Fully Funded Master’s in Computer Science at Princeton University

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About Master’s Program,

The Department of Computer Science accepts both beginning and advanced graduate students for study and research leading to the degree of Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). These degree programs are sufficiently flexible to adapt to individual plans of study and research.

The Master’s degree at Princeton is a two year, full-time program. All admitted students will initially be enrolled in the Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.), thesis-required track. In the spring of year 1, as part of readmission, all students will be given the option to switch to the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), non-thesis track. Students opting to remain on the M.S.E. track must have a confirmed research adviser and should also have a preliminary thesis proposal. Switching from the M.S.E. track to the M.Eng track will be permitted through January of Year 2.

All coursework must be taken for a grade. A minimum of 4 courses must be taken in year 1. If, due to scheduling conflicts,this is not possible, approval by the Director of Graduate Studies is required. In no event will time to degree be extended beyond two years.

Funding is normally in the form of teaching assistantships covering the four semesters of the program. Summer funding for M.S.E. candidates in the form of a research assistantship may be offered at the adviser’s discretion.

Students wishing to continue on for a Ph.D. should apply through the normal application process during the fall of their second year of study.

Undergraduate senior thesis and undergraduate independent work courses are not included in this policy.

The M.S.E. program is a two year, full-time program of coursework plus submission of an original thesis. Candidates choose a subarea of computer science on which to focus by taking appropriate courses, and writing a thesis under the direction of an adviser.

In addition to satisfactory completion of coursework, candidates must prepare and submit an original thesis as well as present a public seminar on the research. The thesis will be reviewed and graded by your adviser plus one additional reader from the Princeton faculty. If the reader is from outside the Computer Science Department, approval by the Director of Graduate Studies is required. The public seminar is an ungraded 20-minute talk, followed by a 10-minute question session, given in the spring of year 2. This will allow your adviser and reader to give preliminary feedback prior to submission of the final thesis.

The written thesis should be a research paper of “scholarly quality” — making a novel contribution to scholarship in the field. The thesis should motivate the chosen research problem, evaluate the proposed solution (e.g., via analysis, measurement, simulation, or prototype implementation), and compare the approach to the related work in the field. While there is no specific length requirement, a reasonable target is a typical conference paper (e.g., 10-15 pages in two-column format or 20-40 pages in single-column, double spaced format).

Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,

Two supplemental essays are required.

Please describe any teaching experience you have had, in any subject, at any grade level. This can include but is not limited to experience as a teaching assistant, lab assistant, grader, tutor, or any other role in which you interacted with students or mentored your peers. 250 words max.

For those with teaching experience, describe a specific instance when you helped your student/students overcome a misunderstanding or understand a difficult concept. If you do not have any teaching experience, please describe an oral presentation or talk you gave that explains a particularly difficult concept. 250 words max.

For those required to submit English language proficiency scores, you must score a minimum of 28 on the speaking section of the TOEFL, or an 8 in the IELTS, in order to be admitted to the program. The department does not accept TWE test scores or Duolingo.

Master’s Funding Coverage,

Financial support for master’s students varies by academic department and degree program.

In general, the Graduate School does not provide central funding for master’s candidates. However, certain academic departments do provide partial or full funding to master’s students. In addition, students may be eligible for Assistantships in Instruction (AI) or Assistantships in Research (AR). External funding options may also be available. Tailored guidance can be provided by one’s department and academic adviser. Students are also encouraged to explore the resources on this site, which are aligned to a wide range of interests. Visit our Financial Support Model page for information about tuition & costs.