phd cover design

Ready for your thesis cover design?

After years of hard work it’s time for your thesis cover design. I’d love to help you with it! Together we’ll make a personal and beautiful design. Are you interested? Please contact me!

Your thesis design, your story

your PhD is a scientific achievement as well as a personal journey. It contains not only science, but also a big part of your spare time and life. If someone takes up your thesis, we want to make that person curious with the thesis design. Curious to open up your book and read more. But also, what I really like, is that your thesis design reflects you as a person. That can be very subtle in color choice and style or only visible to those who really know you. In this way we’ll get something unique. Every person is different, every taste is different and every subject is different. Combining these gives a new thesis design every time again.

What can I do for you?

Almost everything, except the text itself :-). Think about:

Invitations

Backgrounds of your powerpoint slides

The layout of the inside

On the basis of your thesis cover I always come up with extra ideas that add something to your design. For inspiration have a look at my lay-out page!

Unfortunately I don’t do designs for bachelor or master theses as well as designs for those who do their PhD at a university outside the Netherlands. I want to be fully updated about all the regulations regarding your cover and I want to know the printer we are cooperating with well. So I’m sure we will deliver a beautiful book. If you are working/living abroad, but your defense is still in the Netherlands of course that’s not a problem at all.

What does a thesis cover design cost?

The total cost depends on your wishes and things as the number of pages if you want us to do the layout. I’ll be happy to talk to you on the phone and hear what you wish for your thesis design. Of course, that’s for free.

No inspiration? I’ll help you!

Don’t worry if you don’t have any idea for your thesis design. You borrow my brain, which is always full of ideas. I ask you the right questions, so I know who you are and what your thesis is about. Based on that my brain starts to work and an idea will pop up that suits you and your subject. No preparation needed 🙂

Positive energy!

The design of your thesis cover is a great proces. You’ll see it will give you new energy. We’ll talk about who you are, what you want to radiate and we explore your taste. You’ll get a new, creative view on your thesis and you can picture the end result: a real book. You’ll have written a real book! There are only a few people who can say that.

Is there still space?

I want to maintain my personal way of working and high quality designs. Therefore I only have a few spaces each month. Please contact me at least four months before your defense. 

Would you like to see more of my designs?

Then as a final note: you can see I posted several designs on my website to give you an idea of what I have done before. However, this is just a small selection. If you’d like to see more please visit my Pinterest page . I try to keep the Pinterest page updated as well as possible so you can see all my designs.

How does it work?

Intake conversation for your thesis design.

During our first conversation (on the phone) I’ll ask you about the subject of your PhD and I try to get to know you a little bit. I’d like to know who you are so I can make a design that suits your subject as well as you as a person. The first conversation takes about an hour. Then I’ll ask you to send me some pictures of things that appeal to you. We’ll talk about them during our second conversation (also on the phone). The second talk is to give me an idea of your taste and will take about half an hour.

Concept phase

After our two conversations I design a concept thesis cover. The concept is just about the idea for the cover. It consists of a sketch and a color palette. As soon as you agree to the idea I will execute the design.

Design phase

I make the whole design for your thesis cover and I send it to you as a PDF file.

Correction round

We can adapt the thesis one more time. This round is meant for small changes. We can finetune the last things.

Print ready file of your thesis design

You’ll get your files as a pdf with the right print marks for the printer. This you can forward to the printer of your thesis. From the printer you will get a print proof of your thesis. It’s usually the best to ask for a paper print proof. On paper you always see different things then on a screen. At most printers, the paper print proof is included in the price.

A memory to hang on your wall

All my designs start with a handmade sketch. What happens next is usually partly or complete handwork depending on what I think will suit you best. I love handwork, since I feel it still has the most authentic feel to it. Very often my designs are therefore completely handmade. The only thing I do on the computer is to add the title. This means that there is an original painting. The painting stays with me to start with, but if you are interested it’s possible to buy it from me . In that way you have a nice memory to put on your wall. If I executed your design partly or completely on the computer, we can have it printed in a bigger size via a specialized printer .

I see you have a medical background. My thesis is about a completely different subject. Can you still help me?

Sure, I can. I’m very interested in a broad range of sciences. I really enjoy learning from all the different PhD students and subjects I work with. I’d love to help you!

I do see designs on your website that I like, but ‘my’ design is not there, is that a problem?

Because my way of working is very personal, every design is made for a specific person with their specific subject. You are unique and even more unique combined with your subject. Therefore you won’t find an already existing thesis that completely satisfies your needs. It’s simply not there yet.  In case you’d like to have a style that you don’t see on my website you can always talk to me about that. I’m open for every new idea. If I think I won’t be able to do what you want, I’ll honestly tell you. 

I love my thesis design so much, I would like to use it for my business card. Is that allowed?

The design is made only for the thesis cover. If you want to use it for something else we’ll have to make a new price deal. 

Can you also print my thesis?

I’m a designer and not a printer. You need to print your thesis at a professional printer. I’ll make sure the design is completely ready for print. I know all the big thesis printers in the Netherlands and they know me, so I can cooperate with any of them. A printer that I can very much recommend is Ridderprint . I think they deliver very good quality for a good price. They are also very communicative. A good quality print is very important for you and for me too, since your design is your and also my business card.

Thesis gallery

Please take your time to have a look at my thesis gallery. Because it’s impossible to show everything on the website, every now and then I move some designs to my Pinterest page . I try to keep that up to date as well as I can, so you can see everything.

Thesis cover

Thesis cover illustration

Thesis cover design

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• Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples

Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples

Published on May 19, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

The title page (or cover page) of your thesis , dissertation , or research paper should contain all the key information about your document. It usually includes:

• Dissertation or thesis title
• The type of document (e.g., dissertation, research paper)
• The department and institution
• The degree program (e.g., Master of Arts)
• The date of submission

It sometimes also includes your dissertation topic or field of study, your student number, your supervisor’s name, and your university’s logo.

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Table of contents

Title page format, title page templates, title page example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

Your department will usually tell you exactly what should be included on your title page and how it should be formatted. Be sure to check whether there are specific guidelines for margins, spacing, and font size.

Title pages for APA and MLA style

The format of your title page can also depend on the citation style you’re using. There may be guidelines in regards to alignment, page numbering, and mandatory elements.

• MLA guidelines for formatting the title page
• APA guidelines for formatting the title page

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

We’ve created a few templates to help you design the title page for your thesis, dissertation, or research paper. You can download them in the format of your choice by clicking on the corresponding button.

Research paper Google Doc

Dissertation Google Doc

Thesis Google Doc

A typical example of a thesis title page looks like this:

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The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

• Your instructor requires one, or
• Your paper is a group project

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.

Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

George, T. (2023, July 18). Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 5, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/title-page/

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A beautiful cover for your PhD dissertation

When your thesis research is almost finished and you're ready to defend, it is time for your thesis cover design. We would love to help you with it! Together we'll make a perfect and professional design. Are you interested? Please contact us!

Take the best path forward

No more boring templates or text-only covers that look like they were created by a teenager. A high-quality cover design for your PhD thesis has huge benefits:

• Celebrate your PhD milestone with a beautiful thesis cover
• Publish a dissertation to be proud of
• Radiate authority and professionalism
• Amaze your supervisors, your committee and your next employer with a professional-looking book
• A bookstore-worthy look for your academic work
• Bring your research to life with our illustrations
• Make people curious and get a larger audience for your PhD thesis
• Establish yourself as an expert in your field
• A stunning dissertation is a wonderful gift for your family and friends

Your research deserves to be read. Be the 1 percent that stands out!

Our rave reviews

The result is beautiful! Daniel, Enschede

Professional looking dissertation cover from Thesiscovers.com. It looks like something you could buy in a bookstore! Tim, Eindhoven

Thank you so much for looking after the cover design so quickly! Emil, Basel

Your design explained my research well! Normally it's too abstract for people to understand but your design made it more tangible to non-experts. Michael, Lyon

The printed version looked excellent. Mahmud, Nijmegen

The colors really fit my personality, thank you so much! Evi, Amsterdam

Awesome that Thesiscovers.com could incorporate our in-joke in the design. My family loved it. Niels, Delft

Our award-winning graphic designers create thesis covers, so you can focus on preparing your PhD defense

Your PhD dissertation deserves to be admired!

Showcase your academic work.

Your PhD is a scientific achievement as well as a professional milestone. It contains not only science, but also your expertise, perseverance and creativity. The thesis cover design should make everyone interested in picking up and reading your thesis. They should be curious to open up your book and read more.

