MECPS admission for Fall 2025 opens on October 1st, 2024. The priority application deadline is January 15, 2025. Early applicants will receive priority for the ECPS Fellowship. International applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible to allow ample visa processing time. Submit your application through UCI’s Graduate Division at https://apply.grad.uci.edu/apply/, or see https://mecps.uci.edu/apply for more details.

• Applicants are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science or electrical engineering. Students from other disciplines are also considered for admission if they have sufficient background in the basics of embedded systems.
• Undergraduate G.P.A. must be 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
• TOEFL (minimum score of 80) or other evidence of English language proficiency
• GRE scores: The GRE exam is not required and will not be reviewed for this Admission cycle.
• Official university transcripts from every college attended by the applicant
• Statement of purpose with any industrial or hands-on experience, if applicable                                                                                                                                                   

Optional but highly encourage

• Three Letter of Recommendation
• Personal History Statement

After you are admitted, and submitted a positive SIR, your official transcript and proof that you earned your undergraduate degree should be mailed to UCI Graduate Division office, address below:

University of California, Irvine

Graduate Division – Transcripts

120 Aldrich Hall

Irvine, CA 92697-3180

If you earned your degree at a U.S. institution and your school is able to securely transmit your degree posted transcript to UCI electronically, you may have the transcript sent to gradtranscripts@uci.edu.  If your institution uses Parchment services to deliver e-transcripts, please be sure to have the transcripts sent to “University of California, Irvine, GRADUATE DIVISION”.

All records submitted to our office become the property of the University and will not be returned to the student.  If your academic records cannot be replaced, please bring them directly to our office and we will photocopy and return them to you. Please contact UCI Graduate Division at grad@uci.edu for more information.

For international students, your visa will be processed by the UCI International Center, the same way it is processed for other degree programs.

More information available at https://ic.uci.edu/students/newStudents.php.

If admitted, more details will be provided to you about requesting a visa document.

Yes, the MECPS program offers fellowships to top applicants who can demonstrate financial need. The MECPS fellowships are merit-based and aim at adding diversity to the program. Fellowships are awarded at the time of admission or during registration. There is no separate application process. All applicants are considered candidates for fellowships based on their application. In general, applying early maximizes the chances of receiving a fellowship offer.

Yes, this program is OPT/STEM eligible. For more information, please see https://ic.uci.edu/welcome-students/students-current-students/students-current-employment-information/optional-practical-training-opt/ 

No, at this time there are no TAships or GSRs available for the MECPS program. These options may be available in the future.

The program lasts four quarters plus a summer quarter (one academic year, a summer quarter and another fall quarter).  No, this will not impact your visa.

Your visa will be processed by the UCI International Center, the same way it is processed for other degree programs. More information is available at https://ic.uci.edu/students/newStudents.php.

To earn the degree, students must complete 48 units.

No. All courses are specific to the MECPS program and are not taken from other ICS or EECS offerings. They are taught by faculty from both departments.

The curriculum consists of eleven courses as described on our courses page.

MECPS is geared towards preparing students for a professional career in Cyber-physical Systems. If you are interested in pursuing an academic career then the regular MS Computer Engineering program is better suited.

This is your choice to make. MECPS does not prevent you from applying to the Ph.D. program after completion of MECPS. We recommend that you check with schools you are targeting for the PhD.

Please note that the primary focus of MECPS is preparation for a professional career in industry. In general, if you are planning for a PhD then a traditional thesis oriented MS may be better suited.

No, it does not. MECPS is a five quarter professional program that culminates in a Master of Embedded and Cyber-physical Systems degree. If you are interested in a research-oriented career, then a traditional Master of Science (e.g. with a thesis option) may be more suitable.

We recommend a Windows laptop, i5 processor, 8 gb ram, 512gb hdd. For more details, please visit Engineering Computer Labs & Laptops

No, summer internships are encouraged but optional. Internships are a great way to become familiar with a company and prospective employer.

If you are not interested or cannot secure an internship, the summer quarter can be used to start the capstone project (or simply for vacation).

While we do not have specific agreements with industry regarding hiring our MECPS graduates, we will organize a number of events that allow students and industry to interact. For example,  students will present their projects in a forum that has industry partners invited hence giving you exposure to potential hiring personnel.

After graduation, 55% of our students are hired within 3 months in industries including IoT Stack Design, Firmware Engineering, Cloud Programming, Defense Systems, Home Automation, Information Technology, Software Engineering and Software Development.

Even before graduation, 19% of our students are receiving job offers.

Yes, the program accommodates for an internship during the summer quarter. 

No, this is a full time in-person program. Online courses are not offered.

Academic Calendar for AY 24-25 can be found here: https://www.reg.uci.edu/calendars/quarterly/2024-2025/quarterly24-25.html

For new International Students, click here for details: https://grad.uci.edu/current-students/admitted-student-checklists/new-international-graduate-student-pre-arrival-checklist/

For new Domestic Students, click here for details: https://grad.uci.edu/current-students/admitted-student-checklists/new-domestic-student-pre-arrival-checklist/