Prospective Student FAQs
The Master’s in Telecommunications Program
What sets apart the University of Maryland Master’s in Telecommunications program?
What are the program requirements? And what degree do students earn?
Where do your graduates find positions in the telecommunications industry?
How do students find jobs after graduation?
What’s the difference between the ENTS and ENEE programs?
General Admissions and Application Questions
Is the MS in Telecommunications program a STEM program?
What is the minimum GPA requirement?
Do you require a GRE score?
How do I check my application status?
What is the application review process?
When will a decision be made on my application?
Where do I find my UID?
What are my chances for admission?
What are the requirements for the uploaded copy of my transcripts or marksheets?
When do I need to send my official hard copy transcript?
Where can I find a calendar of the academic year?
For additional FAQs about the application process and policy of the Graduate School, please refer here.
Letters of Recommendation
Can I add or delete a recommender after submitting my application?
How do I make changes to a recommender’s information after submitting my application (i.e. email address)?
My recommenders are requesting that I resend the email to them. How can I do this?
One of my recommenders did not receive the notification email from the TerpEngage application. What should I do?
What should I do if my recommender cannot submit online?
What should I do if my recommender does not have an institutional email address?
International Applicants
I am an international applicant, should I convert my GPA to the US scale?
I am an international applicant and do not have a SSN for the Demographics section in the application.
What score do you require on the TOEFL exam for provisional and full admission?
I think I might be exempt from the English Proficiency requirements. How do I know?
What is the University and program code that I should give to ETS to have my TOEFL/GRE scores sent?
I completed the IELTS exam. Where should I send my scores?
When do I need to send my official hard copy transcript?
The Master’s in Telecommunications Program
What sets apart the University of Maryland Master’s in Telecommunications program?
The ENTS program is distinctive in that the core courses are divided between technical subject matter and MBA-style business courses. The technical courses cover Information System Security, Wireless Communications, and Networking; while the business courses teach business and management skills within the Telecommunications industry. This central goal of the program is to help students advance within the telecom profession and to create industry leaders.
What are the program requirements? And what degree do students earn?
The degree requires 30 credits, which translates to 10 three-credit courses, and a scholarly paper. On average, full-time students take 3 classes per semester to complete the program in 2 years. ENTS students earn a Master of Science in Telecommunications degree. This is a non-thesis option degree.
Where do your graduates find positions in the telecommunications industry?
Graduates of the ENTS Program go on to work for companies like Qualcomm, Cisco, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Hughes Network Systems and Amazon, just to name a few. Job placement and starting salary after graduation largely depends on the individual’s career goals and interests and background experience.
How do students find jobs after graduation?
Each year there are a number of career fairs on campus, both campus-wide and specifically for the ECE department. The Engineering Career Services Office provides engineering students with many resources to assist in the job search process. This includes access to Careers4Engineers, a 24-hour job portal. They also provide advising and workshops regarding resume writing, interviewing skills, and more! This is a resource that many of our students find extremely useful.
What is the difference between the ENTS and ENEE programs?
The ENTS program is intended for students who wish to advance within the telecommunications industry and therefore provides students with the management tools and technical expertise to do so. Students will obtain practical experience in this program that is very attractive to the industry. Many ENTS students complete an internship in the telecommunications industry during their program. The ENEE and ENTS programs are different in focus and suits a different set of interests and goals. ENEE is a research-oriented program and is ideal for applicants who are interested in electrical and computer engineering research and/or wish to pursue a PhD in the field. The ENTS program is industry-focused and professional in nature, and therefore does not include independent research. The ENTS program is not considered a stepping stone to the ENEE program and there is no transfer option. The ENTS program also includes a business component as half of the required courses are MBA-style business courses. If you are interested in advancing professionally within the telcom industry, the ENTS program may be the right fit for you.
General Admissions and Application Questions
Is the MS in Telecommunications Program a STEM program?
Yes, it is a STEM (Science, Technology, Enginering and Math) program. International students graduating from this program are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT), and are allowed to work in the US for up to three years.
What is the minimum GPA requirement?
The minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0.
Do you require a GRE score?
No, our program does not require a GRE score. If you feel that your GRE score strengthens your application and you would like to submit a score, it will be strongly considered. The University code is 5814. You do not need to indicate a program code.
How do I check my application status?
Your admission status can be checked by logging in to your Terpengage application and looking on your dashboard. Individual application items will show as received or not received. It does take some time for test scores to show as received. If it has been more than four weeks since you submitted your score, please email us.
What is the application review process?
After your application is complete, i.e. all test scores and recommendations have been received, it will be reviewed by the ENTS Admissions Committee. The department will decide whether or not to recommend you for admission. International Student credentials must also be reviewed by the Graduate School. The Graduate School makes all final admission decisions and will issue your official admission letter.
When will a decision be made on my application?
Department recommendations are made on a rolling basis from March through May for fall admission and from October through December for spring admission.