But since a PhD thesis is also a very personal achievement, your thesis design should also reflect you as a person. Illustrations, colour and style should remind other people of you! In this way we'll get something unique. Every person is different, every taste is different and every subject is different. Combining these leads to a unique thesis design every time.

Lack of inspiration? We'll help you!

Don't worry if you're still looking for ideas for thesis design. You can use our gallery to get some inspiration, or you can go online on websites such as Pinterest, Instagram or Google to find more ideas. During the thesis design process we will ask you to tell us more about your research, so we know who you are and what your thesis is about. Remember that you are the expert on this subject already! No special preparation needed.

What can we do for you?

Take a look at our examples!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you design a thesis cover for me.

Yes! We design for PhD students, bachelor and master theses. We collaborate with students from all over the world, making high-quality designs so you can have a beautiful book at the end of your doctoral journey.

What does a thesis cover design cost?

We provide two thesis cover design packages. Our Regular cover design package costs 549 EUR. We also offer a Premium package for 1429 EUR, in case you want something really special or extra guidance during the process. All of our listed prices are excluding VAT.

How far in advance should I contact you?

Be sure to contact us at least 3 months before you want to send your book to the printer. This way you can have an enjoyable and stress-free thesis cover design experience!

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Women-owned.

By using our services you are supporting a women-owned business.

Sustainable

We care about the environment! We plant a tree for every design that we finish.

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ThesisCovers.com proudly embraces diversity and inclusivity.

How I designed the cover of my Ph.D. thesis

Bas Nijholt

2020-04-04 13:40

I will hand out around a hundred copies of my thesis to my defense committee, colleagues, and my family and friends. Let's be honest, most people will probably not get further than attempting to read the summary and appreciating the cover. Four years of work has gone into generating the content of the thesis, so I figured, at least some thought has to go into the design of its cover. Unfortunately, I am by no means an expert on a graphical design or even competent enough to attempt to use any kind of graphic design software. But luckily for me, I do consider myself an expert in Python , and why not make the thesis design a fun process?

My vague plan was to somehow incorporate a plot resulting from a simulation run with Adaptive [ source ], the software I wrote during my Ph.D. to adaptively sample functions in parallel and my proudest work. I even had a potential simulation result in mind that I would use for it, specifically, one that has been on the background of my good friend’s phone for some years and one that has earned me quite some internet points on Reddit . This plot (below) is one of the results of Chapter 4 of my thesis [ source ] and this paper .

I went back to the code that generates the plot and started hacking away in Matplotlib. Quickly, I realized that not only the plot above was going to look cool, but that many other data sets that I had also resulted in beautiful patterns. I hit the paradox of choice: I had a total of 3671 unique data sets (all for Majorana devices with either different parameter sweeps or different physical effects that were included in the model) and no idea how I was going to make a selection.

This is an early attempt (and rather ugly in hindsight)

I decided to postpone the choice of which data to use and just focus on how to plot the data first. I experimented with different colormaps, fading colormaps that gradually reveal the underlying triangulation better, and more. On a weekend night, after telling a friend I was with about my plans, we (as usually happens) started to program some of the ideas we came up with. We settled on a design where the triangulation would slowly fade from the top to bottom and where each triangle simultaneously transitioned from a solid color (the average of the values at its vertices) to densely interpolated values. See this Jupyter notebook which generated the final version of the cover. After we also chose a nice colormap (by simply creating the cover for each possible colormap,) the following was suggested: “You know what would be even cooler?! To make every cover unique.” Ten minutes later, I had started 3671 jobs on our computational cluster. When the files slowly started to appear on my computer (I have my local files synced with the cluster), we could not have been more excited. There were simply so many cool looking alternatives. Too many to manually select now, to be honest---a problem for later I thought.

Four months later, with the rest of my thesis completely done and about a day left on the deadline to submit my thesis, I found myself facing the selection problem I had successfully ignored for so long. There must be a smarter way to select the covers, I thought. Many of them look roughly similar (and some of them are even quite boring or not ecstatically pleasing), so it does not make sense to scroll through all of them. I could cluster them by similarity and then I would just have to choose the nicely looking clusters while being able to instantly discard many.

Finally, a good application to use neural networks!

I still had the 3671 covers in pdf format in some folder, so using the wonderful GNU Parallel , I converted and rasterized all of them to jpeg with

Then I used a pre-trained convolutional neural network model ( VGG16 ) to extract features in a lower-dimensional representation. I fed the feature arrays to a K-Means clustering algorithm that sorted them in 80 clusters. To procrastinate a little more, I created an interactive widget using ipywidgets (see video below) to facilitate the selection process.

These are the clusters that I selected in a grid

The selection process was done using this Jupyter notebook .

Finally, I copied the selected clusters into different folders and used the OS's file explorer to manually select a few covers from each cluster.

Then I printed an initial version of my thesis, however, I wasn't really happy with the colors.

To choose the right color scheme I got help from a non-tech savvy friend who went to art school. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, we couldn't sit side by side, so I created this Binder "app" with sliders.

Additionally, since all of them were different anyway, I gave them an identifier and added

edition n of 120

to the back.

These are a few examples of the final result (click on one of the images to open gallery view)

A few days later, this was delivered to my doorstep

And finally I mailed them to my Ph.D. committee

Now it's time to start preparing for my defense at May 11, 2020 at 15:00!

• The data and code to generate all printed covers is available at basnijholt/thesis-cover
• The simulation code that generates the data is available at basnijholt/spin-orbit-nanowires
• The video of the Reddit post is generated using this code

• Skip to main content

Designing your thesis: make a cover that suits you and your dissertation

18 December 2018 by ellen

Designing the front of your thesis is actually nothing more than making a book cover. You’ve been busy with a lot of things in recent years, but probably not with designs. This article gives you tips and ideas for the cover design of your thesis.

Some universities have different requirements for your thesis: the cover, title page and register must contain certain information. However, this does not apply to most universities and companies and you can at least decide for yourself how the design of your book will look like. Usually only the title, subtitle and name of the author are visible on the cover. You can also choose to write a short introduction on the back and possibly incorporate logos of your university or company into the design.

Cover thesis design

The cover design is the first thing people see. The cover of your dissertation implicitly tells the reader what the book is about, without directly naming the subject. The front of your thesis sets the tone for reading. Many PhD’s often have a photo or other image in their head that fits well with their PhD topic. You can choose to place a photo or an abstract image on the cover of your thesis.

Cover design with Stock Photo

A stock photo is a photograph that a photographer sells through a stock agency. The photo is not exclusive and can be downloaded or purchased by different people. You can use a stock photo under certain conditions. With a thesis you can often assume that you can use all stock photos, this changes when you want to use the photo commercially. Always check the conditions before you use an image.

Below we share some stock photo websites

Shutterstock – Has a huge range of stock photos. To use stock photos you need a (paid) account. Pixabay (free) – Offers many high-quality images. Yet this website is more focused on business and marketing. Tip: pixabay offers free vectors and illustrations. Unsplash (free) – Beautiful pictures with high resolutions. Unsplash does not have that much choice yet, but it is worth it. Thousands of photos are added every day. Pexels (free) – Offers a wide range of photos. A must for artistic or abstract images.

Cover design with your own photo

Choose a beautiful photo in a high resolution as a base. It is usually nice if you can find a visual metaphor for your research. Consider, for example, a photograph of high-voltage cables if you are doing a thesis on the functioning of nerves.Maybe you already have such a picture. If not, you can take a picture yourself. If you are not a good photographer or simply do not have the right equipment, you can ask a photographer.

Cover design with an abstract photo

If you do not find a suitable photo, you can also opt for something abstract. Scientific research often has an abstract character, so it is not strange to give the cover of your thesis an abstract form. You can gain inspiration from the most important graphs or figures in your work. By zooming in or zooming out, you can make an interesting cut that does not fit on the cover of your dissertation.

Specifications of the image An important aspect is the quality of the image. This is expressed in resolution. If you use a low-resolution image, you will eventually see this in the form of pixels, you do not want this. The image must be at least 300 dpi. Do not forget that the cover of your thesis is twice as large as the front.

Designing your thesis cover yourself

Are you familiar with design tools like Photoshop or Illustrator? Then you can make the cover yourself. Are these tools difficult for you? Then you can always ask a friend, relative or acquaintance if he or she wants to make your cover design. Keep in mind that a good design falls or stands in a good briefing. So describe well what you want and upload images that you have already selected for inspiration.

