Graduate Research at the Systems and Information Engineering Department

What kind of research is available?

As the name of the department suggests, our research areas cover a lot of ground. However, there are some general types of projects in which we specialize. Please see the Research section of our website for more information.

How do I pick a research topic (and an advisor)?

When you enter the Department, you will be assigned an advisor. DON'T PANIC, this is not the person (or the research) you will be expected to do for the rest of your career here. In your first semester, you will be expected to attend the Systems Engineering Seminar. In this seminar all of the professors will present their research areas, and you will have a chance to ask them questions. When you have selected an area (or areas) that you think would be interesting to work on, go talk to the professor. Chances are, you will get to work in an area that is interesting to you. When you and the professor have come to an agreement, change advisors. In this department the matching between students and advisors is both easy and informal. However, you should make your selection in the second semester that you are in the program, so you have plenty of time to finish the research for your degree.

Can I change advisors?

If your interests change, you can switch advisors. This is better done early, as your new advisor may have very different ideas about the courses that you should take, and the research that you will need to do.

What kind of financial aid is available?

Financial aid is dependent on the type of degree to which you are applying. Please see the degree of interest on the left menu for more information.

What is the Accelerated Master’s Program tuition and what kind of financial aid is available?

The Accelerated Master's Program is designed to enable working professionals to complete a Master of Engineering degree in less than one year while continuing to work full time. Accelerated Master's Program students are not eligible for student visas so must be either U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or otherwise entitled to reside in the U.S. while completing this program. By approval of the UVA Board of Visitors, the Virginia In-State cost for the Accelerated Master's Program is $33,000 for the 2008-09 program year (beginning May 2008). The Out-of-State cost is $38,000. Both lodging and meals are included in the tuition, as well as books and student fees. Candidates are required to provide a laptop for use during the Program.

Federal student loans, subsidized and/or unsubsidized, are available to those students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal government and a UVA Graduate Financial Aid Application to the Financial Aid Office of the University of Virginia. Student loans from private sources are also available to students. UVA's financial aid website, www.virginia.edu/financialaid, offers more detailed information concerning Federal and private loans. Please visit the Accelerated Master’s Program website for more details about the program.