Doctoral Admissions
Students applying to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science or interdisciplinary degrees the Computer Science Department co-manages must apply online.
Apply to the Ph.D. in CS & Interdisciplinary Degrees
To apply to the Ph.D. in CS program you need to use the School of Computer Science Online Application.
To apply to an Interdisciplinary degree program you need to apply via the online application for the Ph.D. in CS and select the interdisciplinary program (ACO, CNBC, PAL) in the appropriate section of the online application.
Students are admitted for the fall semester and cannot begin in the spring.
Applications for all programs and all supporting documents, including letters of recommendation, must be received by the final deadline of December 13, 2023.
You may continue to edit your application until the final deadline of 3 p.m. EST, December 13.
| Important Deadlines | Application Fees |
|---|---|
| Application Opens: September 6, 2023 | Deadlines and fees are the same for all CSD Ph.D. programs. We expect all applicants to submit payment with their online application. However, we do waive the required fee under certain circumstances. Fees for application to a limited number of our programs can be waived for participants in certain programs. In addition, if you are unable to pay the application fee, SCS will consider a fee waiver request. Visit the SCS Fee Waivers page. There is waiver application that is separate from the graduate program application available on that page. |
| Early Deadline - November 29, 2023 (3 PM EST) | Early application deadline fee $80 per program. PLEASE NOTE: This is for a fee reduction only, not early admission consideration. |
| Final Deadline - December 13, 2023 (3 PM EST) | Application fee, after November 29, $100 per program. |
| You are able to edit or update some parts of your application up to the final deadline. | Regardless of which fee deadline you choose to pay by, applications must be completed, including all supporting documents and letters of recommendation, by the final deadline to be considered for review for admission. |
| You must submit the following with your application: |
|---|
| Graduate Record Exam (GRE): GRE scores are optional. An application without GRE scores is not at a disadvantage; however, applicants who have taken the GREs are encouraged to submit their scores. The GRE at Home Test is not accepted. |
| Language Exams: If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you (native language is defined as spoken at home from birth), we are required to formally evaluate your English proficiency via one of these standardized tests:
We do not accept the "TOEFL ITP Plus for China,” since speaking is not scored. Applicants currently in mainland China are encouraged to take the IELTS test. The Computer Science Department follows the Language Proficiency Policy set by the School of Computer Science and does not issue waivers for non-native English speakers. Please refer to details on the SCS Frequently Asked Questions page and in the Graduate Application Instructions. |
| Transcripts: A PDF of your most recent transcript from each college and/or university you attended, even if no degree was granted. |
| Resumé/CV: Your resumé or curriculum vitae in PDF format. |
| Statement of Purpose: Include a concise one- or two-page essay describing your primary research interests, related experiences and objective in pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science. |
| Letters of Recommendation: We request 3 letters, at least two of which are from faculty or recent employers. |
Contacts and Additional Information
For more on the application process, please refer to the SCS Online Graduate Application Instructions.
For questions specific to admissions for the Ph.D. in Computer Science email: csd-phd-admissions@cs.cmu.edu
For general questions about applying to doctoral programs in the School of Computer Science: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/about-scs/contact; select "Graduate Programs and Admissions".