Cover design by Gildeprint

Can you use some help? We can help you with the preparation of your cover. Maybe you have a clear vision of how your cover should look like. Maybe you are still searching or need inspiration. We are ready and happy to help you. Together we will make an inventory of your wishes and make a cover that suits you and your thesis. Do you want to know more about the possibilities? Please contact us or request a quote directly here !

More inspiration?

Click here to see our online flipping books. Here you can see a number of theses printed by us.

Beautiful & sustainable

Cover design.

When it comes to a beautiful handmade and sustainable PhD cover design, you’ve come to the right place.

We offer the following services for your cover design:

1) A hand-painted cover

2) A digital design

3) A self-made cover (painted with the help of a professional cover designer)

Handmade & ecofriendly

1) painted with watercolours.

At GreenThesis, we love combining our background in scientific research with our love for sustainable art. For our handmade cover designs, we use eco-friendly watercolours, which our founder, Elma Hogeboom, makes by hand from earth- and plant-based ingredients.

If you choose a hand-painted design for your thesis, we will usually start with one or two (video) calls. Based on our conversation, the designer will come up with multiple design options and a colour palette.

Once you’re satisfied with the design, we start painting your cover. This usually takes about three weeks. After completion, you will receive a digital high-resolution file for your cover design, and as a bonus, you get to keep the original painting as a present!

the best of both worlds

2) digital designs.

The second option for a cover design is a digital design. This design can be based on a photograph, where we use digital art brushes to paint your cover. Another option is a photo collage or, for example, a mixed-media design, where we combine digital and hand-painted art.

A guided one-on-one workshop

3) paint your cover.

If you’re feeling creative and would like to design your own cover, but don’t know where to start, we’d love to help you.

During two video calls, one of our cover designers will help you create a balanced design. This means the front and back covers are both interesting to look at and consistent in their use of white space. We will also advise you on the use of eco-friendly art materials and the specific techniques needed to pull this off.

After you have completed your design and scanned it, we will optimize it digitally to make sure your design translates well in print.

We guarantee this will be a fun and exciting process with a beautiful result: your own uniquely designed PhD thesis!

Would you also like a Green Thesis?

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Hester Nijhoff  - PhD Cover Design

PhD thesis chapter pages – how to pick the right design

Chapter pages (aka chapter start pages) in your PhD thesis are the double page at the beginning of each new chapter – obvious, right? These pages allow you to be creative. Hence, you should make the most of them! You can do that by reflecting the cover design on them. Or you can go a step further and tell the story of that chapter in one image. Here, I will give you a few examples chapter start page designs. Hopefully, you will be able to get inspired!

Telling the story of your thesis on the chapter pages

Let’s start with a cover design that reflects the content of a thesis. This one is an inexpensive version of a real cover I made for someone:

This PhD thesis dealt with the interactions of the soil microbiome. Especially in regards to the influence on plant growth. Now, let’s have a look at possible chapter page designs for this PhD thesis.

The first chapter is always the introduction, which deals with the entire story of the thesis. Here, you could render a subdued version of the cover design, like so:

The second chapter of our hypothetical PhD thesis is a review about the species making up the soil microbiome. Hence, you could highlight the soil and the images of those species on the start page of chapter 2. A good way to do this is to keep them in color while putting everything else in shades of grey.

As the thesis goes on, the chapters deal with sequencing the microbiome and uncovering interactions between the species and abiotic factors. Therefore, you could keep up the principle of rendering the subject of the chapter in color while greying out everything else.

Chapter 6 is the discussion that ties the entire thesis together. Hence, it is in full color. If you have a limited budget , you can also show the relevant parts in black or dark gray while you leave the irrelevant parts for the given chapter in light gray. That way, you have twelve fewer colored pages in your printed thesis.

Using a philosophical principle rather than concrete images on the chapter start pages

This is another cheaper version of a thesis cover design I made (this time showing front and back cover):

The client wanted the impossible cube conceived by M.C. Escher on her thesis to illustrate how baffling and sometimes outright “impossible” it was to do a PhD.

For each chapter start page, we took one iteration of the cube. The Introduction is the foundation of the thesis, hence we show the foundation of the cube:

As the thesis progresses and the scientific story becomes more complete, the cube gets built up bit by bit. So far, so good. BUT then comes the impossible bit. Often, you will work on your project and everything seems fine and makes sense. However, a few years in you suddenly get results that don’t seem to corroborate the hypothesis that you have so painstakingly developed. Your story, and the cube, stop making sense.

Well, for better or worse, you have to tie your thesis up in the discussion, making sense of the data that doesn’t quite seem to fit. That’s were we put a lid on the impossible cube.

This principle works just as well in black and white or grayscale, if you want to save some money .

Using photos on the chapter start pages of your PhD thesis

If you did a lot of field work, used a microscope or other imaging techniques, you may have a lot of interesting and/or pretty photos. There is no reason why you can’t use them on the chapter start pages of your PhD thesis!

Before we dive into the examples, here’s something really important: The images must be at least 176 x 246 mm for a single-page photo or 346 x 246 mm for a double-page photo. This includes bleed. AND they must be at least 300 dpi . This translates to a size in pixels of 2008 x 2835 for single-page photos and 4016 x 2835 for double-page photos.

If you have a smartphone with a very good camera, at least 12 MP, and good photo software, photos taken with your phone will be fine. However, smartphones with a really good camera and the accompanying software are usually high-end and cost around 1000 Euros. If you have a simple phone, the image quality might not cut it, even if you have enough megapixels.

In the latter case, you will need a DSLM or DSLR camera with a good lens to take beautiful photos. If you go to a foreign country to do field work, you might want a good camera to capture your adventures anyway. So, why not use those photos on the chapter pages of your PhD thesis?

Chapter start pages with field work photos

Let’s start with a field work example. Say you went to Peru to study the agricultural importance of the cape gooseberry ( Physalis peruviana ). The following are examples of how you could use photos on your chapter start pages (I show all double pages here).

You can see that this time, I put the chapter numbers on the left-hand page and omitted the word “Chapter”. The color of the circle that contains the chapter number is the same as the color of the lower right corner of the double page. this ties the entire double page neatly together.

Chapter start pages with pretty data

If your PhD involved a lot of bioinformatics and data visualization, you can use the aesthetically pleasing parts of some of your diagrams on your chapter start pages, like so:

Both photographs and diagrams may also work as grayscale images, depending on the amount of contrast in the photos and the types of diagrams you are using.

Need help designing your thesis? Contact me and I’ll help you!

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Design examples of DTU brochures and reports. Chose freely from the DTU colour palette. However, we recommend that you use the same colour throughout for graphic elements such as the DTU logo, ‘describer’, headers, quotes, etc. Format: A4 (210 × 297 mm).

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Doctoral thesis cover in the graphic design tool

Here you can see a few examples of layouts you can choose between for your doctoral thesis covers.

Background colour on front and back

Image on front and back

Image on front and background colour on back

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Small image on front

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Professional PhD Cover Letter Examples for 2024

Your PhD cover letter must immediately highlight your main thesis contribution. Draw the reader's attention with a succinct explanation of your research significance and uniqueness. Demonstrate how your expertise aligns with the department or institution's academic focus. Your cover letter should create a compelling narrative that weaves your skills into their ongoing projects and goals.

Cover Letter Guide

PhD Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience PhD Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

Embarking on your job search, you've likely discovered the need to craft a compelling PhD cover letter—a document that can stump even the most accomplished professionals. This crucial letter shouldn't just echo your resume; it must weave the narrative of your proudest professional triumph. With formal language minus the clichés, and conciseness that caps at one page, we'll guide you through the intricacies of creating a cover letter that stands out, ensuring your application demands attention.

• Write a phd cover letter that helps you stand out (and get the job);
• Understand how to start and end your phd cover letter with the appropriate greeting;
• What to include in the body of your phd cover letter to put your best foot forward;
• Your most important achievements - how to present them as part of your phd cover letter.

And if you want to make your life even easier, simply drag and drop your phd resume into Enhancv's AI cover letter generator, and it will write your cover letter for you in just a few moments.

