USA · Master's
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (EECS)
SM in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (EECS)
Course Overview
The SM in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT is a research-led Master of Science, typically pursued en route to a doctorate in the same department. Sri Lankan applicants are matched with a faculty supervisor on day one and join one of the lab groups across CSAIL, RLE, MTL or LIDS — working on topics from machine learning systems and circuit design to robotics and computational biology.
Coursework is light and elective-driven: four to six graduate subjects taken alongside a thesis that takes the bulk of the second year. Funded admits cover full tuition plus a monthly stipend through Research or Teaching Assistantships — the structure that lets nearly every MIT EECS graduate student attend without paying out of pocket.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree in EECS, computer science, electrical engineering, physics or mathematics with a strong GPA (admitted Sri Lankan students typically have a First Class from Moratuwa, Peradeniya or Colombo).
- check_circle Substantial research experience — published papers, conference posters, or an undergraduate thesis with a named supervisor.
- check_circle Three academic references, ideally from research mentors who know your work.
- check_circle Statement of objectives describing the specific MIT faculty and labs you want to join.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (department preferred over TOEFL).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall accepted.
- check_circle Waived if your bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English (most Sri Lankan state-university degrees qualify).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount ($) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | $83,405 | Rs. 26,689,600 |
| Living Expenses (Cambridge, MA, 12 months) | $24,000 | Rs. 7,680,000 |
| Health Insurance (MIT Affiliate Plan) | $3,800 | Rs. 1,216,000 |
| F-1 Visa, SEVIS & Travel | $2,200 | Rs. 704,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | $113,405 | Rs. 36,289,600 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
EECS graduates clear F-1 OPT plus a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months in total to find an H-1B sponsor. Recent placements include research roles at Google DeepMind, Meta AI, NVIDIA, OpenAI and Apple, plus PhD continuations at MIT, Stanford and Berkeley. Median first-year salaries for graduates entering industry sit around $185,000 in software and ML roles.
Related Programs
SM in Computational Science and Engineering
Harvard University (John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)
MS in Computer Science
Stanford University
MS in Computer Science
University of Southern California (Viterbi School of Engineering)
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