Students who have a unique learning need might find the right fit with Non-Candidate for Degree (NCFD) status. Credit earned from these courses may be used toward other degrees at U-M as well as other institutions with pre-approval.
What does NCFD mean?
NCFD is a temporary student status whereby new students can take one or two online Systems Engineering and Design (SED) courses and earn transferable academic credit from the University of Michigan (U-M). This could appeal to students looking for professional development without committing to an entire degree.
NCFD students pay the same tuition rate as SED degree-seeking students, and may take up to two courses within one academic year. NCFD status is discontinued after the completion of two courses and cannot be repeated.
NCFD status may appeal to the following groups:
- Students enrolled in other universities who are interested in earning transferable academic credit from U-M.
- Professionals interested in taking 1-2 courses as part of their professional development.
- Anyone who wants to take 1-2 courses as a precursor to seeking formal admission into a degree-seeking program later on.
- Graduates of programs who wish to take additional courses.
- Students from other U-M programs who wish to take an online course while not enrolled in any other U-M course during a semester.
Admissions deadline
Applicants must submit the required application materials no later than three weeks before the first day of classes for the semester. The U-M academic calendar can be accessed here.
Admissions process and materials
- All applicants are required to fill out an online application.
- NCFD applicants do not need to submit a personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation or GRE scores.
- In some cases, an English proficiency test may be required.
- All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee.
- All applicants are required to provide one official transcript or certified credentials from all universities and community colleges they’ve attended.
- All applicants must supply a statement of purpose
Official transcript requirements
Please refer to the document below for information about what constitutes an official transcript, as well as official transcript submission information.
- Refer to the U-M College of Engineering Official Transcript Information webpage to see what constitutes as an official transcript, as well as official transcript submission information.
- Please contact [email protected] with any questions related to official transcripts.
If your academic credentials are in a language other than English, your institution must submit both the original document and a certified English translation. International credentials should include a certified copy of the diploma if awarded.
English translations must be literal, word-for-word translations in the same format as the original academic record. If your academic institution does not supply an official translation, we will accept an official translation prepared by a professional licensed translation service or from an Education USA office in your region.
An evaluation provided by a credential service, for example, Educational Credentials Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES), is not accepted.
Ordering a Scholaro GPA report for non-U.S. institutions
International students who completed education at non-U.S. institutions must complete a Scholaro GPA Report to convert their international average grade point to a U.S. Four Point GPA.
English Proficiency Test
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency and are required to provide one of the official score reports from one of the drop downs below.
If you received a bachelor’s degree from a college or university where the language of instruction is exclusively English, the English proficiency requirement may be waived. In some cases, we may require students to take courses at the English Language Institute.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are sent electronically from ETS directly to the University of Michigan. U-M does accept TOEFL IBT Home edition.
- U-M’s institution code is 1839
- Official International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are sent electronically to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (select “University of Michigan-Ann Arbor” from drop-down menu).
- Official Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) and Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) scores must be mailed directly to the College of Engineering Graduate Professional Programs Office from the testing agency. Test scores are valid two years from the test date and must be received by the application deadline.
- Please use your legal name as stated on your passport when registering for the TOEFL and when submitting your online application. If your name does not match exactly, there will be a delay in matching your test scores to the application data.
- Your birthdate should be in month/day/year format (e.g., 09/19/1983).
- Photocopies and/or faxes of English proficiency scores will not be accepted.
- Minimum score requirements for admission consideration are indicated in the table below.
IBT TOEFL scores
- Assessment provider: Educational Testing Service
- Speaking test: Yes
- Minimum overall score: 84
- Submission of test scores: TOEFL scores are sent by ETS electronically to institution code: 1839; department code: Engineering Other, 69.
Revised Paper Delivered Test (For tests taken July 2017 or later)
- Assessment provider: Educational Testing Service
- Speaking test: No
- Minimum overall score: An overall score is not provided for this test. Minimum section scores: Reading = 23; Listening = 23; Writing = 21
- Submission of test scores: TOEFL scores are sent by ETS electronically to institution code: 1839; department code: Engineering Other, 69
MET scores
- Assessment provider: Michigan Language Assessments
- Speaking test: Yes
- Minimum overall score: 4-Skill test; minimum Overall score = 59
- Submission of test scores: Scores are mailed directly to CoE from the testing agency. Mailing address: Graduate Professional Programs, College of Engineering Office of Student Affairs, 145A Chrysler Center, 2121 Bonisteel Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122
IELTS including IELTS “at home” scores
- Assessment provider: Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Speaking test: Academic version
- Minimum overall score: 6.5
- Submission of test scores: Official IELTS scores are sent electronically to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
ECPE scores
- Assessment provider: Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments
- Speaking test: Yes
- Minimum overall score: Certificate of Proficiency
- Submission of test scores: Scores must be sent directly to CoE from the testing agency. Mailing address: Graduate Professional Programs, College of Engineering Office of Student Affairs, 145A Chrysler Center, 2121 Bonisteel Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122
English proficiency test exceptions
You qualify for an exemption from taking an English proficiency examination if one of the following criteria are met:
- You are a native speaker of English.
- You completed all of your undergraduate education and earned an undergraduate degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English only. Undergraduate degree requirements must be completed before the start of classes at U-M.
- You completed all of your graduate education and earned a graduate degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English only. Graduate degree requirements must be completed before the start of classes at U-M.
- A one-year graduate degree does not meet an English exemption.
- If you completed a master’s degree that was strictly research and no academic classes, that degree does not meet the exemption. This type of master’s degree is generally awarded at a non-U.S. institution.
- You are a current U-M student.
Degree admissions process after completing two ISD Courses as an NCFD student
If NCFD students decide they want to pursue a full Systems Engineering and Design (SED) degree from U-M, they must submit an application and all required materials by the application deadlines. Visit our application materials page for more information.
Important notes
- Completing two NCFD courses before pursuing the full degree does not guarantee acceptance into the SED program.
- Admissions decisions are sent appropriately 6-8 weeks after the application deadline.
- NCFD students interested in admission to the SED master’s degree program must meet a “B” (3.0-4.0) grade in all NCFD courses taken thus far.