If the phd isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:

• PhD resume guide and example
• Educational Consultant cover letter example
• Librarian cover letter example
• Special Education Teacher cover letter example
• Undergraduate Teaching Assistant cover letter example
• Bilingual Teacher cover letter example
• Piano Teacher cover letter example
• Early Childhood Teacher cover letter example
• Substitute Teacher cover letter example
• High School Teacher cover letter example
• Kindergarten Teacher Assistant cover letter example

PhD cover letter example

PETER CONNOLLY

Clarksville, TN

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Highlighting Significant Achievements: By mentioning the accomplishment of improving blockchain security by 65% and securing $16 million in funding, the candidate effectively showcases their capability to deliver impactful and quantifiable results that can resonate with the prospective employer's desire for competent professionals.
• Matching Skills to Job Requirements: Specifically addressing expertise in areas of cybersecurity and software engineering indicates the applicant's understanding of the technical skills required and showcases their proficiency in those areas, which are likely essential for the role being applied for.
• Demonstrating Value Addition: The author prompts a forward-looking discussion by suggesting a meeting to explore how their background can contribute to the company, implying a readiness to tailor their skills and past experiences to meet the employer's specific needs.

What are the basics of the design or format of your phd cover letter?

To start, here's a reminder for you: the Applicant Tracker System (or software that is used to assess candidate profiles), won't be reading your phd cover letter.

Recruiters enjoy reading phd cover letters with a standardized format that uses:

• the same font as the resume (e.g. modern ones like Raleway or Volkhov are prefered over the clichéd Times New Roman or Arial);
• single spacing to keep the content concise and organized (this is all ready for you in our cover letter templates );
• a one-inch margin to wrap around the text, like in our cover letter builder ;
• PDF as a file format, as it allows your design (and visual element) to stay the same.

Finally, we can't go on without mentioning the key sections of your phd cover letter.

In the top one-third, make sure to include a header (with your contact information, name, role, and date), a salutation, and an introduction.

Next, follows the heart and soul of your phd cover letter or its body.

End your phd cover letter with a closing paragraph and, if you wish, a signature.

The top sections on a phd cover letter

Header: This includes your contact information, the date, and the recipient's details; it's essential for providing immediate visibility of your identity and for professional correspondence formatting.

Opening Salutation/Greeting: A formal greeting addresses the recipient properly and sets a respectful and professional tone for the cover letter, which is important for making a good first impression.

Introduction: This section should capture the recruiter's attention by briefly introducing your background, your interest in the PhD program, and the specific reasons you are drawn to this particular opportunity.

Research Interests and Academic Background: Tailor this part to showcase your relevant educational and research experiences, current interests, and how it aligns with the department’s work, demonstrating your fit for the program.

Closing and Call to Action: Conclude by summarizing your suitability for the role, reiterating your enthusiasm, and inviting further discussion, showing proactivity and eagerness to engage with the academic community.

Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

• Deep expertise in the specific research field: Demonstrates the ability to contribute valuable insights and drive the research forward.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills: Essential for designing experiments, analyzing data, and drawing meaningful conclusions.
• Proven track record of academic accomplishments: Indicates the capability to undertake and complete challenging research projects.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal): Vital for writing research papers, grant proposals, and collaborating with peers and mentors.
• Self-motivation and independence: Necessary for driving one's own research and overcoming the inevitable challenges of a PhD program.
• Demonstrated perseverance and commitment: Shows that the candidate can see long-term projects through to completion despite obstacles.

What matters most when tailoring your phd cover letter salutation

Your phd cover letter greeting should feel welcoming to recruiters.

Use their first name (e.g. "Dear Marshall" or "Dear Sara"), if you've previously been in touch with the hiring manager and are on a more friendly basis.

If this is the first time you're contacting the recruiters, start your phd cover letter with:

• their last name (e.g. "Dear Ms. Ali" or "Dear Mr. Stevens") - look up who's the hiring manager for the role on social media or the company website;
• generalized greeting (e.g. "Dear HR Team") - just don't use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".

List of salutations you can use

• Dear Dr. [Last Name],
• Dear Professor [Last Name],
• Dear Dr. [First Name] [Last Name],
• Dear Search Committee,
• Dear Hiring Committee,
• Dear [Department Name] Selection Committee,

The phd cover letter intro: aligning your interest with the company culture

You only have one chance at making a memorable first impression on recruiters with your phd cover letter.

Structure your introduction to be precise and to include no more than two sentences.

Here are some ideas on how to write a job-winning phd cover letter introduction:

• get creative - show off your personality from the get-go (if this aligns with the company culture);
• focus on your motivation - be specific when you say what gets you excited about this opportunity.

What to write in the middle or body of your phd cover letter

Here's where it gets tricky.

Your phd cover letter body should present you in the best light possible and, at the same time, differ from your resume.

Don't be stuck in making up new things or copy-pasting from your resume. Instead, select just one achievement from your experience.

Use it to succinctly tell a story of the job-crucial skills and knowledge this taught you.

Your phd cover letter is the magic card you need to further show how any organization or team would benefit from working with you.

Closing paragraph basics: choose between a promise and a call to action

You've done all the hard work - congratulations! You've almost reached the end of your phd cover letter .

But how do you ensure recruiters, who have read your application this far, remember you?

Most phd professionals end their cover letter with a promise - hinting at their potential and what they plan on achieving if they're hired.

Another option would be to include a call for follow-up, where you remind recruiters that you're very interested in the opportunity (and look forward to hearing from them, soon).

Choose to close your phd cover letter in the way that best fits your personality.

Which story should you tell in your phd cover letter when you have zero experience

Candidates, lacking professional experience in the field - this one is for you.

Your phd cover letter is an exercise of integrity, honesty, and, above all, spinning a positive narrative around your strengths.

And what better way to capture recruiters' attention than with your most job-relevant achievement (this could be from your internship or volunteering experience)?

Make sure to back up your success with transferrable skills that are relevant to the job (e.g. how your year, studying abroad, has taught you to be more motivated and handle multicultural environments).

Another safe card you can bet on is your career dream: in the body of your phd cover letter, go into the details of how your ambitions would help make the company you're applying for better.

Key takeaways

Your phd cover letter is your best shot at standing out by showing your motivation and the unique skills you'd bring to the job:

• Chose no more than one achievement, which you'd be talking about in the body of your phd cover letter, by focusing on skills and outcomes;
• Address recruiters with their first or last name, or "Dear Hiring Manager" in your phd cover letter greeting;
• Introduce in no more than two sentences what makes your profile unique (perhaps it's your motivation, enthusiasm, or appreciation of the company you're applying for);
• Select the same font you have used in your resume (avoid Times New Roman and Arial, as most candidates tend to invest in them);
• Close your phd cover letter with a promise of how you see yourself growing in the company and the benefits you'd bring about.

Cover letter examples by industry

AI cover letter writer, powered by ChatGPT

Enhancv harnesses the capabilities of ChatGPT to provide a streamlined interface designed specifically focused on composing a compelling cover letter without the hassle of thinking about formatting and wording.

• Content tailored to the job posting you're applying for
• ChatGPT model specifically trained by Enhancv
• Lightning-fast responses

How to Name Drop in a Cover Letter

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PHD Application cover letter examples

As the highest postgraduate qualification you can achieve, it’s no wonder that most PhD programs require a cover letter as part of the application process.

So, if you’re hoping to complete your doctorate, you need to brush up on your writing skills and prove why you deserve a place in the program.

To help you do that, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide, complete with PhD cover letter examples to support your application.

CV templates 

PHD Application cover letter example 1

PHD Application cover letter example 2

PHD Application cover letter example 3

The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your PHD Application cover letter should be formatted and written.

The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.

How to write a PHD Application cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When writing your PHD Application cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.

This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.

If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.

If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.

Start with a friendly greeting

Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.

This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of *specialist field PHD Applicant* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The main purpose of your cover letter is to excite recruiters and make them eager to open your CV. And you achieve this by quickly demonstrating your suitability to the job you are applying for.

Take a look at the job adverts you are applying for, and make note of the most important skills being asked for.

Then, when you write your cover letter, make your suitability the focal point.

Explain how you meet the candidate requirements fully, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider your application.

Keep it short and sharp

A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.

Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers .

Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.

Sign off professionally

To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.

This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.

The information to add should include:

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network –  e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.

What to include in your PHD Application cover letter

Here’s what kind of content you should include in your PHD Application cover letter…

The exact info will obviously depend on your industry and experience level, but these are the essentials.

• Your relevant experience – Where have you worked and what type of jobs have you held?
• Your qualifications – Let recruiters know about your highest level of qualification to show them you have the credentials for the job.
• The impact you have made – Show how your actions have made a positive impact on previous employers; perhaps you’ve saved them money or helped them to acquire new customers?
• Your reasons for moving – Hiring managers will want to know why you are leaving your current or previous role, so give them a brief explanation.
• Your availability – When can you start a new job ? Recruiters will want to know how soon they can get you on board.

