Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. The program is a balanced combination of the theoretical and practical aspects of mechanical engineering with enough flexibility to allow for interaction with the ever-changing sciences and technologies in the world and with the developing needs of the region. The program offers two research-based thesis options to complement the course work: Thesis and Non-Thesis.
The program aims to enhance and expand students' science and engineering knowledge in one of the following areas:

The general research interests in the department include works in areas such as mechanical vibrations, dynamics and control, stress analysis, tribology, computer-aided design, robotics, biomechanics, computer-aided manufacturing, mechanical behavior of materials, composites, corrosion, thermodynamics, heat transfer, theoretical, experimental, and computational fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, energy management, renewable energy, combustion, HVAC, desalination, and power plants.

Admission Requirements

Regular (Degree) Student Admission

1. Bachelor of science degree or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field conferred by Kuwait University or another academic institution recognized by Kuwait University. A bachelor degree in Engineering Technology is not accepted in the program.
2. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.67 points on a scale of 4.00 or its equivalent and an average in the field of specialization of not less than 2.67 points on a scale of 4.00 or its equivalent.
3. A good command of the English Language.
4. A written consent from the workplace confirms that there is no objection to joining the graduate program for an employed applicant.
5. An employed applicant who is admitted as a full-time student must submit a written decision on the scholarship awarded by the concerned authority to be allowed to register.
6. The applicant must fulfill any additional conditions approved by the College of Graduate School and required by the program to which the applicant aims to join, including any additional courses.
7. The applicant should not have been academically dismissed from the program.
8. The applicant should not have had disciplinary action taken against the applicant by an academic institution.
9. The applicant should not have obtained a Graduate Diploma from the program.

Non-Degree Student Admission

A non-degree student is allowed to study graduate-level courses without being enrolled for an academic degree. Any applicant who wishes to register for graduate courses as a non-degree student is required to satisfy the following conditions:

1. Must have a bachelor of science degree or equivalent conferred by Kuwait University or by an academic institution recognized by Kuwait University.

2. Must have a minimum overall GPA of at least 2.50 on a scale of 4.00 or its equivalent and an average in the field of specialization of not less than 2.50 points on a scale of 4.00 or its equivalent.
 
Non-degree students must pay a study fee for each registered course credit. The College of Graduate Studies issues a transcript showing the grades obtained by the student in each course.

In addition to the requirements listed (items 3 to 9), a non-degree student may transfer to the degree status (regular admission) upon satisfying the following conditions:

1. Earn a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering conferred by Kuwait University or another academic institution recognized by Kuwait University. A bachelor degree in Engineering Technology is not accepted in the program.

2. Complete at least 12 credits with a minimum overall GPA of 3.00/4.00, not more than two years before the date of transfer to the degree status. The students must fulfill the following:
     a. Pass the course 600-512 "Advanced Engineering Mathematics I" with a "B" or better grade.
     b. Pass at least three other courses from the ME Graduate Program with an average "B" or better grade.

3. In case of a student holding a bachelor of science degree in disciplines other than Mechanical Engineering, conferred by Kuwait University or by another academic institution recognized by Kuwait University, a provisional degree status may be granted subject to the fulfillment of item 2 above. A transfer to regular admission status can be granted later upon completion of any remedial undergraduate courses, not to exceed five courses, recommended by the ME graduate program committee. More details are given in section 2.3. 

 

Provisional Admission

An applicant is given a provisional admission in the following two cases:

A. If the applicant has satisfied all the requirements of admission in Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 and the program graduate committee recommends admission on condition that the applicant must pass additional undergraduate courses for a maximum of 15 credit hours. The credits of these additional courses shall not be counted as part of the requirements for the study program towards earning a Master degree. Also, the grades from the additional course shall not be included in the calculation of the overall grade point average. 

The student admitted on this condition should register for all the required additional courses during the first semester of the student admission, and the registration should be for a normal study load as stipulated in the graduate college by-laws. In exceptional cases and with the approval of both the program graduate committee and the College of Graduate Studies, some of the required additional courses may be postponed to the second semester of the student admission. If the provisionally admitted student passes the required courses with an overall average of 3.00 points (on a scale of 4.00), the student admission status is changed to regular. Otherwise, the student is academically dismissed from the program.

B. If the applicant satisfies the requirements for regular student admission, listed in 2.1 above, with the exception of item 2.1.2, and the applicant is a certified disabled person who has a minimum overall average of 2.33 points and a specialization average of at least 2.50 points on the scale of 4.00 in undergraduate courses. The admitted student must obtain an overall average of 3.00 points or above at the end of the first semester to change the student admission status to regular. Otherwise, the student is dismissed from the program.

M.Sc. Program Requirements

Kuwait University awards the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Part-time and full-time students are admitted to this program. The typical completion time for the Master degree is two years for full-time study and research, or three years for part-time study and research.

Students who are admitted to the Master's program may complete either the thesis option or the non-thesis option. The thesis option requires the completion of an independent research study, which must be documented in a publishable thesis. The thesis option requires completion of 33 credits (24 credits of coursework and 9 credits of thesis research). 

On the other hand, the non-thesis option requires the completion of a research project. The student must register for the project course (0630-593) and submit a written report for the project. In addition, the student enrolled with the non-thesis option must pass a written and oral examination. 

The non-thesis option requires the completion of 33 credits (30 credits of coursework and 3 credits of project). For both Master's program options (thesis or non-thesis), the student must be supervised by an ME faculty member during the thesis (project) implementation.