M.S.T. Admissions

An undergraduate degree in engineering is not necessary for admission to the Master of Science in Transportation program, but applicants are expected to have an aptitude for analytical thinking. Backgrounds in the physical or social sciences, in urban planning, management and many other disciplines are equally appropriate foundations for the program.

The only specific subjects required for admission are two subjects in calculus and one each in economics and probability. Before beginning the M.S.T. program, applicants should have roughly the equivalent of the following MIT subjects:  18.01 and 18.02 in calculus; 14.01 in microeconomics and either 6.041 or 1.010 in probability/statistics.

It is possible that the material covered in one semester in these MIT classes might, at another university, be covered in multiple semesters. To determine whether your background meets the required prerequisites, you can view the subject descriptions in MIT’s course catalog. For more detailed information, you can see the syllabus and class notes for each of these classes on MIT’s OpenCourseWare.

One or more of these subjects may be completed in the summer before beginning the M.S.T. program. In this case you should indicate on your application that you are planning to take the class during the summer, and your admission would be contingent upon completion of and satisfactory grade in the class.

All applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores; applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. Applicants to the Master of Science in Transportation degree program must achieve at least a 250 (computer-based) on the TOEFL.

Funding

Funding for M.S.T. students is usually offered to about 80 percent of each incoming class. A limited number of one-year fellowships are offered each year to incoming students, but most funding takes the form of a partial or full research assistantship (RA). A student with this funding typically works with a faculty member on a research project for 15-30 hours a week. The research that is conducted on that project usually (but not always) becomes the topic of the student's thesis.

To learn more about our research, please visit our Transportation and Operations Research pages.

RA appointments can be either partial or full. A full RA (20-30 hours per week) covers the student's tuition for the academic year and provides a monthly stipend to cover living expenses. A half RA (approximately 10-15 hours per week) covers half of the student's tuition for the academic year and provides half of the regular monthly stipend.

Students who are not awarded financial aid at the time of admission may seek funding through other sources.

Dual Degree Opportunities

Common dual degree pairings include the Master of Science in Transportation with:
The Master of Science in the Technology and Policy Program
The Master of Science in Operations Research
The Master of City Planning

Students interested in pursuing dual degrees must follow the regular admissions procedure to be admitted to each degree program. After admission, students must fill out a petition indicating that they intend to complete a dual degree and listing the subjects they plan to take to fulfill the requirements for each degree. This petition must be signed by a representative from each degree-granting departments (or center) and by the dean of the graduate school. Though the subject requirements for each degree program must be met separately, a joint thesis is common for dual degree students.

More information on MIT's dual degree requirements

Special Information for Current MIT Graduate Students Who Want to Obtain a Dual Degree

Please submit your application during the regular admissions period, ideally before the deadline of January 2, so that you can be considered for funding with the current group of applicants. Virtually all available RA and fellowship funding is assigned in mid to late February. However, notification of final admissions decisions for dual degree candidates is made slightly later than the regular admission period (i.e. after spring grades). In order to apply for the M.S.T. you will need the following:

1. A copy of your original application materials from your home department at MIT.

2. A new statement of purpose specific to the M.S.T. program (indicate your background and interest in transportation, why M.S.T. makes sense for you and how you satisfy the entry-level M.S.T. requirements).

3. A petition form (available from your home department, our academic office or the Registrar's Office). This should include a schedule of classes you would take to satisfy both degrees.

4. A brief statement of support from one MIT faculty member who knows you in some capacity since your arrival at MIT.

5. An MIT grade report (this can be either an official transcript from Student Services or a printout from MITSIS provided by your graduate administrator at your home department).