Don’t forget to tailor these points to the requirements of the job advert for best results.

PHD Application cover letter templates

Copy and paste these PHD Application cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

Dear Admissions Committee

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Ph.D. in Physics programme at the University of London. As a highly motivated and dedicated individual with a deep fascination with the fundamental principles of physics, I am eager to contribute my academic background and research experience to your faculty.

I hold an MSc in Physics from the University of Birmingham, where I achieved distinctions for quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and atomic & molecular physics. During this period, I was involved in evaluating quantum phenomena using computational methods, which honed my analytical skills and provided insights into the intricate nature of quantum systems. My passion for research has also led me to publish two peer-reviewed papers in reputable journals.

I am enthusiastic about continuing my journey in addressing challenges in the field of physics and have previously collaborated with renowned experts in securing £10M in funding to support projects, as well as improving experimental efficiency by 40% through implementing state-of-the-art quantum optics equipment. I have also delivered presentations to share research on condensed matter systems.

I am thrilled at the possibility of joining your institution. Thank you for considering me for the programme.

Kind regards

Matt Turner

I am writing to you concerning the Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering at the University of Oxford. I possess a profound passion for advanced research and innovation in chemical engineering, with an eagerness to contribute my academic background and problem-solving abilities to your institution.

I hold an MSc in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London and had the opportunity to delve into cutting-edge projects alongside esteemed experts. We focused on sustainable practices in chemical manufacturing, as well as the efficient production, transformation, and transportation of various products. I helped design and conduct experiments to improve chemical operations and reduce environmental impacts, where my findings were published in two peer-reviewed journals.

Some key accomplishments during master’s studies include, obtaining research funding worth £2M to conduct experiments in catalysis and reaction engineering, and playing a role in improving industrial processes by 50%. In addition, I delivered five oral presentations at international conferences to share information on driving sustainable practices.

Thank you for considering my application, and I am available at your convenience for further discussions.

Sable Norris

Dear Members of the Graduate Admissions Committee

I am writing to express my interest in the Ph.D. programme in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. I possess a profound fascination for uncovering the mysteries of the past, and I am focused on contributing my academic background, fieldwork experience, and research skills to your institution.

I obtained a master’s degree in Archaeology from the University of Manchester, where I had the privilege of working closely with esteemed faculty and engaged in research that ignited my passion for understanding the Sumerian civilisation.

During my studies I conducted original research on the excavation and analysis of burial sites to shed light on their ancient practices and cultural beliefs, completing 95 excavation seasons, which was 30+ more than any other student, co-authoring two research papers published in reputable journals, and securing £500K from the UK government to conduct a 3-month research trip in the Middle East.

My experience coupled with advanced coursework in archaeological methodologies and artefact analysis have equipped me with the skills to excel in the programme. Thank you for considering my application.

Dominic Ferdinand

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a place on a PHD, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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Screen Rant

10 best blue lock manga volume cover arts.

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Blue Lock Reveals Season 2's Release Date & It's Closer Than Fans Think

Blue lock's 10 best soccer players, blue lock the movie - episode nagi review: a hard sell, even for diehard blue lock fans.

• Blue Lock is a popular manga series with captivating soccer action and intriguing characters.
• The cover art of Blue Lock is visually stunning and captures the essence of the characters.
• Iconic and striking cover art has made the series popular among fans.

Muneyuki Kaneshiro's manga, Blue Lock , has completely redefined sports manga. Even fans who typically are not interested in sports or sports manga have enjoyed the story of Blue Lock, the intriguing and complex characters and relationships, and, of course, the heart-racing action scenes during games . The cover art for the manga volumes is just as well-designed as the plot itself.

With beautiful art from talented artist Yusuke Nomura, bold colors, and compelling designs that reflect the contents of the volumes well, the covers certainly deserve appreciation. Each one reflects a different Blue Lock character either carefully posed or in the midst of a tense game of soccer. Cover art is the first thing potential readers see when looking at a new manga volume and deciding whether to look at it further or not, and the manga art of Blue Lock certainly gets onlookers interested in delving into the pages of the volumes.

Chigiri Hyoma Pushes Through a Difficult Injury in Bold Red Cover Art

Chigiri Hyoma, one of Team Z's best players, has faced unfortunate health setbacks in his soccer career. He suffered a horrible leg injury. However, he was so committed to his love for soccer that he refused to quit playing, surpassing his rivals at lightning fast speed in spite of his hurt leg.

The chain on Chigiri's neck on the Volume #3 cover could perhaps reference the metaphorical chain of his leg injury. However, in the cover art, he is still poised and ready to kick the ball anyway, not letting anything deter him from his dream. The bright red background of the cover matches appealingly with Chigiri's hair and eyes of the same shade, making it a visually pleasing cover too .

Reo Mikage Prepares for an Intense Soccer Match by Tying up His Hair

Reo Mikage's love of soccer runs deep because it is the only thing he's ever truly had to fight for . In the volume #8 cover art, he reaches his hands over his head to tie his purple hair back, preparing to play the game he loves so dearly. This image is relatively simple compared to some other Blue Lock covers, but fits who Reo is perfectly.

Reo grew up rich and had most of what he wanted to be handed to him, but soccer inspired him to start working towards a goal he could only obtain through hard work . His tenacious and steadfast expression hints at his desire to win and prove himself as an excellent player. The relatively simplistic cover is a gorgeous purple that fits with Reo's hair, eyes, and jersey, as well as his purposeful facial expression that conveys his intention to be the best.

Isagi Yoichi Is Determined To Make the Most of His Second Chance at Soccer

Volume #1's cover art of Isagi Yoichi is what many fans think of when Blue Lock is mentioned. In the famous cover art, he races towards the ball with a determined expression , as if he won't let anything stand in his path. The green and blue background ties the image together and matches Isagi's design perfectly.

Isagi is known to be extremely determined and dedicated to his goals. Soccer means everything to him, and he would face any obstacle if it meant becoming the best striker. After his loss during an important game in high school, Blue Lock is his final chance to prove himself in soccer. The cover art of Volume #1 displays his persistent attitude and continual striving towards his dream.

Michael Kaiser’s Smug and Stylish Design Shines Against a Blue Background

Michael Kaiser is one of the world's best soccer players, and he definitely knows it. His indisputably cool and colorful design and cocky, villainous persona make him an enjoyable character to watch, but he certainly thinks very highly of himself. As one of Germany's most accomplished players, he has the accomplishments to back up his massive ego.

In the Volume #19 illustration, his overconfident expression and pose seem to hint at these aspects of his personality. Michael wears a smug smirk and stands proudly with his chest puffed out. His character design is unique and quite stylish, with the tips of his hair dyed blue and a hand tattoo that is deeply meaningful to him and meant to inspire him to always work hard.

Shido Ryusei Is in Motion and Ready To Kick the Ball by Any Means Necessary

Shido Ryusei's volume #12 manga cover is one of the most intense and action-filled. The art seems to be in motion as he swings back his leg to kick at the approaching ball. He is upside down, moving his entire body into the correct position to strike at the ball with full force.

Interestingly, Shido loves the game of soccer for what it is and takes pleasure solely in the act of playing the game, not specific accomplishments like being "the best". He still gives his absolute all, though, as can be seen in his careful posing on the cover. Another interesting detail of the image is how well his pink eyes match the bright pink background of the cover, creating a cohesive piece of art.

Blue Lock season 2 has been in anticipation for over a year now, and it finally has a confirmed release date that's surprisingly close.

Sae Itoshi Appears Mighty but Bored in Colorful Cover Art

Sae is a soccer prodigy and overshadows his brother Rin. He differs from the players in Blue Lock due to his dislike for Japanese soccer. After playing elsewhere, he decided other countries' players are more gifted at the sport. The cover art of volume #17 gives him an almost godlike and mighty portrayal.

In the image, he looks almost bored, with glowing green eyes and a calm expression. Chains surround his neck and chest, contrasting against the red color of the cover. Sae's design is one of Blue Lock's most visually intriguing and distinctive , and the muted background color and glowing pupils of the soccer hero make the one-of-a-kind illustration stand out.

Rin Itoshi’s Determination and Persistence Know No Bounds

Rin's relentlessness is one of his greatest character traits and helps him survive in the stiff competition of Blue Lock. His brother Sae is a master at soccer, giving Rin a difficult standard to live up to. As the series progresses, Rin begins to play for his own benefit and with the new goal of being number one, rather than just hoping to show up his brother.

