Research Focus
- Additive manufacturing
- Flexible electronics
- Space manufacturing
- Real-time monitoring and automation systems
Programme Structure and Funding
This is a full-time PhD programme with a duration of 4–6 years (48–72 months). Only 2 students are admitted.
Applicants who pass the committee interview may receive full scholarship funding (in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, internal scholarships, tuition waivers, or a combination of the above).
Entry Requirements
Industrial engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, mathematics, statistics, computer science, psychology, economics, automation, data science
- Academic background: applicants with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any field that provides a foundation for research in industrial and systems engineering (ISyE). For example, applicants’ backgrounds may be in industrial engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or mathematics, statistics, computer science, psychology, economics, and other fields.
- Grade requirement: GPA ≥ 3.0
- Language requirements: TOEFL: 92; or IELTS: 7.0; Applicants with a bachelor’s/master’s degree from an English-taught country may be exempt from the language requirement
- References: 3 letters of recommendation
Application Materials
- CV;
- Transcripts;
- English test scores;
- GRE scores;
- Statement of purpose;
- 3 letters of recommendation.
Application Period
The deadline for autumn entry applications is 1 December; the deadline for spring entry applications is 1 September.
Application Process
From now until early October, applicants submit an English CV and relevant materials, and we will conduct a preliminary assessment. In October, those who pass the initial screening will be invited to interview with potential supervisors. Before December, after passing the interview, applicants must formally submit their application materials through the official website. From December to January of the following year, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the school’s admissions committee. From February to March of the following year, admission offers are issued. Note: the above are the timeline points for the autumn entry application process.
Tuition and Living Costs
Living Costs
Approximately USD 23,886 per year (depending on individual circumstances).
Preferred Qualifications
Candidates from top-ranked international universities with backgrounds in automation, robotics, mechanical engineering, computer science, or mathematics, and those with publication records, are preferred.
- Tuition: for the 2025–26 academic year, approximately USD 25,732 per year (note: tuition rises slightly each year).
Career Prospects
The PhD programme in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is renowned for its strong research strength in areas such as optimisation, data analytics, human factors engineering, and systems modelling. Graduates are highly sought after in the global wave of digital transformation and intelligent upgrading.
With their core ability to solve complex systems problems, they enjoy broad career prospects in academia and in a range of frontier industries such as high technology, finance, and healthcare. Depending on the specialist field and industry, starting salaries are generally high.
In terms of career choices, PhD graduates mainly move into the following areas:
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Academia and research institutions: graduates can take up faculty positions at top universities worldwide, lead research teams, and conduct frontier exploration in directions such as operations research, human factors, and data analytics. They may also join government or corporate research centres to engage in basic and strategic research.
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Technology and manufacturing: this is one of the main destinations for PhD graduates. They can work at technology companies (such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft) to optimise supply chains, platform algorithms, and user experience; at manufacturing enterprises (such as Tesla, Intel) they can lead smart manufacturing, production system optimisation, and the construction of quality management systems
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Finance and consulting: with outstanding data analysis and modelling capabilities, graduates work as quantitative analysts at hedge funds, investment banks, and fintech companies, developing trading strategies and managing risk.
At top consulting firms (such as McKinsey, BCG), they serve as strategy consultants, providing solutions for improving corporate operational efficiency
- Healthcare and health service systems: this field is becoming a popular choice for ISE PhDs. Through process optimisation, data modelling, and human factors engineering, they help hospitals improve operational efficiency, optimise the allocation of medical resources, and improve patient safety and the healthcare service experience.
