PhDRecommended

PhD of Transportation Engineering

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, United States
4 years
English
On campus
PhD

About the program

A doctoral programme of independent, Publishable research in transportation.

Program highlights

Internship available: no
Placement support: yes
Work during study: yes
Post-study work rights (3 years): yes
PR pathway friendly: no

What you will learn

Formulate original research questions in Transportation Engineering
Apply suitable research methods
Evaluate evidence critically
And communicate an independent research contribution through a substantial scholarly project.

Career outcomes

Engineering Technologist
Technical Project Coordinator
Quality Assurance Specialist

Curriculum

700-level electives (12 credits for master's entrants
36 for bachelor's-only entrants with at least 12 at 700 level)
Plus TRAN 790A dissertation
TRAN 792B pre-doctoral research and a zero-credit doctoral seminar each full-time semester. Independent study is capped at 3 credits per course.

Entry requirements

Academic

Bachelor or master degree as the programme requires
Transcripts in English
Personal statement
CV
Two recommendation letters
Programme-specific writing samples
English test.

Accepted academic background

Completed four-year U.S. Bachelor degree or equivalent (master degree where the programme requires), Transcripts in English, Personal statement, CV, Two recommendation letters (three for Health Sciences Engineering and Communication and Rhetoric), GRE/GMAT required for Management PhD, Programme-specific writing samples or research proposals.

Language tests

TOEFL iBT 88
IELTS 6.5
Duolingo 120
PTE Academic 59

Documents you’ll need

Passport copy
Academic transcripts
English proficiency evidence
Personal statement or essay where required
Recommendations where required
Financial support evidence for immigration documentation.

How to apply

Visit the official website. Review the international applicant requirements and deadline. Complete the appropriate application. Submit academic transcripts
English proficiency evidence
Recommendations
program-specific materials. Pay the application fee. Accept the admission offer and pay the enrollment deposit. Submit financial documentation for immigration processing. Follow the university instructions for the I-20 and F-1 visa.

Other costs

Tuition per year	$67,767 USD
Application fee	$75 USD
Deposit	$500 USD

Program details

Campus	Troy
Faculty or school	School of Engineering
Department	Civil and Environmental Engineering
Teaching language	English
Credit value	72
Study pace	Fixed
Post-study stay	3 years
Scholarship note	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers merit-based, Program-specific, Or institutional scholarship opportunities for eligible students. Award availability, Value, Eligibility, And deadlines vary by program and intake.

Intakes and deadlines

Program starts
August 2027
Apply by
15 Dec 2026
31 days left

Frequently asked questions

The program takes 4 years.