His fist is clenched in determination in the volume #6 cover art, a sign of his unbreakable resolve to be the best. His blue eyes stand out most of all, capturing the viewer's eye immediately. His expression seems fairly calm, but there is an air of steadfast persistence in his eyes.

Nagi Seishiro’s Design and Steadfast Personality Stand Out

Nagi Seishiro has undergone greater character development than anyone else in Blue Lock . As depicted in the recent film, BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- , he morphed from a lazy and bored boy who had no desire to do anything but play video games to an intense soccer lover with a passion for winning . With Reo's help, he uncovered the key to relieving his unending boredom.

In the volume #5 cover, almost everything, from his outfit to the background, is dark blue or black, providing an incredible contrast with his snow-white hair and gleaming green eyes. He looks forward with a powerful but tranquil expression, since he is the type of hero who does not wear his emotions on his sleeve. The cover stands out because it not only looks wonderful, but reveals Nagi's disposition and everyday demeanor with no words needed.

Bachira Meguru Breaks Free From Metaphorical Chains, Becoming Truly Himself

Bachira Meguru is not just Blue Lock's most fun, comic-relief character, he is one of the most talented players. In the volume #2 cover art, he stands facing an oncoming soccer ball, ready to make his next move. A chain weaves around his shoulders and torso, but doesn't tie him down.

Most of the Blue Lock cover art photographs contain chains , but what makes Bachira's illustration particularly distinctive is that he is not held down by the chain, it simply snakes around him and moves out of his way. This is meaningful when considering his unhindered style of playing soccer and the way he broke free from past bullying and criticism from others to become authentically himself.

These ten Blue Lock soccer players stand out from the rest, with advanced soccer skills, motivation to be the best, and true talent for the game.

Ego Jinpachi’s Goal of Creating the Best Striker Is a Constant Chain Around His Neck

Ego Jinpachi is in charge of the Blue Lock Project. This monumental role explains the chain around his neck, attached sturdily on four sides. The soccer ball sitting between his crossed legs glows a mesmerizing shade of blue, drawing eyes to the center of the amazing cover art.

Ego has a very intense personality and seems unwilling to give up the dream that inspired the Blue Lock facility: creating the best striker. However, this is not an easily achievable goal, and the successes and losses of the players he hand selected for the job impact him. His goal constantly looms over him, like the chain around his neck. Aside from the important metaphorical meaning of the chains, the cover art is visually stunning with almost everything in black and white except for the bright light from the shining soccer ball.

Blue Lock is a sports-centric animated series based on the manga series of the same name. The show follows the Japan Football Association trying to recover from their poor showing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup by hiring a football genius, Ego Jinpachi. With his new intense training regimen, Jinpachi invites the best football players in Japan to compete to become the team's new star player - and high school student Yoichi Isagi may be exactly who he's looking for.

Home › All Programs › Systems Engineering (MS)

Home › All Programs › Systems Engineering (MS) ›

Systems Engineering

Master of science.

of All Higher-Ed Institutions

- Center for World University Rankings, 2022

Top 25 Best Systems Engineering programs

U.S. News & World Report, 2023

Quick Facts

College of Engineering

Program details.

The online Master of Science in Systems Engineering develops the skills to design, model, and analyze advanced systems of diverse components — from software and hardware to the operators who employ them.

Throughout your course of study, you’ll work with expert faculty to build on your practical abilities and develop comprehensive solutions that maximize efficiency. The program not only cultivates advanced technical knowledge but also the strategic problem-solving and decision-making skills to lead projects that meet requirements, stay on budget, and function reliably for years to come.  

As a student in the MS program, you’ll have the opportunity to connect directly with groundbreaking leaders in the field, benefiting from practical, real-world expertise. You’ll learn rigorous methods to plan and implement complex systems that meet organizations' needs without unwanted side effects. Program courses introduce design principles that lead to successful system integration and industry-standard tools for modeling and analysis.

Graduates from the Systems Engineering MS program have gone on to pursue their goals at leading corporations, research institutes, and universities. You can prepare to achieve your goals by taking advantage of the same resources available to on-campus students, including comprehensive career services.

100% online coursework.

Internships (SIE 593) and Independent Study (SIE 599/699) cannot be used towards program completion.

You are required to select one of the following options to earn your degree:  The Master's Report Option (30 units) The Master’s Thesis Option (30 units)  The Coursework option (33 units)

*Residents of some U.S. Territories may not be eligible. Please see our Eligibility & State Authorization page for more information.

Courses depend on the program route:

• Master's Report Option: 27 units of SIE Graduate Coursework & 3 units of SIE 909 Master's Report 
• Master’s Thesis Option: 24 units of SIE Graduate Coursework and 6 units of SIE 910 Master’s Thesis
• Coursework only Option: 33 units of SIE Graduate Coursework

The following courses are required in the major:

SIE 554A: Systems Engineering Process

This program covers the process and tools for systems engineering of large-scale, complex systems: requirements, performance measures, concept exploration, multi-criteria tradeoff studies, life cycle models, system modeling, etc. Graduate-level requirements include extensive sensitivity analysis of their final projects.

SIE 558: Model-based Systems Engineering

This course introduces model-based systems engineering (MBSE), the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification, and validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout development and later life cycle phases. It emphasizes the practical use of the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) and MBSE methods.

SIE 550: Theory of Linear Systems

This is an intensive study of continuous and discrete linear systems from the state-space viewpoint, including criteria for observability, controllability, and minimal realizations. It also optionally covers aspects of optimal control, state feedback, and observer theory.

SIE 531: Simulation Modeling and Analysis

Learn discrete event simulation, model development, statistical design and analysis of simulation experiments, variance reduction, random variate generation, Monte Carlo simulation. Graduate-level requirements include a library research report.

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In this course, you will focus on modeling stochastic processes from an applied viewpoint. Markov chains in discrete and continuous time, renewal theory, applications to engineering processes.

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Learn about the statistical methodology of estimation, testing hypotheses, goodness-of-fit, nonparametric methods, and decision theory related to engineering practice – with significant emphasis on the underlying statistical modeling and assumptions. Graduate-level requirements include additionally more difficult homework assignments.

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Prior to admission , students must present a study p l an that is reviewed by a TAMU ECEN facu l ty member to demonstrate to the department the feasibi l ity and viabi l ity of their prospective study. A Texas A&M electrical and computer engineering (ECEN) facu l ty member must commit to serve as the dissertation advisor prior to the admission of a student. The dissertation research content shou l d invo l ve on l y theories, software, or the modest use of hardware, instead of any physica l   l ab use, so that the research can be performed remote l y without being on campus. Students wi l l  a l so need to submit a signed document acknow l edging that their emp l oyer is aware of the Ph.D. study and a l l ows dissertation research resu l ts to be pub l ished. The p l an shou l d inc l ude the courses to be taken and ensure that a l l  the courses have distance  l earning sections avai l ab l e. The advisement of students in this program is simi l ar to the on-campus program except that the student-facu l ty interactions are a l l  conducted through internet-based conferencing software. Students in this program will take the qua l ifying exam, pre l iminary ora l  exam, and dissertation defense in the same way as the on-campus program. Students will need to cover their trave l  expenses to the campus for these exams.

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He Illustrated the ‘Harry Potter’ Cover for $650. It Just Sold for $1.92 Million.

The watercolor cover art for the first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was painted in 1996 by a recent art school graduate from Britain who was working at a bookstore.

By John Yoon

The original cover art for the first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” sold for $1.92 million at auction on Wednesday, becoming the most expensive item related to the series, decades after its illustrator was paid a commission of just $650.

The watercolor painting, which depicts the young wizard Harry going to Hogwarts from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross station, was part of the private library of an American book collector and surgeon, Dr. Rodney P. Swantko, whose other rare items were auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York this week.

The year before the novel came out in 1997, its publisher, Bloomsbury, hired a 23-year-old from England who had just graduated from art school to design the book jacket, the auction house said. The artist, Thomas Taylor, would go on to establish the world’s conception of Harry Potter, with his iconic round glasses and lightning bolt scar.

“It’s kind of staggering, really,” he said about the sale of his painting in an interview on Thursday. “It’s exciting to see it fought over.”

Mr. Taylor was working at a children’s bookstore when he submitted sample drawings of wizards and dragons for the publisher in London to review, he said in a 2022 podcast interview . When he was selected, he said, “I was over the moon.”

