The 6-credit requirement in mathematics and/or quantitative methods may be met by satisfactorily completing certain courses specified by the Department or by taking the minor in mathematics. When such courses also count for either the major or the minor area, the remaining credits may be taken as approved electives.
The student must achieve a 3.0 GPA separately in each of the following areas: the major area, the minor area, and the quantitative methods area.
The minor is normally in another area offered in the College or in the physical sciences or mathematics or in management sciences. Consideration of any other area as a minor requires the prior approval of the Department.
A minimum of 26 credits, excluding doctoral thesis, must be at the 700 level or higher.
The Graduate School requires that the student must have a major professor to advise, supervise, and approve the program of study before registering for courses. The incoming student will be assigned to an initial Program Advisor at the time of admission. Prior to the completion of 12 credits (9 credits for part-time students), the student must select a major professor who will be the student’s thesis advisor. The student, in consultation with the major professor, develops a proposed program of studies which is submitted for approval. For subsequent changes, the student must file a revised program of study for approval.
There is no foreign language requirement for the degree.
The program residence requirement is satisfied either by completing 8 or more graduate credits in two consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions, or by completing 6 or more graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions.
Each student in the program must take and pass a Qualifying Examination to demonstrate that the student is qualified for doctoral-level work. The Qualifying Examination is a written exam and is structured in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2. The examination is offered twice a year during the regular academic year.
Students entering with only a bachelor’s degree or with a master’s degree in an area unrelated to their major may take the Qualifying Examination for the first time after earning 12 credits of graduate work at UWM and must successfully pass the exam before earning 30 credits of graduate work at UWM.
Students admitted after completing an appropriate master’s degree must take this examination no later than the semester immediately after 18 credits of graduate work have been earned at UWM.
A student may take the Qualifying Examination twice. On the first attempt, the student must attempt both Part 1 and Part 2 of the examination.
A student who fails the qualifying exam twice is subject to dismissal from the PhD in Computer Science program. A student may appeal the failure and dismissal within 30 days of being notified of the failure. If the student does not appeal or the appeal is not granted, the College will recommend to the Graduate School that the student be dismissed. A student who is dismissed from the PhD in Computer Science program because of failing the qualifying exam may not be enrolled in the PhD in Computer Science program for a complete calendar year. This does not preclude the student from being enrolled in any other degree program offered by the University. A student who wishes to re-enroll in the program after a calendar year has passed must apply as any other student would, including payment of fees. A student readmitted after having failed the qualifying exam twice must take the qualifying exam in the first semester of matriculation and this will count as the student’s first attempt at the exam. The student may appeal this requirement prior to the first scheduled day of classes. If the student fails the qualifying exam on this first attempt, the student is permitted the customary second attempt as described above. All appeals must be in writing and directed to the CEAS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
The Doctoral Program Committee is proposed by the major professor in consultation with the student and the department. The Committee must include at least five graduate faculty (three from major area, one from minor area, and one from any area, including the major and minor areas). The last member may be a person from outside the University (such as another university, a research laboratory, or a relevant industrial partner), provided that person meets Graduate School requirements. The Committee may have more than five members, provided that the majority of the Committee members are from the student’s major field.
A student is admitted to candidacy only after successful completion of the doctoral preliminary examination conducted by the Doctoral Program Committee. This examination, which normally is oral, must be taken before the completion of 48 credits of graduate work toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science and should be taken within the first seven years in the program. Prior to the examination, the student must present a proposal for a doctoral dissertation project. The examination may cover both graduate course material and items related to the proposed dissertation project.
The student must carry out a creative effort in the major area under the supervision of the major professor and report the results in an acceptable dissertation. The effort of the student and the major professor to produce the dissertation is reflected in the PhD in Computer Science program requirement that the student complete at least 18 credits of doctoral thesis.
