About PhD Program,
Immerse yourself in machine learning and AI, human-centered computing, robotics, — or any area of computer science that intrigues you. Develop your research, teaching, and leadership skills. And work with the brightest minds in the field to advance computing for the common good.
UMass Amherst’s PhD in computer science is designed to prepare you for teaching, research and leadership positions. Our program ranks among the top 25 in the nation.
Interdisciplinary research, world-renowned scholars, and our collaborative spirit attract top students and faculty. We also partner with industry-leading technology companies to conduct groundbreaking research. As a PhD student at CICS, you’ll find the community and resources you need to pursue your passion and use computing to take on the world’s toughest challenges
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
- GPA. Your overall grade point average for those 36 credits must be 3.0 or higher.
- Six core courses in systems, AI and theory (18 credits)
- Portfolio/comprehensive exam
- Dissertation research (18 credits)
- Doctoral thesis proposal and defense
- Actively participate in research under the guidance of an advisor
- Satisfy 6 Core Requirements (18 course credits) across the areas of Systems, AI, and Theory. (Transfer credits are not accepted to satisfy these requirements.)
- Pass the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences Qualifying Exam–portfolio
- Form a committee
- Propose a thesis
- Complete 18 dissertation credits
- Pass the Teaching Assistant Requirement*
- Pass the Residency Requirement: at least 9 credits, each semester, in back-to-back semesters which is usually satisfied with the dissertation credits
- Defend and submit a thesis
PhD Funding Coverage,
The University provides an array of funding in the form of assistantships, fellowships, research and travel grants.
- Funding offers are made by the student’s graduate degree program at the time of admission. Full details on the amount and duration of funding are provided in a letter to the applicant.
- The Graduate School and some Colleges have a limited number of fellowships to recruit outstanding graduate students. Students are typically nominated by their graduate program and notified if they are selected.
- Our funding policies page has everything you need to know about assistantships, employment, and tuition credits.
Application Requirement,
- Online Application
- Personal Statement (suggestions below)
- Share your research and/or industry experiences.
- Share situations in which you have contributed to computing for the common good or how you plan to in the future.
- Share situations in which you have contributed or had a positive impact on increasing diversity in a STEM field.
- Transcripts — unofficial for the application
- If you are not sure whether your degree equates to a four-year U.S. degree, please use this toolprior to submitting your application.
- Official transcripts are required by the Graduate School once admitted
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- References will be requested through the online Graduate School application once an applicant submits the application.
- Applicants should choose letter writers who are able to provide information about a research project, a community service experience, or work experience.
- English Exam scoresfor international students
- No GRE required for PhD (and MS/PhD) applicants
Our applicants come from varied backgrounds; we have students from engineering, math, computer science, electrical engineering, psychology, and social sciences, but all have a solid undergraduate background in computer science. With such a diverse group, an emphasis is placed on letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and GPA.
We strongly recommend that all students submit all required materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions before the deadline to ensure timely notification to recommenders.
Application Deadline
Dec 15, 2024
Application Fee,
A waiver of this fee is provided to UMass Amherst graduate students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program.
