How to Apply
For U.S. Naval Officers, the online application opens July 1st and the deadline for all application materials is October 1 by 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. To apply, complete this online application.
For prospective doctoral students, the online applications opens October 1st and the anticipated deadline for all application materials is December 1st by 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. To apply, complete this online application. This graduate application supports all browsers updated in the last year except for Internet Explorer. For a better experience, we recommend using Google Chrome with a minimum resolution of 1024x768 on a desktop.
For students interested in applying to MIT departments directly, the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering collaborates with the MIT Departments of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), Biology, Mechanical Engineering (MechE), Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro). If you wish to apply to those departments independently of the MIT-WHOI Joint Program, please also complete their online application form, bearing in mind that they may have different application deadlines.
Recommendations
In the application, you will be asked to supply the names and email addresses of three people to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. Letters should be from people who are familiar with your academic ± research capabilities. Once this information is entered, you will be asked to contact these people, so make sure to do this well in advance of the application deadline.
Transcripts
You will be required to upload UNOFFICIAL, NON-ENCRYPTED PDFs of your transcripts for all colleges and universities attended. We are unable to view encrypted transcripts. Official transcripts will be required upon admission to the program. If you are admitted, you will be instructed when and where to submit those. Do not send transcripts to the Joint Program unless you are asked to do so.
Grades and Narrative Evaluations
You will be required to describe the grading system(s) used at all colleges and universities you have attended. Explain the specific meaning of any numeric values, letter grades, and rankings.
Applicants who have attended or received credit from a college or university which evaluates coursework through narrative transcripts/evaluations rather than assigning numerical or letter grades must upload narrative evaluations for math and science courses in the transcript section of the online application.
Testing Requirements
Graduate Record Examination (GRE):
GRE scores will not be required but may be submitted as part of the Joint Program application.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
Applicants who have not received primary or secondary schooling in English must take an English Language Proficiency exam. Please visit the MIT Graduate Admissions Website https://oge.mit.edu/graduate-admissions/applications/standardized-tests/ for more information about tests and the code(s) to use to send them to MIT. We accept the following exams:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): http://www.ets.org/toefl, (internet-based test, iBT), score 100 or above. Send scores electronically to Institution Code: MIT 3514 and Department Code: Oceanography 75
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): http://www.ielts.org, score 7.0 or above. For IELTS Indicator Scores, please select account name, MIT-WHOI Joint Program, when requesting IELTS Indicator scores be sent to the Joint Program.
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency Cambridge English Exam: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/, score 185 or above.
Duolingo English Test (DET): https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants, score 130 or above.
Additional Information:
- Test scores must be within the past two years.
- Waivers may be granted in certain circumstances; please see http://mit.whoi.edu/waivers for details.
- All applications will be evaluated regardless of scores. If an applicant submits a score lower than the minimum requirements described above, their application will be reviewed. However, an offer of admission could only be offered conditionally, pending an updated score that meets the minimum requirements for enrollment.
Hard copy Submission:
If submitting English proficiency test scores as hard copy, please send them to:
Attn: Patricia Nesti
MIT-WHOI Joint Program Admissions
77 Massachusetts Ave, 54-812
Cambridge, MA 02139
JP Applicant Support & Knowledgebase (JP ASK) Advice on the Application Process
JP ASK is a mentorship program intended to advise and support prospective students through the overall graduate application process. This program is active from September 1 - December 1. More Information is available here.
Statement of Objectives
In the application, you will be asked to write a statement of objectives. Please explain why you are a good candidate for the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in the field you have chosen. You should describe why you wish to attend graduate school, what you would like to study, and any research experience you have. Include as far as you can your particular interests, be they experimental, theoretical, or field oriented, and describe how your background and the MIT-WHOI Joint Program support these interests. This is a good place to mention research areas of specific faculty that most interest you. The Admissions Committee will welcome any factors you wish to bring to its attention concerning your academic and work experience to date.
The recommended length is 1.5-2.5 pages single-spaced.
Resume
You will be asked to supply a copy of your resume as part of your application. This helps the Joint Program to get a better idea of your education, work experience and research history.
Some tips on creating a resume can be found here:
Resume Writing Guide for Grad School
Student Support
Investigate and apply for sources of student support, such as U.S-funded fellowships, non-U.S. agencies that fund graduate studies abroad, etc. While students admitted to the program are admitted with funding (i.e. they receive a stipend and tuition is paid – there is no option of students paying their own tuition), we encourage students to apply for outside fellowships while applying to graduate school. See Graduate Fellowship Opportunities.
Do not mail any additional materials such as CVs, abstracts, personal information or lists of professional accomplishments. These will not be considered for admission purposes.
Admissions Decision Notification
Notification will be made via email. Please set email settings to allow all mail from mit.edu and whoi.edu and regularly check spam/trash folders.
The Joint Program will notify applicants via email regarding the receipt of all application materials.
Notification of admission decisions will be sent via email to applicants by mid to late February.
Joint Program offers are normally made beginning in mid-February each year. Timing of offers can depend on a number of factors, including the schedules of people involved in decisions. But every effort is made to inform people by mid March. If you are on a wait list, you will be notified of that as well by mid March.
Open House
The Open House for admitted students is typically held in March.