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Frequently Asked Questions
Academics
Admissions
Costs and Financial Aid
General
Housing
Student Life
Does Michigan accept advanced placement credits?
Advanced placement credit by AP, IB, or A-Level exams is accepted as well as credit for equivalent courses taken at accredited colleges and universities.
What is the availability of professors?
All professors hold regular office hours. Students agree that utilizing office hours really makes a difference. Most professors make themselves available by appointment outside of regular office hours as well.
Are minors available for engineering students?
Yes, there are nearly 80 Undergraduate Minors possible for engineering students; most are areas of study from departments in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.
What is the percentage of classes taught by graduate student instructors?
The likelihood is that students will have teaching assistants for the first two years in the discussion classes for physics, chemistry, and mathematics. All lectures are taught by faculty.
Engineering classes are taught primarily by faculty with approximately 10% of classes being taught by teaching assistants.
Does the College of Engineering have an Honors Program?
Yes, The Engineering Global Leadership (EGL) Honors Program. It combines undergraduate engineering curriculum with courses in the Ross School of Business and a "cultural core" in the College of Literature Science and the Arts. EGL leads to 2 degrees, Bachelor of Science and Master of Science, in Engineering. More detail about the EGL Honors Program can be found at the Engineering Bulletin.
What is the average course load?
The average course load is four courses per term (usually16 credit hours). Twelve credit hours are needed for enrollment in full time standing. A more detailed discussion of credit hours is available at the College Bulletin.
What about Biomedical Engineering?
In Fall 2001 we began offering Biomedical Engineering as an undergraduate degree program. We continue to offer this as a graduate degree as well. The Engineering Bulletin has information and you can find information on the Web at http://www.bme.umich.edu. The department also has an academic advisor for students who can answer your questions and help you design your future plans.What is EECS and how do the majors vary?
EECS stands for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. This is the department that grants the degree for Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science Engineering. The Computer Science degree program began in Fall 2001. The College of Literature, Science and the Arts also has a major in Computer Science. If you are unsure which major is best for you, you can do some deeper research at http://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/undergraduate/index.htmlIs it possible for me to graduate from U-M with a degree from both the College of Engineering and another U-M school or college?
Yes, it is possible to receive a joint degree in Engineering and another school or college, e.g., the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. You would be responsible for all degree requirements in both of these units. Certain criteria for joint degree candidates apply. Check your department on the Bulletin and/or meet with an academic advisor.Is my application reviewed differently than other students'?
No, we use the same requirements for all students. International students do have the additional requirements of proving English Profiency and must have complete financial backing to fund their education.What if I am unable to attend orientation?
Orientation is required for all students. You must be here to attend the session.What is a prerequisite?
A prerequisite is a required course that must be completed prior to a student's enrollment in the College of Engineering. Such courses are required because the successful completion of specific courses in your engineering curriculum at U-M will assume prior knowledge of the prerequisites course material.After I've submitted all application materials, when can I expect to hear whether or not I've been admitted?
Completed applications are reviewed in the order received. It normally takes a minimum of six to eight weeks to receive a letter from your admissions counselor notifying you of an admissions decision. International applications may take considerably longer to review. You can check on the status of your application and admissions decision in Wolverine Access.What about Biomedical Engineering?
In Fall 2001 we began offering Biomedical Engineering as an undergraduate degree program. We continue to offer this as a graduate degree as well. The Engineering Bulletin has information and you can find information on the Web at http://www.bme.umich.edu. The department also has an academic advisor for students who can answer your questions and help you design your future plans.What is EECS and how do the majors vary?
EECS stands for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. This is the department that grants the degree for Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science Engineering. The Computer Science degree program began in Fall 2001. The College of Literature, Science and the Arts also has a major in Computer Science. If you are unsure which major is best for you, you can do some deeper research at http://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/undergraduate/index.htmlHow do I check my applications status?
Create UM Friend Account
https://friend.weblogin.umich.edu/friend/
Questions about creating a UM Friend Account
http://www.itd.umich.edu/itcsdocs/s4316/
Log into Wolverine Access
http://wolverineaccess.umich.edu/
Navigate to Students/New and Prospective Student Business
Decision Timeline
The length of time it takes for an application to be reviewed varies. The main source of delay is incomplete applications or missing materials, such as transcripts. International applications may take longer to review.
