SOE Fifth-Year Master's Degree Program

In this program, students complete all requirements for the B.A./B.S. and the M.S. The last two semesters of undergraduate study prepare students for the first year of graduate work, eliminating duplication of courses and reducing the time required to earn the two degrees. Students will complete their B.S. requirements before matriculating into the M.S. program.

Tufts undergraduate students have the option to double-count up to two graduate-level credits (100-level) toward both their bachelor's and master's degree requirements and may reserve two additional graduate-level courses towards their M.S. degree. Students who are interested in these programs should contact their department early to ensure that their course of study at the undergraduate level is preparing them for the graduate program. Courses may not be counted more than two times across certificates or degree programs. Continuous enrollment is required to maintain eligibility for the fifth-year program. 

Fifth-Year students pursuing two MS degrees will need to complete a minimum of 16 additional courses beyond their BS program. Please refer to the School of Engineering Graduate Student Handbook for more information.

School of Engineering students may enroll full- or part-time. Students enrolling in the Cybersecurity and Public Policy program must start in the fall semester while participating in the master’s degree portion of the Fifth-Year Master's Degree Program.
 

Program Benefits

• Earn two degrees in 5 years
• No application fee
• No enrollment deposit
• No GRE scores needed
• Only two letters of recommendation required. We strongly suggest that one letter is from your faculty advisor.
   

Eligible Degree Programs

The Fifth-Year Master's Degree is offered through the following programs:

• Artificial Intelligence, M.S.
• Bioengineering, M.S.
• Biomedical Engineering, M.S.
• Biophotonics, M.S.
• Chemical Engineering, M.S.
• Civil and Environmental Engineering, M.S.
• Computer Engineering, M.S.
• Computer Science, M.S.
• Cybersecurity and Public Policy, M.S. (must enroll in fall semester)
• Data Science, M.S.
• Dual Degree Program, M.S./M.S.: MS in Innovation and Management; Engineering Management; or Technology, Management, and Leadership; + MS from another School of Engineering academic department
• Electrical Engineering, M.S.
• Engineering Management, M.S.
• Human Factors Engineering, M.S.
• Human-Robot Interaction, M.S.
• Innovation and Management, M.S.
• Materials Science and Engineering, M.S.
• Mechanical Engineering, M.S.
• Offshore Wind Energy Engineering, M.S.
• Software Systems Development, M.S.
• Technology, Management, and Leadership, M.S.
   

How to Apply

Only seniors are eligible to apply to the program. The application deadline is January 15. The application requirements are as follows:

• Completed application (no application fee)
• Resume/CV
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation (one from your Tufts Faculty Advisor)

Some degree programs require additional documents. Please refer to the instructions in the online application to ensure you submit all required documents.

All admission decisions for graduate programs are made at the program level by faculty. Rising seniors who are interested in pursuing a Fifth-Year Master’s should contact the Director of Graduate Study of their intended programs. Students must be enrolled as an active undergraduate student at the time of application and must maintain continuous enrollment to remain eligible for the fifth-year program. SOE fifth-year students cannot defer their admission and are not eligible for additional discounts or scholarships.

Students accepted into the program must submit their graduation packet and Course Distribution Form to Student Services by May 1. Forms will not be accepted after May 1; there will be no exceptions. Seniors who apply to the Fifth-Year Master's Degree Program will be required to submit this form as a part of their application materials. If the required forms for course distribution have not been submitted by May 1 to Student Services, you will be considered for the master’s program only, not the Fifth-Year Master's Degree Program. 

Tuition and Financial Aid

SOE students will be charged graduate tuition, at the per-credit graduate tuition rate, upon enrollment in graduate courses during their master's degree program. Please note: All tuition and fees are subject to revisions by Tufts University’s Board of Trustees.

Institutional grant/scholarship aid, if offered, will be awarded by the graduate program for the semesters the student is charged the graduate tuition rate. SOE fifth-year students are not eligible for additional discounts or scholarships. More information on federal aid options can be found on the Financial Services website.

Tufts SOE BEST program’s financial support only supports tuition for a single master's degree. Dual-degree and certificate programs are excluded from this support. Students are responsible for all fees and healthcare costs associated with the program.
 

Residency Requirements

Completing the B.S./M.S. degree requires 8 semesters of full-time undergraduate residence. In some cases, the undergraduate residence requirement may be reduced (See "Undergraduate Policies" in the Tufts Bulletin). Students enrolled in the Cybersecurity and Public Policy Fifth-Year Master's Degree Program must complete two semesters of graduate residence. In order to begin graduate residence, a B.S./M.S. student must first complete the minimum number of course credits for undergraduate study (A&S and SOE – 120 credits), and also complete the undergraduate residence requirement.