Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

Students admitted into the PhD-only program usually arrive at UMass having already earned an MS degree at an accredited University. Ph.D. students are required to pass 6 core requirements, complete 18 credits (credits include core courses taken to pass core requirements), and 18 Dissertation Credits. Our doctoral program provides assistantships for students during their first full year and during each academic semester following the first year. The assistantship provides a tuition waiver and 95% discount on the UMass Amherst health insurance plan.

Admission is very competitive. We typically accept 10 to 15% of students applying to our graduate programs. Backgrounds vary: we have students from engineering, math, computer science, electrical engineering, psychology and social sciences. With such a diverse group, an emphasis is placed on letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and GPA.The College expects that students starting work in the M.S./Ph.D. or Ph.D. tracks have a solid undergraduate background in Computer Science. Most MS/PhD students are supported by research or teaching assistantships.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 Official transcripts are required by the Graduate School once admitted2 Letters of RecommendationReferences 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 us with information about a research project, a community service experience, or work experience.