What if I do not meet the English Language requirement? What if I do not meet the English Language requirement?
We are not flexible on this requirement. You may update your application for a future term and retake the test, though a student cannot transfer past the middle of their junior year. You may also try the MELAB test as an alternative. It is given in a number of locations and the scores are quickly received.I have been studying in the US; does this exempt me from the TOEFL requirement?
No. Only lifetime residents of the United States (excluding Puerto Rico), Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom, or Australia (and have SAT Critical Reading scores in the mid-600 range) are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.How can I request an exemption from taking the TOEFL exam?
Due to the highly selective nature of our admissions process, and because many students schooled in other countries are bilingual or speak a language other than English, we request TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS scores to confirm a student's proficiency in English. However, International applicants who have recently and successfully completed at least four years of rigorous academic studies in the United States (excluding Puerto Rico), Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Australia (and have SAT Critical Reading scores in the mid-600 range) have the option of petitioning for an exemption of the TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS exams if they exceeded the expectations required by the University. Any exceptions would have to be requested in writing with or following the submission of your actual application. A decision could only be made after the entire file has been reviewed. Such requests must be accompanied with full details explaining your reasons for the request.How long does it take to receive a decision on an application?
Once we've received all the required application materials and your application status is complete in Wolverine Access, it normally takes about 8 weeks to get a decision. International applications can take up to 12 weeks.
I am a current U-M student and took a class at another school in the summer. Did you get my transcript?
It takes about 4 weeks after we receive a transcript for credit to be posted. In peak times, it can take up to 6 weeks.Can I receive financial assistance?
International students on temporary visas are not eligible for financial aid. Check the Office of the Registrar website for current figures on the estimated student budget.What kind of help is available for an international student far from home?
The University of Michigan has a comprehensive International Center that offers assistance to international students.Will I be able to live on campus?
There is no guaranteed housing for transfer students. There is on-campus housing on Central Campus and on North Campus. Please visit the U-M housing page for more information.On-campus housing is guaranteed for freshman students.What is campus housing like and how do I get assigned to a residence hall?
There are 17 residence halls on campus; a new residence hall is under construction. Housing is guaranteed for all entering freshman, with a lottery for continuing students. You can eat at any residence hall, and choose from a variety of meal plans. Michigan Learning Communities provide immense intellectual resources in a small college environment. Housing information is mailed in March to students who have paid enrollment deposits, and additional information can be found at the Housing website.
What computer facilities are available for students?
CAEN provides access to hundreds of computers throughout campus in various computer labs (CAEN). These labs are available to the College of Engineering students 24 hours a day. Each CAEN computer offers hundreds of software applications for student research and course work, including an extensive selection of engineering, multimedia, and software development programs.
There are also ITCS computer labs (ITCS) all over campus. These labs can especially be found on Central Campus and are the ones in Residence Halls (see ResComp sites).
Also, wireless and wired network access is available throughout campus for personal laptops.
A more detailed introduction to computing at the College of Engineering is available at: http://www.engin.umich.edu/caen/intro/students/
What is the distance between North Campus and Central Campus? Does this pose an inconvenience for Engineering students?
It's less than ½ mile between North and Central Campuses, and Michigan buses run run between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.; every 10 to 15 minutes apart. At night, shuttles run between libraries and residence halls. If you're worried about getting to class on time, most Central Campus classes start on the hour, whereas on North Campus they begin on the half-hour. This gives 30 minutes to get between classes, not counting Michigan Time (Classes start 10 minutes late), which is more than enough to get between campuses. Additionally, most Freshmen and Sophomore classes are taken on Central Campus while most Junior and Senior classes are taken on North Campus. Both Campuses complement each other with most resources available on both.
What opportunities for co-curricular activities are there on campus and are engineering students involved in organizations, team projects, etc.?
There are more than 90 student organizations in the CoE alone, such as the project oriented teams of the Solar Car, Future Car, Concrete Canoe, Human Powered Helicopter and others. Also, a significant percentage of the Marching Band consists of engineers. Over 1,000 organizations University-wide, including these clubs for students. As far as sports go, there are 25 intercollegiate teams, in addition to 43 intramural and 35 club sports.
In addition to recreation, co-curricular activities provide excellent leadership opportunities.