Where do I find my UID?
After you submit your application, you will receive an email from the Graduate School that contains your Terpengage id and your University ID (UID). Please retain this information.
What are my chances for admission?
Admission to the ENTS program is considered competitive and decisions are made by a confidential admissions committee. Applicants should use their own judgment to decide whether they wish to submit an application based on the requirements presented. Please be aware that the minimum GPA requirement for the program is a 3.0. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of slightly less than a 3.0 may be considered if they have demonstrated strong performance in prior graduate studies and/or professional experience. Applicants should address these areas in their statement of purpose.
What are the requirements for the uploaded copy of my transcripts or marksheets?
To be considered complete and able to review, the copy of your academic records that you upload into your application must adhere to the following items:
- Scanned copy of the original/official paper version
- Originated from the Registrar’s Office (evidence of such includes: university seal, stamp, signature, copy of sealed envelope, etc.)
- Transcript/Marksheet must be complete, that is, show all coursework completed and grades/marks received
- Transcript must show evidence of degree awarded, if applicable
- Scanned copy must be readable
- Electronically generated transcripts are not acceptable
- If your transcript is not in English, both an original language version and English translation must be provided. Upload these as a single document.
When do I need to send my official hard copy transcript?
This is only completed by applicants who have been offered admission and intend to enroll. The Graduate School will provide you with more information regarding this provision.
Where can I find a calendar of the academic year?
The Provost’s Office provides academic calendars. The calendar will tell you the start of classes, exams, and holidays throughout the academic year.
For additional FAQs about the application process and policy of the Graduate School, please refer here.
Letters of Recommendation
Can I add or delete a recommender after submitting my application?
To add or delete a recommender, log into your application, and update your “Recommender Provider List” in the “Recommendations” section. Recommenders may only be deleted if they have not submitted a recommendation.
How do I make changes to a recommender’s information after submitting my application (i.e. email address)?
In order to update the email address of a recommender, log into your application, and navigate to your “Recommender Provider List” in the “Recommendations” section. You will need to add the recommender again with the corrected email address. Then delete the recommender with the incorrect email address. Recommenders may only be deleted if they have not submitted a recommendation.
My recommenders are requesting that I resend the email to them. How can I do this?
To resend recommendation requests, first, log into your application. In the “Recommendations” section, click “resend” next to the name of the recommender who has not received the request.
One of my recommenders did not receive the notification email from the Terpengage application. What should I do?
Ask your recommender to disable any spam blocking software and/or allow the access of gradappsupport@umd.edu. It is essential that recommenders disable any popup blocking software as it may preclude the display of important information. You can also resend the recommendation request through your application.
What should I do if my recommender cannot submit online?
First, encourage your recommender to contact Terpengage technical support. If that option has been exhausted, contact the Graduate School.
What should I do if my recommender does not have an institutional email address?
Your recommender should upload his/her recommendation letter typed on institutional letterhead. This can be done electronically through the Recommenders section of the application.
International Applicants
I am an international applicant, should I convert my GPA to the US scale?
No, please do not convert your GPA to the US scale. Please refer to your original GPA in your application materials. The Graduate School will evaluate your transcripts to determine your GPA on a US scale.
I am an international applicant and do not have a SSN for the Demographics section in the application. What should I do?
Please leave this field blank.
What score do you require on the TOEFL exam for provisional and full admission?
Please see the University’s TOEFL requirements.
I think I might be exempt from the English Proficiency requirements. How do I know?
Please review the minimum requirements document for exemption information. If you have questions, you should contact the Graduate School.
What is the University and program code that I should I give to ETS to have my TOEFL/GRE scores sent?
The University code is 5814. You do not need to indicate a program code. The Graduate School at the University of Maryland will only accept official test scores sent directly by the testing agencies.
I completed the IELTS exam. Where should I send my scores?
Please request that official scores be sent to the following address:
University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operations – Attn: Graduate Admissions
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742
When do I need to send my official hard copy transcript?
This is only completed by those applicants who have been offered admission and intend to enroll. The Graduate School will provide you with more information regarding this provision.
Financial Questions
Does UMD offer financial aid or assistantships?
The University of Maryland hires thousands of enrolled UMD students every semester. There are openings for Graduate Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, and Administrative Assistantships. Assistantships provide graduate students with the financial resources necessary to pursue their degrees. This financial support – stipend, tuition remission, and benefits – is part of the University’s commitment to the success of our graduate students. For more information, please take a look at our student employment page.
What is the cost of tuition and fees?
The Master’s in Telecommunications Program has a non-standard tuition. Tuition for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semester is $1230.50 per credit. The tuition rate is the same for all students, regardless of residency or citizenship.
The University also charges mandatory fees for all graduate students. The fee schedule is set according to the number of credits registered. Mandatory fee information can be found on the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website.
What are the annual living expenses for graduate students?
The International Student and Scholar Services office might be able to provide an estimated cost of living because it varies from year to year.