UTSI sits on the shore of Woods Reservoir, next to Arnold Air Force Base and its wind tunnels, in rural Middle Tennessee. It opened in 1964 to train engineers for the aerospace testing work at Arnold and is a graduate-only campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Students take master's and PhD degrees in aerospace and mechanical engineering, physics and related fields, and their degrees are awarded by UT Knoxville.
Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States
Official website: utsi.edu
1964
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Graduate only
Arnold Engineering Development Complex
$26,000 – $32,000
UT Knoxville graduate tuition for out-of-state students
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on utsi.edu before you apply.
MS Aerospace Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
PhD Aerospace Engineering
DoctorateDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Physics
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Industrial Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Graduate engineering beside a major US Air Force test centre.
Small research groups in propulsion, aerodynamics and lasers.
A quiet lakeside campus on Woods Reservoir.
Graduates work in aerospace testing, defence contracting and research labs.
Many defence roles need US citizenship, so international graduates often target industry or academia.
STEM graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Selected programmes
The campus is isolated, about fifteen minutes' drive from Tullahoma, a small town. Most students live in town and drive in, as public transport is minimal.
Rent is cheap. Nashville is about ninety minutes north-west, and Huntsville, Alabama, with its aerospace industry, is a little over an hour south.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Applications go through UT Knoxville's graduate admissions, with UTSI as your campus. International applicants should apply by around January for fall to be considered for assistantships. Contact a UTSI professor in your field before you apply.
Most students start in August, and some programmes admit in January.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Aerospace and mechanical engineering are the main programmes, with physics and industrial engineering also offered. You need a bachelor's degree in engineering or physics, strong maths and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80. A supervisor's backing matters for research degrees.
Many UTSI students are funded as graduate research assistants, which usually covers tuition and pays a stipend. Funding depends on research grants, so contact professors directly.
