Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of financial aid is available?

All PhD candidates are considered for financial aid. Visit General Announcements for more information.

Graduate students enrolled in the MMSNE program are not eligible for financial support from either Department funds or Research Grants.

If there is a field I am interested in and I don't see it in the professors' profiles, what should I do?

When making the decision to apply to Rice, do your very best to match your interests with those of the faculty. If you find your interests are outside the faculty's research areas, you will have a very difficult time being paired up with an adviser. A good rule of thumb in applying to any graduate program is to make sure that there are at least two potential faculty members in the program with whom you could work.

Can I submit my application even if I haven't received my GRE or TOEFL score yet?

We will accept recommendations and scores beyond the application due date. Candidates whose application is not complete place themselves in a less competitive position. Please prepare accordingly to have all documents in by the deadline.

It’s been more than 3 years since I took the GRE. Do I have to take it again?

We require that the GRE test have been taken within five years.

*Please note that the GRE is recommended, but not required at this time.

What is the average GRE score of students admitted to the graduate program?

This information is not available to the Department.

My name on the GRE/TOEFL registration is different from the one on my Rice application. Can you find my test scores?

Please e-mail our Graduate/Undergraduate Program Administrator to let us know your name on the test registration form so we can search for your scores.

Is there a minimum GRE score?

Rice University does not have an established minimum GRE score.

Do I Need to Provide the TOEFL with the following: Applicants who are foreign nationals and those whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency.

Applicants who are foreign nationals and those whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency. This can be shown by any of the following:

• Proof of degree from an accredited U.S. high school, college, or university.
• A qualified TOEFL score as below:
• For exams taken before January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90
• For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:,we require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5
• At least 7 on the IELTS.
• At least 115 on the Duolingo test of English proficiency.
• Proof of completion (or expected completion) of a post-secondary degree from an institution where the official language of instruction is in English*.
• ​​​​For 2026, Rice will not accept the ITP Plus test to evaluate English language proficiency, but scores/interviews are able to be reported to Rice as a supplemental material via Vericant.

My university doesn't use a 4.0 scale; how do I enter my GPA in the application?

The application allows you to submit your GPA and the scale used at your university.

Do you require an official transcript with my application?

An official transcript is required for admission to Rice University but not required to complete an application. You may submit an unofficial transcript with your application.

What are the statement of purpose requirements?

The Statement of Purpose should be no more than two (2) pages long and should address (at a minimum) the following aspects: 1) Your prior research experience and how it has led you to want to pursue graduate studies. 2) Your motivation and goals for your graduate studies and beyond. 3) Why MSNE at Rice? Including specifically speaking to potential research and Ph.D. advisors you might want to work with.

How can I verify that my recommendation letters have been received?

Please log into your application to monitor your application status as well as the status of your recommendation letters.

Can I apply for more than one program in MSNE or more than one graduate program at Rice?

Yes, you have to submit separate applications for each program.

How can I update my application once it has been submitted?

Once you've submitted your application, you can no longer make updates.

How do I know my application has been submitted?

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.

Can you find my ETS test scores?

As long your scores are sent to Rice University (institution code: 6609). We can find your scores in our application databases.

When will the application review start?

When the application deadline is closed, the committee will start reviewing and continue until early April. All admissions decisions are provided by email to the address listed on your application.

How will I know the result of my application?

You can log into your account and check the status of your application. You will receive an email if there are any changes to the status.

I was not accepted. Can you tell me why?

Admission to Rice MSNE graduate programs of study is highly competitive, and many highly qualified applications are denied. We are unable to provide specific reasons for the decision.

What kind of housing is available?

Graduate students must make their own arrangements for housing. The department doesn't handle any housing arrangements.

The Graduate Apartments are home to many of the university's graduate students. To contact the Graduate Apartments, the telephone number is 713-348-4723.

How many applications are you accepting this year?

The number of applications we accept in a given year varies, depending on faculty needs and research funding available to support graduate students.

Application Technical Issues

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If you have a question you didn't find answered above, email us at msne@rice.edu.