Dartmouth University

What you'll study

The programme combines core graduate-level engineering courses, interdisciplinary electives and substantial hands-on project work. Core topics typically include engineering design and systems thinking, computational methods and data analysis, modelling and simulation, and experimental methods. Students choose electives across fields such as mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, biomedical engineering, materials and manufacturing, robotics, and data science.

Teaching formats emphasise small seminars, laboratory work and team-based projects. A signature element is a capstone or practicum project in which students work with faculty, industry partners or multidisciplinary teams to develop a prototype, perform an applied research investigation or deliver a practical engineering solution. Additional options often include an individual research thesis for students interested in continuing to doctoral study.

• Core subjects: engineering design, systems engineering, computational tools, experimental methods
• Typical electives: control systems, machine learning for engineers, biomaterials, embedded systems, additive manufacturing, sensors and instrumentation
• Practical elements: laboratory modules, studio courses, team capstone project or thesis
• Supplementary activities: seminars on ethics and leadership, entrepreneurship workshops and industry-sponsored challenges

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics or a closely related quantitative discipline. Typical evidence of readiness includes a strong undergraduate transcript with quantitative coursework (calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and core engineering subjects), a CV, two or three academic or professional references, and a personal statement describing academic and career goals.

Some applicants with non-engineering backgrounds may be admitted if they demonstrate equivalent quantitative preparation. International applicants will normally need to demonstrate English language proficiency where applicable. Admissions committees consider academic preparation, letters of recommendation, prior research or project experience, and the fit between the applicant’s goals and the programme’s strengths.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of technical and leadership roles in industry, government and startups. Common career paths include design and development engineer, systems engineer, software and embedded systems engineer, data scientist for engineering applications, product manager with a technical focus, and roles in research and development. The programme’s emphasis on project work and entrepreneurship also prepares graduates to join or found technology startups or to pursue professional engineering licensure in some regions.

Those intending to continue in academia or advanced research often use the programme as preparation for PhD study. The close faculty mentorship and research project options provide a pathway to research-focused careers or further graduate education.

Why study at Dartmouth University

At the Thayer School of Engineering, students benefit from a small, collaborative community with a high level of faculty contact and hands-on learning. The school emphasises human-centred design, systems thinking and the intersection of engineering with entrepreneurship and medicine, giving students access to multidisciplinary projects and resources.

Dartmouth provides strong connections to industry partners and entrepreneurial support through campus incubators and innovation centres, enabling students to work on real-world problems and commercialisation pathways. The college’s liberal-arts environment and cross-campus collaborations broaden the educational experience, allowing engineering students to draw on strengths in business, medicine and the sciences while building leadership and communication skills valued by employers.