To apply for either the SDM Master of Science in engineering and management or the Graduate Certificate in Systems and Product Development, please register as an applicant and complete the online application.
The application for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle will open in late August of 2023.
Application Timeline
Master’s Degree
| Deadlines | Dates |
|---|---|
| First application deadline | December 15, 2023* |
| Recommendation letters due for round one | December 22, 2023 |
| Admission decisions sent (first deadline) | March 8, 2024 |
| Second application deadline | February 29, 2024 |
| Recommendation letters due for round two | March 8, 2024 |
| Admission decisions sent (second deadline) | May 4, 2024 |
* International citizens are advised to apply by this date to allow adequate time for visa processing if admitted.
Graduate Certificate Program
| Deadlines | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | April 26, 2024 |
| Admission decisions sent | June 7, 2024 |
Application Requirements
Electronic copies of official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions from which you have received a degree(s) or performed graduate work must be uploaded using our online application form. Uploads may be in the form of a single- or multi-page PDF, or individual JPEG or TIFF image files.
Transcripts must be in English. Transcripts from international (non-US) institutions must be in English and certified.
The fee for applying to SDM is $75, payable by credit card online when you apply. You will be prompted for payment information after submitting your application.
Master’s Degree
Three letters of recommendation (with the option of one additional letter submission) must be supplied with your application. During the online application process, you will be asked to provide contact information for your recommenders and may choose for them to submit their recommendations electronically.
Recommendations should be completed by individuals who can comment with some certainty about your intellectual and professional achievements and leadership potential. If possible, one recommendation should be completed by an academic source if you have attended a university within the last five years.
We do not accept recommendations from family members.
Graduate Certificate Program
One letter of recommendation must be supplied with your application. During the online application process, you will be asked to provide contact information for your recommender and may choose for them to submit their recommendations electronically.
The recommendation should be completed by an individual who can comment with certainty about an applicant’s intellectual and professional achievements. If your application is company funded, the recommender must be your current supervisor.
We do not accept recommendations from family members.
Standardized test scores such as the GMAT or GRE are recommended but not required for application to the program. Applications submitted without test scores will be reviewed holistically and without negative inferences.
Additionally, applicants are welcome to submit other pieces of evidence, such as expired test scores (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS), which may assist the Admissions Committee in its evaluation process.
We will accept self-reported test scores by the application deadline, and welcome either traditional or online version of exams.
Test codes for the SDM program*:
- GMAT: X5X-QS-04 MIT Sloan School of Management-System Design and Management
- GRE: 3537-MASSACHUSETTS INST TECH SYS DE – Grad
If you are taking the GMAT/GRE after submitting your application, please provide the test date. We accept both the GMAT and GRE test results and have no preference for one over the other.
*Note: SDM’s test codes are different from MIT’s. Please be sure to submit the correct codes to ensure we receive your scores.
All finalists for admission to the System Design & Management (SDM) program are required to attend an on-campus or video/virtual interview prior to receiving a final decision. These applicants will be contacted directly by the SDM Admissions Office.
The online application will additionally require you to submit a resume and a statement of objectives. You should have these ready at the time of completing the application. Master’s applicants must also provide a leadership essay.
Information for International Applicants
Non-native English speakers applying to either the master’s or graduate certificate program are required to demonstrate proficiency in English if they have not obtained a post-secondary degree at an English language institution. SDM requires the submission of scores on the Cambridge English, IELTS or TOEFL exam.
The Cambridge English Qualifications are English language proficiency exams. We accept the C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency assessments, which measure a student’s English language abilities for graduate studies and competitive professional environments. We expect a CEFR score of 185 or better, and it must be less than 5 years old.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic exam measures the ability to communicate in English across all four language skills — listening, reading, writing, and speaking — for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.
We expect an IELTS score of 7.5 or better, and it must be less than 2 years old. No code is required; select “MIT Graduate Admissions” as the reporting option.
The TOEFL exam measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand the English language.
We expect a TOEFL score of 90 or better, and it must be less than 2 years old. The program code for SDM is 3514 MIT/SDM.
Reapplying to SDM
Those reapplying to the program need to submit the following:
- New SDM online application
- $75 application fee
- Updated statement of objectives
- Updated resume
- One new letter of recommendation
- GRE or GMAT scores (optional, see “Standardized Tests” section above)
All other information will be carried over from your previous application, including GRE or GMAT scores if they are still valid. You may also submit new scores if you have retaken the test since submitting your last application.
Questions and Concerns
We are here to support you. If you have any questions, please message the admissions staff through our contact form.