The cover was Mr. Taylor’s first professional assignment. And, at the time, “J.K. Rowling was as unknown as I was,” he wrote in his blog , referring to the novel’s British author.

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Master of Architecture Graduate Jing Qin Recognized for AI Design Submission

July 3, 2024

Congratulations to UNM School of Architecture + Planning graduate Jing Qin who was a recent award recipient in an AI Architecture Competition sponsored by Arch Hive. The theme of the juried competition was “Artificial Nature,” highlighting the “convergence of technology and nature.”

The architecture seamlessly integrates with the surrounding natural landscape, utilizing locally sourced materials and organic forms to harmonize with the natural environment. The goal of this Tulou village is to preserve the rich cultural heritage embodied in Fujian Tulou architecture. At the same time, it can draw visitors from around the world, which can stimulate local economies by boosting tourism revenue, creating jobs, and supporting small businesses in surrounding communities.

You can learn more about Qin’s project on the Arch Hive’s web page .  

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Inside graduate hotels: how ben weprin's vision transformed university town hospitality.

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At a time when most hotel chains blur into indistinguishable beige sameness, Graduate Hotels offers a much-needed reprieve—a vibrant, living scrapbook of local lore and university charm slowly but surely leaving its mark on the hospitality industry.

Although Graduate Hotels have been around for a decade, there are only 34 properties globally, from the Ivy League charm of Princeton to the academic epicenters of Cambridge and Oxford in the UK. That in and of itself is a testament to the brand’s commitment to authenticity: a slow, deliberate expansion that values community engagement. As if to say, it’s not just about where you stay, but how you feel while you’re there—and hopefully long after you’ve left.

Graduate Knoxville.

The brainchild of Ben Weprin , founder of AJ Capital Partners, Graduate Hotels began as a bold experiment in transforming university towns’ often dreary accommodations. Weprin’s eureka moment happened in 2010 when he saw potential in the then-bland hotel landscape of these academic hubs. His first venture, renovating Chicago’s Hotel Lincoln near DePaul University, was a revelation. The uninspired decor and sterile ambiance were soon replaced by vibrant local references that turned the hotel into a love letter to the community. The hotel’s eventual success inspired Weprin to replicate his concept, giving birth to the Graduate Hotels brand in 2014.

What sets the brand apart is its meticulous attention to detail, tongue-in-cheek aesthetic, and unwavering commitment to capturing the essence of each location. This isn’t your grandmother’s bed and breakfast adorned with random antiques—each Graduate is more like a carefully curated tapestry woven with threads of local history, alumni memories, and university traditions.

“We dedicate an enormous amount of time and energy to connecting with alumni and community members before, during, and after the design process to get the inside scoop on the university traditions, lesser-known stories, and hidden gems that make our spaces so special,” Weprin explains. The goal? To ensure each guest leaves feeling like they’ve just been given an insider tour of the town’s best-kept secrets.

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Graduate Auburn, AL.

You might think with all this local flavor, the brand would risk falling into the trap of being another kitschy, themed hotel. Weprin is quick to distinguish: “There’s an authentic human element to the brand. Each property can stand alone, yet you can almost immediately recognize the brand when you walk into our spaces.”

This is no small feat. Imagine walking into a hotel and feeling the immediate, comforting sense of familiarity while also being struck by the unique, site-specific details that tell the story of that particular place. Take, for instance, the Graduate Eugene , where Weprin’s sneakerhead enthusiasm manifests in a vintage Nike sneaker collection, including the holy grail of kicks: an original pair of Nike Moon Shoes. Or the Jordan suite at Graduate Chapel Hill , a meticulously recreated dorm room of Michael Jordan, complete with his game-worn sneakers and a $5 check he cashed after winning a game of pool. Or even the 13-punting boat installation at Graduate Cambridge.

Graduate's pair of Nike Moon Shoes.

The brand’s dedication to historic preservation is evident in projects like the upcoming Graduate Princeton , which involved the sensitive renovation of a 1918 dormitory building. Weprin describes the project with the kind of pride usually reserved for a firstborn child. The challenge was maintaining the building’s historic charm while modernizing it for today’s guests. This delicate dance between old and new is a signature of the Graduate design ethos, ensuring each property retains its unique character while offering contemporary comforts.

As the brand continues to explore new markets and expansion opportunities, its goal remains the same: to offer guests an authentic and immersive experience that feels like a secret handshake with the local community. “If guests walk away feeling more connected to the community or like they learned something during their stay, then we’ve done our job,” Weprin says.

We spoke with Weprin below to learn more about the Graduate brand and the crucial role design and community-building play in each Graduate property.

Graduate New York

What sets Graduate apart—design-wise—from other boutique hospitality brands?

You can’t just pick up a Graduate and place it in any market. Each property is designed to tell the story of its community through thoughtful design and hyperlocal programming while serving as the backdrop for some of life’s most memorable moments.

We dedicate an enormous amount of time and energy to connecting with alumni and community members before, during, and after the design process to get the inside scoop on the university traditions, lesser-known stories, and hidden gems that make our spaces so special. If guests walk away feeling more connected to the community or like they learned something during their stay, then we’ve done our job.

Graduate Hotels is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Looking back, what do you think was the pivotal moment or decision that set the course for the brand's success in the competitive hospitality landscape?

In 2010, we started to notice a gap in the hospitality space. At the time, university markets were overlooked. They were filled with bland accommodations primarily serving as a place to sleep.

The unofficial precursor to Graduate was Chicago's Hotel Lincoln, a former Days Inn near DePaul University. We bought the asset in 2010 and renovated and repositioned it towards the DePaul community. By incorporating local references throughout the space, like nods to Frank Baum and Abraham Lincoln's bodyguard, John Parker, we created a visceral connection with the community. The success of this project inspired us to replicate the concept in other markets, ultimately shaping the Graduate brand we know today.

Graduate Chapel Hill

It’s hard to stand out in the hospitality industry. In your opinion, what is the most distinguishing feature of Graduate Hotels that sets it apart from other hotel brands? More importantly, how do you avoid falling into the trap of "theme hotel" clichés?

There’s an authentic human element to the brand. I would argue while Graduate hotels don’t necessarily fall into the “themed” hotel brand category... each property can stand alone, yet you can almost immediately recognize the brand when you walk into our spaces and know you’re in a Graduate. There are certain staples in each hotel, like the brand motto, “We Are All Students” and the signature study tables that sit in each lobby. There are definitely some thematic elements, but each hotel has its own story to tell.

When Graduate was born in 2014, no other national hotel brand catered specifically to college towns or university markets. Some of the properties are in “true college towns,” meaning there is no big airport nearby. If you’re going out of your way to visit a university in a small town, Graduate offers an authentic taste of local community and school traditions without walking outside. It’s a community-first approach. In that same vein, the incredible design team at AJ takes the time to sit down with alumni and local community members to learn what's important to them, what those cherished traditions are, and what frequently stories are told that only locals would know about. It's a memory or a feeling that guests can experience, either for the first time or all over again.

Each Graduate Hotel is deeply entwined with its location's university culture and spirit. Can you share a bit about the research and creative process that goes into capturing the essence of each town and its university for a new hotel?

We celebrate the people and narratives that define each Graduate community, and in Auburn, that conversation begins and ends with Bo Jackson. Bo Jackson’s Beans—a coffee shop and bar that honors Bo’s contributions to the sports world—will open with the hotel this fall. Bo embodies the spirit of hard work, passion, and the pursuit of dreams that we hold close. It's a privilege to collaborate with him in the city where his extraordinary career began in 1982.

Graduate Cambridge

The design of Graduate Hotels blends academic charm with local flair. What's your personal favorite design element or artifact that you've incorporated into one of the hotels, and what's the story behind it?

Over the years, I’ve had several favorite pieces and elements as we’ve grown the brand. One of my favorites is the vintage Nike sneaker collection at Graduate Eugene—I’m a big sneakerhead. We had the incredible opportunity to curate the 40-pair collection, including an original pair of Nike Moon Shoes. There’s also Flyboy at Graduate New York, the Minnie Pearl Tapestry in Nashville, and a 13-punting boat installation at Graduate Cambridge.

We’ve also created curated experiences within the guest rooms. At Graduate Chapel Hill, we recreated the college dorm of my favorite sports hero of all time, Michael Jordan. Fittingly labeled room 23, the room is the exact replica of his dorm at Granville Towers. From the ceiling to the brick wall to the record player and records, the posters, the pennants–every single piece in that room, we have it. The Jordan suite also has some of my favorite MJ memorabilia, including his game-worn sneakers from 1983, a $5 check he cashed after winning a game of pool, and his student ID card.

