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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

The Ph.D. in CS program uses the School of Computer Science Online Application system. You must apply through this application portal. The Computer Science Department does not require an applicant have a master's degree to apply to for admission to the Ph.D. program.

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.  The doctoral program does not admit students in the spring semester.

Applications for all programs and all supporting documents, including letters of recommendation, must be received by the final deadline.

You may continue to edit your application until the final deadline.

Deadlines & Fees
Important Deadlines Application Fees
The application period has closed for entry in Fall 2025 Deadlines and fees for entry for Fall 2026 will be posted in early fall (usually 1st week of September) 2025.
Required Documents & Support Materials - All Programs
You must submit the following with your application:
Transcripts:
A PDF of your most recent transcript from each college and/or university you attended, even if no degree was granted.
  • Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the application process.
  • Official transcripts are required if you are admitted to the program.
  • Official undergraduate transcripts are required for matriculation into the program.
  • Note: A master's degree is not required to apply for the PhD in Computer Science.
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. Letters are due by the final application deadline date.
International Students - 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 and your country’s official language is English), we are required to formally evaluate your English proficiency via one of these standardized tests: 

  • TOEFL (preferred)
  • IELTS
  • Duolingo

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.

Official scores must be submitted by the final application deadline for your application to be considered for review.

Please refer to details on the SCS Frequently Asked Questions page and in the Graduate Application Instructions.
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.

Contacts and Additional Information

For more on the application process, please refer to the SCS Online Graduate Application Instructions.

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".

Basic funding for doctoral students is the same for domestic and international students admitted to the program. For additional information regarding funding please refer to the CSD Doctoral Program information page.

For questions specific to the Ph.D. in Computer Science email: csd-phd-admissions@cs.cmu.edu. This email does not respond for technical issues, general application questions, or questions about other programs in the School of Computer Science. 

We encourage you to explore all the doctoral degree programs offered in the School of Computer Science to see if a specific program might be the best fit for the research you want to pursue. 

Information about doctoral programs in each of the seven departments is available on the School of Computer Science Doctoral Programs overview page. 

Please note that the Computer Science Department (CSD) is one of 7 departments in the School of Computer Science (SCS). 

Before applying we encourage you to become familiar with research in other SCS departments to be certain you are applying to the correct department to pursue your research and align with an appropriate advisor. 

PhD Programs in the other six departments:

Ray and Stephanie Lane Computational Biology Department PhD Program

Human-Computer Interaction Institute PhD Program

Language Technologies Institute PhD Program

Machine Learning Department PhD Program

Robotics Institute PhD Program

Software and Societal Systems Department:

Software Engineering PhD Program

Societal Computing PhD Program