After the student has successfully completed all degree requirements except the dissertation, the student may enter Dissertator Status. Achieving Dissertator Status requires successful completion of the Doctoral Preliminary Examination and prior approval of the student’s advisor, the Doctoral Program Committee, and the Computer Science GPR of a dissertation proposal that outlines the scope of the project, the research method, and the goals to be achieved. Any proposal that may involve a financial commitment by the University also must be approved by the Office of the Dean. After having achieved Dissertator Status, the student must continue to register for 3 credits of doctoral thesis per semester during the academic year until the dissertation is completed.
The final examination, which is oral, consists of a defense of the dissertation project. The doctoral defense examination may only be taken after all coursework and other requirements have been completed. The student must have Dissertator Status at the time of the defense.
All degree requirements must be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the doctoral program.
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Please visit the UVA Graduate Record webpage for Ph.D. degree requirements.
Computer science background requirements.
The Department of Computer Science does not require that applicants hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. However, applicants are expected to have a strong background in Computer Science. A suitable background would include courses in the following core areas:
Applicants are also expected to have taken several (but not necessarily all) courses in specialized areas:
A year of college-level Calculus is also required. In general, experience gained working is not considered equivalent to successful completion of the courses listed above.
There is no minimum GPA required for admission. However, most applicants who are offered admission to our program have a GPA of at least 3.3 (out of 4.0). The grades in Computer Science, mathematics and related courses are more important than the overall GPA.
GRE scores are optional.
If possible, letters of references should be written by faculty at a university previously attended. Letters of reference from Computer Science faculty are preferred, but references from employers are welcome. References should pay particular attention to academic achievements and evidence of independent, creative problem solving.
It is unusual that we offer admission to an applicant with an overall TOEFL score below 90 / IELTS below 6.5. Scores can be sent electronically to UVa at institution code B875. Some students with lower scores may be required to complete the UVA Summer English for Academic Purposes Program prior to admission.
Applications are evaluated based on the following factors:
Applications are evaluated in their entirety. A weakness in one factor might be mitigated by strength in another.
Occasionally, the school of Engineering offers Master Fellowships. More information can be found on the Engineering Cost Aid webpage: https://engineering.virginia.edu/future-grads/graduate-admissions/cost-aid , and you can learn more about UVA Fellowships here: https://citizenscholars.virginia.edu/fellowships
PhD students are usually admitted with a financial aid package in the form of a First-Year Research Assistantship that allows students to explore research with various faculty members and find their best match. It is expected that students will join a research group by the end of their first year and then be supported as a Research Assistant (RA). This financial aid package includes a competitive stipend, tuition, fees, and health insurance coverage. Details of this award are given at the time of your notification of acceptance into the Computer Science PhD program.
You are encouraged to apply to outside sources for fellowships or you can apply for federal assistance by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid .
The UVA Tuition and Fees page includes the costs per academic year by school.
How do i apply.
Please visit this Web page to apply.
See details in the section above (Admissions).
Visit this UVA Engineering FAQ page for details on the cost to apply, and learn if your fee can be waived.
International students must have an outstanding command of the English language in order to enroll at the University of Virginia. The TOEFL/IELTS exam is required of all applicants if the language first learned and spoken in the home is not English, and they are not permanent residents. However, TOEFL/IELTS is not required if the applicant has received a 4-year degree at an English-speaking institution (whether or not the institution is in the U.S.). (If the applicant has a 4-year degree from a non-English-speaking institution and a Master's degree from an English-speaking institution, TOEFL/IELTS is still required.) It is unusual that we offer admission to an applicant with an overall TOEFL score below 90 / IELTS below 6.5.
We review all applications thoroughly, along a number of dimensions. It is unusual that we offer admission to an applicant with an overall TOEFL score below 90/ IELTS score of 6.5.
The Institution code for School of Engineering and Applied Science of the University of Virginia for the GRE is 5820. The code for TOEFL is B875. There is not a specific code for the Department of Computer Science.
We will start evaluating applications soon after the Dec 15 deadline. Applicants should submit the most complete application they can, based on the information they have at the time (e.g., current test scores, even if new test scores are anticipated).Those applications that are complete will be considered first. We will continue to evaluate applications into early next year, until we have completed our offers. As we are reviewing applications, we will certainly consider updated scores as the arrive at the University of Virginia. There is no need to email us to tell us that new scores are being sent.
