up to 1 year. Navigate to your application portal and select “Defer”.  If you have already made a decision in the application portal and you would like to change it, please email grad@wpi.edu.

In order to register for a course, all student on-boarding tasks must be complete. Log into your Workday account to complete any outstanding tasks. You should then be able to register for your course. If you continue to have errors, please contact your Student Success Manager or email grad@wpi.edu.

To help you navigate which courses to take, we suggest logging into your Workday account. Go to your “Academic Progress Tab.” There you will see the course requirements for your degree. You can click on the eclipse to see the suggested courses or subjects to take to satisfy your degree requirements.

Every semester, you will be assigned a task in Workday. Log into your Workday account and complete the assigned tasks. This will enable you to register for your course.

Visit the Cost of Attendance page to view the current tuition rate. Graduate tuition is based on the 'cost per credit'. Most graduate courses are three (3) credits.

For information about financial aid opportunities, read our blog post: Financial Aid Tips for Graduate School. From there, you can view a comprehensive list of links and resources.

TA assignments are made by the academic department and, with rare exception, are awarded starting with the fall semester. Consult the graduate coordinator in the academic department for specific information. In general, international students need to score 100 or better on the TOEFL iBT to be considered for a TA.  
 
Students interested in RA funding should contact individual faculty members to find out whether such cost support is available. 

Questions regarding your semester billing should be directed to WPI’s Bursars Office. You can contact them by email bursar@wpi.edu and phone 508-831-5203. 

Yes, the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) coordinates accommodation services and support to assist students with documented physical, learning, sensory, psychological, and developmental disabilities during their time at WPI.

Graduate students who are interested in housing should visit WPI’s Graduate Student Housing and Dining page.

Get involved! Visit our Student Experience 100 Things to Do page for local activities and WPI on-campus events offered around Worcester, MA.

The capstone is only offered in the fall semesters and taken towards the end of the program. It does not have to be the student’s final class. Due to course scheduling and availability, some courses may be taken after the Capstone. BUS 590 is the pre-capstone and is offered in the summer and taken the semester immediately before the Capstone. Capstone teams are formed in this class.  

There are no credit requirements, and it is taken towards the end of the program. The Capstone is designed to incorporate all the learning throughout the program.

You are eligible for the Capstone after taking the main required courses for your degree. The Capstone encompasses the knowledge gained from courses covered in the program.

Students do need to register for the Capstone project, just as they do for all of the other courses. Please refer to the Program Requirements for the degree for the specific course number you will need to register for.

Yes, the instructor will act as a mentor for each team. Capstone projects cannot be individually completed.

The instructor will facilitate how to go about selecting a project. Projects are not always affiliated with a company. Many are greenfield start-up ideas determined by the student team which creates a solution for a need, service, product, etc.

The instructor will facilitate the process of coming up with a project in BUS 590.

As an international student, you’re eligible to work in the U.S. during your schooling and after you receive your degree. However, there are specific regulations, requirements, and restrictions to keep in mind, so the best thing for you to do if you’re interested in a career in the U.S. is to plan ahead. Visit the International Student and Scholars Office for more information.

Yes, there are on campus job opportunities for students. Visit WPI’s student employment page.

It’s never too early to start thinking about plans for an internship. They’re a great opportunity for you to explore career options and gain relevant, real-world work experience. The Career Development Center (CDC) offers several different tools, services, and resources to help you increase your chances of landing an internship. Visit our CDC page for more information.

One of the central priorities in WPI’s educational philosophy is the application of academic skills and knowledge to real-world problems. The capstone project represents a substantive evaluation and application of coursework covered in the program. Students are encouraged to select projects with practical significance for the advancement of their company’s competitive position as well as their own personal development. The project is administered, advised, and evaluated by WPI as part of the learning experience, but students are encouraged to seek mentorship from experienced colleagues in the profession. The presence of or degree of participation from a mentor is made at the discretion of the student or the organization sponsoring the program.