Preferred International Partnership Program (PIP) @ GW Engineering

The PIP program is designed to allow international graduate students from prominent institutions of higher education the ability to receive a graduate degree from the George Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science, at a discounted cost while still being eligible to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and/or Optional Practical Training (OPT). 

Students who participate in the PIP program, would start their graduate studies at the partner institution by taking three pre-approved graduate level courses for a total of nine credit hours. So long as the student has received the equivalent grade of “B” or higher, they will have the ability to transfer six (6) to nine (9) credit hours, ultimately decreasing the total remaining credit hours needed to complete the graduate program on-campus at GW. Students enrolled in a degree program that requires a total of thirty-three (33) or thirty-six (36) credit hours can transfer up to three (3) courses for a total of nine (9) credit hours, while students enrolled in a degree program that requires a total of thirty (30) credit hours can transfer up to two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credit hours. The agreement with each partner institution would include the identified pre-approved courses for each MS program and established GW course equivalencies. 

For the remainder of the degree, students would receive a tuition discount for the courses they enroll in on-campus at GW, so long as they stay in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or higher). Upon completion of 12 credit hours (4 courses), students would be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) while continuing to study at GW in their final semester and upon completion of the graduate program, students would be eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training. 

Agreements with Preferred International Partner Institutions would include the following:

1. GW Engineering will waive the application fee for students from Preferred International Partner Institutions who apply to any eligible GW Engineering graduate program. All eligible graduate programs will be listed in the agreement along with the pre-approved courses and GW course equivalencies. 
2. Students applying to these programs will be required to meet GW Engineering admissions standards. Students will be required to submit: copies of their transcripts (and individual semester marksheets if applicable) from all prior institutions attended, proof of English language proficiency if applicable, a Statement of Purpose, a resume or CV, and 1 letter of recommendation from a faculty member from the Preferred International Partner Institution or 2 letters of recommendation from other individuals. The GRE requirement will be waived for all applicants applying to a PIP program.
3. GW Engineering will award 25–50% merit tuition discount scholarships to admitted students from Preferred International Partner Institutions. The exact tuition discount will be included in the agreement for each program. 
4. Once admitted, students will be apprised of the program information and conditions of their admission (such as, maintaining a grade point average of “B” or higher during their first semester) so that students can make an informed decision regarding accepting or declining the offer. GW Engineering will waive the enrollment deposit fee—in its place, admitted students intending to enroll will be required to submit sufficient financial documentation as proof of funding to ensure students will be able to receive a form I-20 at a future date. Once the conditions have been acknowledged and the financial documents have been received, GW Engineering will defer the students admission by one semester. 
5. Students participating in the PIP program will be required to maintain a “B” or higher at the partner institution in their first semester. Participating Partners will provide GW Engineering with the students' grades internally to proceed with the form I-20 process.
6. After students have arrived in DC to begin on-campus coursework, GW Engineering will work with students to transfer-in the previously completed credit hours (up to nine contingent on the overall number of program credits required).

Participating Schools

Note to any prospective partner institutions: Please reach out to Katherine Hugins, if you are interested in learning more about this program.