Materials Science & Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)

The Materials Science & Engineering program offers a Master of Science degree and a Doctoral degree.

Curriculum Vitae or Résumé
A Statement of purpose is required:
- Please describe your plans for graduate study or research and for your future occupation or profession. Include any information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and qualifications for graduate study at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Recommended length is a concise 2-4 pages.
A Research Interest Statement is required:
- What has made you interested in attending graduate school in your chosen area, and specifically in the UCSC Materials Science & Engineering Program? What are your academic and career goals? Limit your statement to one page.
A Personal History Statement is also required:
- Required of all applicants. This statement will be used in conjunction with your application for graduate admission and financial support. Note that the Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose. Recommended length is a concise 1-3 pages.
- UC Santa Cruz is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.

The following materials are required for applicants to the doctoral (Ph.D.) program track only:

A Statement of Previous Research Experience is required:
- Please describe your previous research experience: Include what project(s) you worked on, the overall goals and your specific role. What did you enjoy, and what was challenging? It is more important that you address the points above for one project in depth, rather than to provide a comprehensive list of all of your research experiences, which can be listed on your CV/resume. In any case, limit your statement to two pages.
A Faculty Sponsor Letter (required):
- The MSE program will only admit Doctoral students who have secured a faculty sponsor from MSE-affiliated faculty. The faculty member must write a short letter of sponsorship on university letterhead which should be uploaded in the application.