Can you share a story about the most unexpected or challenging design request you've received for a Graduate Hotel? How did you creatively navigate it?

Every hotel has had its challenges, but the most rewarding, I would say, would be those that have a historic restoration component, which is AJ’s bread and butter. Graduate Princeton was a unique challenge, given that part of our approach was to restore and renovate a former student dormitory building from 1918. Our main goal was to ensure the building's historic character and integrity were preserved while also adapting it to meet the needs of a modern hospitality space. This required careful consideration of architectural details and sensitivity to materials, such as creating a design for the brick exterior of the new construction building that would complement that of the existing structure while still preserving its charm. Structurally, we had to get creative, as the building's original floor plate was not big enough to accommodate the size of a standard hotel room; so, we had to re-configure much of the existing structure to convert it into a modern, top-tier hotel successfully.

Graduate Nashville

Are there any subtle design details or easter eggs within Graduate Hotels that guests might miss on their first visit? Can you share a favorite example?

Absolutely. One of my favorite examples is in our guest rooms at Graduate Princeton, where you’ll find custom bedside table lamps inspired by the Revolutionary War-era cannons buried behind Nassau Hall. Stories like these, incorporated tastefully into the design, are an important aspect of each property. Subtle yet meaningful design details are scattered throughout all Graduate Hotels, with the intention of keeping our guests curious and connected to the surrounding community and history.

The upcoming launch in Princeton, NJ, marks the 34th property in the Graduate Hotels portfolio. Without giving away too much, can you tease any unique design elements or experiences guests can look forward to at this location?

The lobby of Graduate Princeton is one of the spaces I am most excited about. Guests will be greeted by a two-story library lounge with thousands of books and a collection of vintage Senior Jackets. The space will also feature a thirty-foot carved wooden table, a Graduate staple reminiscent of the historic libraries on campus, which will serve as a public space for visitors and students to study, gather, and connect.

The guest rooms include custom wallpaper inspired by the campus’s renowned arboretum, bespoke bed frames that recall the university's annual Cane Spree tradition, and more. The restaurant, Ye Tavern, is named after a storied bar that once occupied the same site in the 1930s, and the design is inspired by Princeton University’s famed ‘eating clubs.’

The Randolph Hotel, Oxford

Graduate Hotels’ connection to university towns is unique. How do you ensure that each hotel remains appealing not just to visiting parents and alumni but also to a broader demographic seeking a one-of-a-kind hotel experience?

Celebrating each of these markets and communities is a real honor, and we take it seriously. When it came to my own alma mater—the University of Tennessee—it was especially meaningful. At Graduate Knoxville, we partnered with Peyton Manning, a living legend and local hero, to create Saloon 16. Peyton's nickname was The Sheriff, and his number was 16, so we told his story through a recreation of an old-school saloon with Peyton's fingerprints on every aspect of the space.

He's one of the most detail-oriented people I've ever worked with. He's so meticulous. He picked and named every item on the menu, chose every song on the jukebox, and even pulled from his personal collection to help us curate every picture on the wall. If Peyton were to build a saloon in his basement, this is exactly what it would look like.

Delving into the realm of hypotheticals for a moment, if you could design a Graduate Hotel inspired by any university or college in the world that you haven't already explored, which would it be and why?

The first international Graduate opened in 2021 in Cambridge and Oxford, England, two of the world's most historic and iconic university towns. I’d love to see the brand expand internationally and explore what a Graduate is across different university cultures. Here in the U.S., we are always exploring potential markets and have a few that are constantly requested by our brand fans.

Does Graduate Hotels collaborate with local artists and designers to integrate their perspectives into its design narrative? If so, have there been any particularly unique or surprising collaborations?

We've partnered with several artists across our portfolio, but one of the most notable collaborations is at Graduate New York with Hebru Brantley. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a striking 12-foot sculpture, a vibrant reinterpretation of Brantley's iconic Flyboy character, which symbolizes empowerment through knowledge. This colorful Flyboy fills the space with wonder and delight.

And finally, for a bit of fun: If you could choose any fictional university from movies, books, or video games to inspire a Graduate Hotel design, which would it be, and what element would you be most excited to bring to life?

We’ve played with pop culture in a few of our properties—beyond the standard design details—like the Home Alone Suite in Evanston and the Stranger Things Suite in Bloomington, but we’ve only scratched the surface. We’re all about nostalgia, so it would have to be a throwback—I’d love to create an homage to a collegiate comedy classics like Old School or Animal House .

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In London: Penguin Books UK’s 2024 Cover Design Awards

In News by Porter Anderson July 3, 2024

The Penguin Books UK competition in book cover design for a third year was open to all applicants: 30 percent are not students.

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

Mentoring, Tablets, and Design Books for Winners

Unless a book, for adults or children, has an author whose name propels sales, the cover art is the pitch to the consumer.

Penguin Books in the United Kingdom has again run its Cover Design Award program, and this year it drew more than 1,800 entries.

The brief here for applicants is that they must work with covers of key Penguin titles chosen by the company. Categories include a Children’s Cover Design Award, an Adult Fiction Cover Design Award, and an Adult Nonfiction Cover Design Award.

The winning illustrators are offered a six-month mentorship with a member of Penguin’s art department, something that could really make a difference to a talented designer ready to begin working into professional-class challenges. Those winners also get what the second- and third-place honorees each receive—a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium tablet and £100 (US$127) in Penguin Random House design books.

Until 2022, the program was called the Student Design Award. But two years ago, the competition was opened to “anyone interested in becoming a designer, regardless of their higher education status.” The company explains that Penguin doesn’t require degrees for any of its hires, “so it made sense to remove that criterion to offer more people the opportunity to experience a real-life book cover design brief and be mentored by one of our designers.”

The company is pleased, its spokespeople say, because that change has meant that fully 30 percent of the shortlists this year comprised people who could not have entered their work when the program was limited to students.

Penguin UK Cover Design Award 2024: Children’s Books

Selected book: City of Stolen Magic by Nasneen Ahmed Pathak and illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

The three top contenders in this category, ranked by jurors, are:

1 st place : Charlotte Jennings

2 nd place : Evan Connolly

3 rd place : Karin Keratova

Anna Billson, art director at Penguin Random House Children’s in London commented, in part, “ A very much deserved win for a very accomplished design. The smart use of color and the considered balance between the multiple illustrative elements combine to make a striking and inviting cover which opens up the world inside the book. The development from the initial submission to the final design has been really well executed, showcasing a strong design eye for both illustration and typography.”

Penguin UK Cover Design Award 2024: Adult Fiction

Selected book: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

1 st place : Cadi Rhind

2 nd place : Max Bicknell

3 rd place : Rebekah Sinclair

Richard Ogle, art director at Transworld made this comment on the jury’s rationale in choosing the Rhind design: “This design is a worthy winner. There’s a confidence in the use of type and color that reflects and builds on the references to the 1970s aesthetic, and Cadi’s reminiscences of family car journeys soundtracked by her father’s love of 1970s music, like Eagles and Joni Mitchell, really feels like it has filtered through to the authentic, yet contemporary, resonance of the design.”

Penguin UK Cover Design Award 2024: Adult Nonfiction

Selected book: Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way To Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear

1 st place : George Griffiths

2 nd place : James Gregory

3 rd place : Craig Ferdinando

In a comment of rationale about Griffiths’ design, Richard Bravery, art director at Penguin General, calls the work: “A beautifully layered, well-crafted design that subtly alludes to the narrative of change and habit.

“We loved the way that George has combined collage with this subject matter to achieve a striking and genre bending design. A worthy winner.”

More about the PRH-UK Cover Design Award is here .

More from Publishing Perspectives on book cover design is here , more on the world industry’s myriad book and publishing contests is here , and more on the United Kingdom’s book publishing market is here .

About the Author

Porter anderson.

Porter Anderson has been named International Trade Press Journalist of the Year in London Book Fair's International Excellence Awards. He is Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives. He formerly was Associate Editor for The FutureBook at London's The Bookseller. Anderson was for more than a decade a senior producer and anchor with CNN.com, CNN International, and CNN USA. As an arts critic (Fellow, National Critics Institute), he was with The Village Voice, the Dallas Times Herald, and the Tampa Tribune, now the Tampa Bay Times. He co-founded The Hot Sheet, a newsletter for authors, which now is owned and operated by Jane Friedman.