We strongly discourage applicants from mailing in any items that can be uploaded to avoid delays in your application review, and we ask that you not send duplicate copies of previously uploaded documents. If you still need to mail documents to our office, please send them to: For US Postal: Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science Admissions P.O. Box 401103 Charlottesville, VA 22904 For UPS/FEDEX: Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science Admissions 1001 Emmet Street North Room 209B Carruthers Hall Charlottesville, VA 22903
We will fully review your application with unofficial test scores and unofficial transcripts. Your application will only show as "complete" when your application has been submitted, your official scores and transcripts have been received and all three letters of recommendations have been received. An application is complete for review with unofficial transcripts and self-reported scores, though the checklist will still show incomplete. Please note that all official transcripts are received in our main admissions office and scanned or entered into our system manually. If you feel that your materials should have been received by now, but are NOT showing up when you login to your account, please note that the Graduate Admissions Office processes a very large number of applications and it may take longer than expected for your documents/information to appear online (in your account). It is very likely that your materials have been received, but have not been loaded into our application system yet.
The graduate admissions committee considers many factors in an application, including more than just GPA and test scores. In particular, letters of reference and your personal statement are extremely important. Therefore, we are unfortunately unable to provide any information before the committee considers your full application.
Yes! For program/degree specific questions, please send an email to [email protected]. For application support and specific questions regarding the application process, please contact: Central Graduate Admissions [email protected] 434-243-0209
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found here .
The doctor of philosophy in computer science program at Northwestern University primarily prepares students to become expert independent researchers. PhD students conduct original transformational research in extant and emerging computer science topics. Students work alongside top researchers to advance the core CS fields from Theory to AI and Systems and Networking . In addition, PhD students have the opportunity to collaborate with CS+X faculty who are jointly appointed between CS and disciplines including business, law, economics, journalism, and medicine.
Doctor of philosophy in computer science students follow the course requirements, qualifying exam structure, and thesis process specific to one of five tracks :
Within each track, students explore many areas of interest, including programming languages , security and privacy and human-computer interaction .
Learn more about computer science research areas
The focus of the CS PhD program is learning how to do research by doing research, and students are expected to spend at least 50% of their time on research. Students complete ten graduate curriculum requirements (including COMP_SCI 496: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Computer Science ), and additional course selection is tailored based on individual experience, research track, and interests. Students must also successfully complete a qualifying exam to be admitted to candidacy.
CS PhD Manual Apply now
Download a PDF program guide about your program of interest and get in contact with our graduate admissions staff.
Request info about the PhD degree
Cognitive science certificate.
Computer science PhD students may earn a specialization in cognitive science by taking six cognitive science courses. In addition to broadening a student’s area of study and improving their resume, students attend cognitive science events and lectures, they can receive conference travel support, and they are exposed to cross-disciplinary exchanges.
PhD candidates may elect to participate in the Crown Family Graduate Internship Program. This opportunity allows the doctoral candidate to gain practical experience in industry or in national research laboratories in areas closely related to their research.
The certificate program — jointly offered by The Graduate School and Kellogg School of Management — provides post-candidacy doctoral students with a basic understanding of strategy, finance, risk and uncertainty, marketing, accounting and leadership. Students are introduced to business concepts and specific frameworks for effective management relevant to both for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
Recent graduates of the computer science PhD program are pursuing careers in industry & research labs, academia, and startups.
Admissions Questions
Help for Current PhD Students
Director of Graduate Studies for PhD Program
"One great benefit of Northwestern is the collaborative effort of the CS department that enabled me to work on projects involving multiple faculty, each with their own diverse set of expertise.
Northwestern maintains a great balance: you will work on leading research at a top-tier institution, and you won't get lost in the mix."
