Frequently Asked Questions
Registration
How do I register for classes? What are the credit limits? Do I need to register if I'm writing my thesis?
All students are required to register for every term--fall, spring, and summer--from the time of their matriculation until the term of their graduation from the Institute. Those who are writing their thesis are still required to enroll in thesis units (3.ThG). Visit the MIT Registrar's Office website to learn more about online registration and access to the online registration system. The DMSE Academic Office sends department-specific registration instructions via email prior to the start of each term. Please refer to this email regarding appropriate registration units. Continuing students are required to pre-register for courses before the next term.
Doctoral students can learn more about general registration requirements on the doctoral guidelines and subjects pages. Master's students can learn more about registration requirements on the master's requirements page.
What if I'm off-campus?
All students who expect to be off-campus should contact the DMSE Academic Office at dmse-gradoffice@mit.edu well in advance of their time away regarding their unique situation and MIT registration. Depending on the student's situation--such as length of time away for leave, research conducted at another US institution or abroad, or internship--the student's registration and graduate appointment may be affected.
The Office of Graduate Education also outlines the policies for graduate registration at the Institute, including but not limited to the following:
- Nonresident doctoral thesis research status
- Thesis research in absentia
- Medical leave
- Personal leave
- Childbirth accommodation
The DMSE Academic Office will work with the student to apply for special status.
Advising
How do I pick an advisor? What if I want to switch advisors? What if I want to work with an advisor in another department?
Doctoral students are required to join a research group by the last day of classes in their first fall term at the Institute. Master's students usually join a research group at the start of their first term. Choosing an advisor is an important process that determines the people students work with for the next several years, the area that their thesis will focus on, and a potential career focus. After arriving at MIT, students may spend several weeks meeting faculty and discussing their research before joining a group. Advisors will consider funding, group size, and other factors before inviting students to join their groups.
For those who are thinking about switching advisors, a wide variety of resources exist for students looking for advice, both within the department and at the Institute. Within DMSE, students are encouraged to contact the appropriate person – their academic advisor or the DMSE Academic Office. DMSE faculty and staff work closely to support students within our program, encourage their success, and connect them with campus resources when appropriate. Outside of the department, students may want to contact the Office of Graduate Education, the Ombuds Office, and REFS (dREFS and iREFS) for advising and support services. For a comprehensive list of institute resources, visit resources.mit.edu. Once you have accepted an offer in another lab, make sure to inform the DMSE Academic Office to update your student records and graduate appointment.
Some DMSE students work with advisors in other departments. An internal departmental co-advisor or thesis reader is required if the student's advisor is not a member of the DMSE faculty. The DMSE faculty member that serves as the thesis reader can be selected by the student and their thesis advisor, and the reader's primary function is to ensure that the student's thesis is contextually appropriate for a degree being granted in materials science and engineering. The thesis reader does not provide funding to support the student. The thesis reader for a doctoral student is required to attend the student's Thesis Area Examination, Third Year Update Meeting, Plan to Finish Meeting, and Thesis Defense; the thesis reader for a Master's student is required to attend the student's Masters thesis presentation. The reader also signs the title page of the final PhD or Masters thesis (in addition to the signature of the thesis advisor).
If my advisor goes on a leave of absence or leaves the department, what is the guidance for the graduate students in the research group?
For faculty on a leave of absence (sabbatical, parental leave, etc.), departmental guidelines include expectations on continuing to advise their students. For faculty who leave the department, departmental administrators review each student's individual academic progress and expected path towards completion/graduation and take steps to ensure that progress is maintained, which may include transitional support, continuation of the project with another faculty member, or change of project if desired.
Petition
What if I miss a deadline? What if I need to substitute a class?
The Department Committee on Graduate Studies (DCGS) considers petitions related to missed departmental deadlines, substitutions for required subjects, changes in committee membership, and other matters. The general graduate student petition form is available from the Office of Graduate Education and submitted to the DMSE Academic Office (dmse-gradoffice@mit.edu) for review with the DCGS. This form is used to request changes to a student's academic record or propose program changes that are either non-standard actions or are outside of stated deadlines. Once this form is submitted, students will then be notified by email whether their petition has been approved, requires further action, or rejected. Further information is available from the Academic Office.
Thesis
How do I pick a thesis topic? What does my thesis committee do?
You and your advisor will work together to determine the area of your thesis. The subject of the thesis, however, must have a clear materials-related component.
For doctoral students, the thesis committee will be made up of a thesis advisor and two committee members. The committee members participate in the thesis area examination, 3.998 doctoral update meeting, plan-to-finish meeting, guidance during the writing of the thesis, and the thesis defense. For master's students, committee membership consists only of their thesis advisor. An internal departmental co-advisor or thesis reader is required if the student's advisor is not a member of the DMSE faculty. The DMSE faculty member that serves as the thesis reader can be selected by the student and their thesis advisor, and the reader's primary function is to ensure that the student's thesis is contextually appropriate for a degree being granted in materials science and engineering. The thesis reader does not provide funding to support the student. The thesis reader for a doctoral student is required to attend the student's Thesis Area Examination, Third Year Update Meeting, Plan to Finish Meeting, and Thesis Defense; the thesis reader for a Master's student is required to attend the student's Masters thesis presentation. The reader also signs the title page of the final PhD or Masters thesis (in addition to the signature of the thesis advisor).
Graduate Appointments
What do I need to do about my appointment? I got a notice from Student Financial Services—is this a problem?
Doctoral-track students are supported by different types of funding such as research assistantships (RA), teaching assistantships (TA), fellowships (FE), or external funding. Students entering their first fall term are generally supported by departmental fellowship funds—including stipend, tuition, and health insurance—until they have chosen an advisor (required by the end of the fall term). Once a student has joined a research group, the advisor and student will play an active role in securing the student's funding for following terms.
Students receive an automated email with a notice of award once their graduate appointment has been processed. The notice includes details about the appointment such as the award start and end dates, salary/stipend, tuition, and health insurance coverage. This only includes details of the graduate appointment and is separate from the notifications from Student Financial Services (SFS). Students who receive notices from SFS should make sure to contact that office regarding any issues.
If you have any questions regarding your graduate appointments, please contact the Academic Office (dmse-gradoffice@mit.edu).