How to Apply (PHD)

Application Deadline

Applicants for fall admission to the PhD programs in computer science must complete the following steps no later than 9:59 p.m. MST on Dec. 15th.Ìý

  • All documents, including Letters of Recommendation, must be submitted by this deadline.Ìý
  • No extensions are provided and incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you have any questions about your application, please contactÌýcsgradinfo@colorado.edu.

You can also fill out theÌý.

General Application Steps

Please see theÌýFAQs page for common questions about these steps.

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2. Pay the $60 application fee($80 for international applicants).ÌýÌý

In addition, the Graduate School offers application fee waivers, please checkÌýSubmit Application & Fee Payment: Are fee waivers accepted? How do I request one? for more details.

3. GRE

GRE scores are not required for admission to our graduate programs. Submitting these scores does not have any added benefit as these scores are not part of the review process.Ìý

4. Submit your IETLS/TOEFL or Duolingo scores

If you are an international student check out theÌýGraduate School's English Proficiency Requirements for more details. To hold Teaching Assistant position in the department students need at least 25 score in spoken section of the TOEFL exam OR 7.0 score in spoken section of IELTS OR 125 in the spoken DUOLINGO scores or its equivalent score in other language tests.Ìý

5. Submit three letters of recommendation

Letters of Recommendation: Guidance

We have the following suggestions for letters of recommendation:

  • A good letter-writer is someone who has worked with you closely or evaluated your work. They should be able to comment on your potential to pursue research in your chosen area(s) of interest.
  • Please ask your letter writers at least one to two months in advance, not at the last minute.
  • If they agree, provide them with a resume and brief description of your goals, e.g. area(s) of interest.
  • Clearly communicate the due dates for your letters and how to submit them.
  • If you are asking someone to write you letters for more than one application, remember that they are very busy and keeping track of multiple deadlines is difficult. You can offer to help by asking if they would like you to send reminder emails or if they'd like to use a spreadsheet.

Not all letter writers are familiar with the U.S. Computer Science Ph.D. process, so we have prepared the following paragraph of guidance for you to share with your letter writers if you choose:Ìý

"Thank you for writing a letter of recommendation. We respectfully suggest that the letter will be most helpful if it can include the following information.

  1. How you know the applicant and for what length of time.
  2. Evaluation of the applicant's potential to contribute to a Ph.D. program in Computer Science or a related discipline, in terms of research aptitude and personal qualities.
  3. Comparison to their peers, whether quantitative (e.g. class rank) or qualitative. Comparison to previous students with success in Ph.D. research is especially appreciated.
  4. Any additional information, e.g. details of research projects and the applicants' role, or so on."

6. Upload unofficial copies of your transcripts

Upload unofficial copies of your transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution that you attended, regardless of length of attendance and whether you completed the courses. Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university.

If you receive an offer of admission and confirm your intent to enroll, you will be required to submit your official transcript(s) to Graduate Admissions from all institutions where credit was earned, check outÌýhere for more information.

7. Upload your Statement of Purpose

Upload your Statement of Purpose also known as Personal Statement, in the Online Application. Statement should include why you want to pursue graduate work in Computer Science and what you would like to do after you have received your degree. Treat this as your personal and research statement. There are no word or page limits or any format for this SOP. However, keeping it concise to a page or two will be appreciated.Ìý

Statement of Purpose Guidance for PhD Applicants

Our faculty have compiled the following suggestions for the Statement of Purpose. A good Statement of Purpose generally includes these components:

  • What research area(s) you are interested in and, specifically, which professors at CU Boulder would be a good potential fit. Consult theÌýfaculty's research to find specific overlaps of your interests with ours.
  • Relevant past experience, particularly in the above research area(s). Be specific about your role and what you found exciting. Consider including some technical details.
    • In addition to or instead of research projects, this could include challenging courses, industry experience, etc. How did the experience prepare or motivate you to do research?
    • We recognize that not all students were able to access such opportunities. We welcome other work or personal experiences that, even if not directly relevant, demonstrate your experience in overcoming challenges or working with others.
  • You may choose to include your motivation and goals for pursuing a PhD. Why do you want to study these area(s) and what do you hope to do with your PhD? However, this section may be kept brief if included.

Some additional suggested material that may be included at your discretion:

  • You may choose to include any unique background or experience that would help you bring an unusual perspective to CU.
  • You may also choose to explain any unusual circumstances and how they have affected you, such as gaps in your resume or challenges you have faced.
  • Apart from the above, an overly-lengthy personal background is generally not helpful.

Finally, some suggestions for style and format of the Statement of Purpose:

  • Consider using small section headers to signpost the important parts of your statement, such as area(s) of interest and research experience.
  • The ability to communicate clearly through writing is important. However, otherwise, we suggest focusing more on the content than the exact wording and style of the statement.
  • Between one and two pages is generally sufficient to communicate the above points. Remember that faculty will be looking through many applications, so help them find the information they need in your application easily.

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