GRE is the acronym for Graduate Record Examination. It is a standardized test required to gain admission to postgraduate programmes in the United States and Canada including a few other countries. The GRE is owned by the Educational Testing Service. Additionally, it was established in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
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The General Test seeks to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills. It is expected that each candidate should have developed these skills as they are crucial to one’s success in today’s demanding programs.
The GRE verbal reasoning section seeks to measure the candidate’s ability to:
The GRE quantitative reasoning section seeks to measure the candidate’s ability to:
Additionally, this section also includes an on-screen calculator.
The GRE analytical writing and critical thinking section seek to measure the candidate’s ability to:
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
| Analytical writing (1 section, 2 separately timed tasks) | One “analyze an issue” taskOne “analyze an argument” task | 30 mins per task |
| Verbal reasoning (2 sections) | 20 questions per section | 30 mins per section |
| Quantitative reasoning (2 sections) | 20 questions per section | 35 mins per section |
| Unscored or research section | Varies | Varies |
Read also: Do International Students In The US Get Jobs After Graduation? All You Need To Know
Some of the top universities in the U.S. that offer STEM master’s courses without the GRE requirement include
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks as part of the top universities in the world according to the QS World ranking. Specifically, it ranks at number one. It is a private land-grant research university and has played a huge role in the development of technology and science in this modern era. Additionally, it was established in 1861 and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Basic admission requirement
Kindly note that this is not a generally acceptable requirement for all courses and is subject to changes from the university.
| Programs | GPA Requirement | TOEFL iBT score | Additional requirement |
| MS in Computational Science and Engineering | 3.5 (90%) | 100 | SOP, 3 LOR, Resume |
| MS in Chemical Engineering | 3.8 (93%) | 90 | SOP, 3 LOR |
| MS in Business Analytics | 3.5 (90%) | 90 | SOP, 3 LOR |
| MS in Management Studies | 3.8 (93%) | 3.8 (93%) | SOP, 3 LOR, Essays, Resume |
Boston University is equally a private research university founded in 1839 by a group of Methodists in Newbury, Vermont. It ranks at number 93 according to the QS world ranking and offers masters of science in STEM courses like Electrical & Computer Engineering, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and so on.
Basic admission requirement
Kindly note that this is not a generally acceptable requirement for all courses and is subject to changes from the university.
| Programs | GPA Requirement | TOEFL iBT score | Additional requirement |
| MS in Computer Engineering | 3.0 (85%) | 84 | SOP, 2 LOR, Resume |
| MS in Artificial Intelligence | 3.0 (85%) | 84 | SOP, 2 LOR, Resume |
| MS in Mechanical Engineering | 3.0 (85%) | 84 | SOP, 2 LOR, Resume |
| MS in Business Analytics | 3.0 (85%) | 84 | SOP, 2 LOR, Resume |
Also read: Top 10 Easiest STEM Courses To Study In The US
The University of North Texas was founded in 1890 and its main campus is located in Denton, Texas. It currently offers about 112 bachelor’s degrees, 94 master’s degrees and 38 doctoral degree programs. It is equally ranked as part of the best universities in the world according to the QS world ranking. Since its inception, it has grown to be part of the best universities in the country. It enrolled 44,532 students in the 2022 fall semester. Some of the courses it offers include data science, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering and so on.
Basic admission requirement
Kindly note that this is not a generally acceptable requirement for all courses and is subject to changes from the university.
| Programs | GPA Requirement | TOEFL iBT score | Additional requirement |
| MS in Computer Science & Engineering | 3.0 (85%) | 80 | SOP or LOR may be required |
| MS in Data Science | 3.2 (87%) | 80 | 2 LOR, Resume, Professional Experience or training |
| MS in Electrical Engineering | 3.0 (85%) | 79 | SOP or LOR may be required |
| MS in Accounting | 3.0 (85%) | 79 | Essay (600-700 words), 3 LOR, Resume |
Purdue University was founded in 1869 and it is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana. It is a top-notch research university that embraces innovation. It ranks at number 99 according to the QS world ranking and is popularly known for its engineering programme.
Basic admission requirement
Kindly note that this is not a generally acceptable requirement for all courses and is subject to changes from the university.
| Programs | GPA Requirement | TOEFL iBT score | Additional requirement |
| MS in Computational Science & Engineering | 3.25 (88%) | 80 | SOP, 2 LOR, Resume, Diversity Essay (500 words) |
| MS in Environmental Health Sciences | 3.3 (88%) | 80 | SOP, 3 LOR, Resume |
Northeastern University is a private research university that was established in 1898. It is one of the largest universities in Massachusetts by enrollment. It is also part of the universities in the US that offers master’s degree without GRE test scores. It is equally ranked as part of the top universities in the world according to the QS world ranking.
Basic admission requirement
Kindly note that this is not a generally acceptable requirement for all courses and is subject to changes from the university.
| Programs | GPA Requirement | TOEFL iBT score | Additional requirement |
| MS in Information Systems | 3.0 (85%) | 95 | 2 LOR, SOP, Resume |
| MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering | 3.5 (90%) | 100 | 2 LOR, SOP, Resume |
| MS in Electrical Engineering | 3.5 (90%) | 100 | 2 LOR, SOP, Resume |
| MS in Chemical and Biological Engineering | 3.0 (85%) | 90 | 2 LOR, SOP, Resume |
Other universities that do not necessarily require a GRE test for STEM courses in the US before enrollment include:
Rather than take a GRE test, students can alternatively apply for a GRE waiver. A GRE waiver is an exemption which provides students with the opportunity to bypass the requirement of submitting a GRE test score. The waiver provides an alternative route for students to demonstrate their academic potential. It is granted due to various factors like exceptional academic achievements, research or publications experience, advanced degrees and so on. The requirement for obtaining a GRE waiver differs according to the university’s condition. It is important to check for the requirement of your chosen university so that you can know what is expected.
Below are the requirements you need to meet before applying for a GRE waiver. It is also important to note that this differs according to the university’s requirements.
Seeking to start a career in the STEM field? Enrolling in the top universities in the world can increase your chances with employers. Unfortunately, it can be quite expensive to study abroad due to the current economic crisis. But this shouldn’t limit you as there are other options you can explore to enhance your career.
MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require any cosigner or collateral before application. You can reach out to us, as we’ll love to guide you through this journey.
Read also:
Do International Students In The US Get Jobs After Graduation? All You Need To Know
Which Country Is Best For STEM Education?
5 Countries To Study Data Analytics: Certs, Salary, Job Prospects
Top 10 Easiest STEM Courses To Study In The U.K.
This post was last modified on February 14, 2024 1:44 pm