— Brian Suchy, PhD Candidate, Computer Systems
"In the early stage of my PhD program, I took several courses from the Department of Economics and the Kellogg School of Management and, later, I started collaborating with researchers in those areas. The experience taught me how to have an open mind to embrace and work with people with different backgrounds."
— Yiding Feng (PhD '21), postdoctoral researcher, Microsoft Research Lab – New England
Read an alumni profile of Yiding Feng
"My work at IBM Research involves bringing together symbolic and deep learning techniques to solve problems in interpretable, effective ways, which means I must draw upon the research I did at Northwestern quite frequently."
— Maxwell Crouse (PhD '21), AI Research Scientist, IBM Research
Read an alumni profile of Maxwell Crouse
The theory group here is very warm and close-knit. Starting a PhD is daunting, and it is comforting to have a community I can lean on.
— Vaidehi Srinivas, PhD Candidate, CS Theory
Carnegie Mellon's Ph.D. in Computer Science is, above all, a research degree. When the faculty award a Ph.D., they certify that the student has a broad foundation and awareness of core concepts in computer science, has advanced the field by performing significant original research and has reported that work in a scholarly fashion.
When you begin our Ph.D. program, you’ll take the Introductory Course for Doctoral Students — an intense two week program that orients you to the department, introduces you to research and education topics our faculty are interested in, helps you find a faculty advisor and familiarizes you with Carnegie Mellon’s resources. Next, you’ll gain a broad understanding of fundamental research issues in major areas of computer science through coursework and original research. Finally, you’ll write and orally defend a thesis that guarantees you understand the area well enough to advance the state of knowledge in the field.
During the first two years of the program, you’ll gain the foundation of knowledge that will allow you to become an expert researcher in computer science, primarily by
Mastering a body of graduate material, achieved by passing 96 university units worth of graduate courses (equivalent to eight full-time courses).
Learning how to organize and begin to carry out original research, achieved by participating in directed research.
You will also serve as a teaching assistant, hone your writing and speaking skills and maintain your programming prowess. You’ll also receive periodic evaluation of your progress, and must make satisfactory progress to continue in the program.
Time Commitment:
As a Ph.D. student in computer science at CMU, you'll spend roughly five years acquiring a body of technical knowledge that includes a familiarity with the breadth of the field, as well as a deep understanding of your research area. From your second month in the program, you'll work closely with your faculty advisor, who is charged with guiding your education and monitoring your progress through the program. You'll take courses, teach and perform directed research — all to ensure that you leave Carnegie Mellon as an expert in your field. For a complete breakdown of our program requirements, read our Ph.D. Handbook .
The Computer Science Department offers all Ph.D. students full financial support while they are in good academic standing in their respective programs. To learn more about Ph.D. funding, visit the SCS Doctoral Programs webpage.
Graduate Tuition: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/scs.html
Student Fees: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/fees/index.html
Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Financial Aid: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/financial-aid/graduate/index.html
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The Computer Science Department PhD program is a top-ranked research-oriented program, typically completed in 5-6 years. There are very few course requirements and the emphasis is on preparation for a career in Computer Science research.
The PhD in Computer Science is administered by the division of Computer Science in the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Some aspects of the program are delegated to the CEAS Graduate Office. The program is flexible, allowing the student to develop a plan of studies tailored to meet individual needs.
Ph.D. in Computer Science. The Ph.D. degree culminates with the student writing and defending a dissertation based on the result of independent, original research that makes a significant scholarly contribution to the student's field of study. Please visit the UVA Graduate Record webpage for Ph.D. degree requirements. Application Requirements.
Learn how to become an expert researcher in computer science at Northwestern University. Explore the curriculum, tracks, opportunities, and career paths for PhD students in CS and related fields.
Ph.D. computer science students take advanced coursework that covers computer science theory. They also must complete a dissertation: original research addressing a problem or question in computer science. Pursuing a doctoral degree in computer science means studying advanced concepts.
As a Ph.D. student in computer science at CMU, you'll spend roughly five years acquiring a body of technical knowledge that includes a familiarity with the breadth of the field, as well as a deep understanding of your research area.