what is phd in computer science

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Computer Science, Ph.D.

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We have a thriving Ph.D. program with approximately 80 full-time Ph.D. students hailing from all corners of the world. Most full-time Ph.D. students have scholarships that cover tuition and provide a monthly stipend. Admission is highly competitive. We seek creative, articulate students with undergraduate and master's degrees from top universities worldwide. Our  current research strengths  include data management and analysis, cybersecurity, computer games, visualization, web search, graphics, vision and image processing, and theoretical computer science.

This degree program offers interested students opportunities to do their research abroad, under the supervision of faculty at NYU Shanghai or  NYU Abu Dhabi .

• View the Computer Science Ph.D. program flyer
• Admissions requirements for the Ph.D. Program.
• Find out more about general  Admission Requirements .

To receive a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, a student must:

• satisfy a breadth course requirement, intended to ensure broad knowledge of computer science,
• satisfy a depth requirement, consisting of an oral qualifying exam presentation with a written report, to ensure the student's ability to do research,
• submit a written thesis proposal and make an oral presentation about the proposal,
• write a Ph.D. thesis that must be approved by a dissertation guidance committee and present an oral thesis defense, and
• satisfy all School of Engineering requirements for the Ph.D. degree, as described in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering bulletin, including graduate study duration, credit points, GPA, and time-to-degree requirements.

Upon entering the program, each student will be assigned an advisor who will guide them in formulating an individual study plan directing their course choice for the first two years. The department will hold an annual Ph.D. Student Assessment Meeting, in which all Ph.D. students will be formally reviewed.

Note: for pre-fall 2015 Ph.D. students, please see the pre-fall 2015 Ph.D. Curriculum.

Program Requirements

Details about Breadth and Depth Requirements, Thesis Proposal and Presentation, and Thesis Defense can be found in the NYU Bulletin.

Program Details

Each incoming Ph.D. student will be assigned to a research advisor, or to an interim advisor, who will provide academic advising until the student has a research advisor. The advisor will meet with the student when the student enters the program to guide the student in formulating an Individual Study Plan. The purpose of the plan is to guide the student’s course choice for the first two years in the program and to ensure that the student meets the breadth requirements. The plan may also specify additional courses to be taken by the student in order to acquire necessary background and expertise. Subsequent changes to the plan must be approved by the advisor.

Sample Plan of Study

In order to obtain a Ph.D. degree, a student must complete a minimum of 75 credits of graduate work beyond the BS degree, including at least 21 credits of dissertation. A Master of Science in Computer Science may be transferred as 30 credits without taking individual courses into consideration. Other graduate coursework in Computer Science may be transferred on a course-by-course basis. Graduate coursework in areas other than Computer Science can be transferred on a course-by-course basis with approval of the Ph.D. Committee (PHDC). The School of Engineering places some limits on the number and types of transfer credits that are available. Applications for transfer credits must be submitted for consideration before the end of the first semester of matriculation. 

All Ph.D. students will be formally reviewed each year in a Ph.D. Student Assessment Meeting. The review is conducted by the entire CSE faculty and includes at least the following items (in no particular order):

• All courses taken, grades received, and GPAs.
• Research productivity: publications, talks, software, systems, etc.
• Faculty input, especially from advisors and committee members.
• Student’s own input.
• Cumulative history of the student's progress.

As a result of the review, each student will be placed in one of the following two categories, by vote of the faculty:

• In Good Standing: The student has performed well in the previous semester and may continue in the Ph.D. program for one more year, assuming satisfactory academic progress is maintained.
• Not in Good Standing: The student has not performed sufficiently well in the previous year. The consequences of not being in good standing will vary, and may include being placed on probation, losing RA/GA/TA funding, or not being allowed to continue in the Ph.D. program.

Following the review, students will receive formal letters which will inform them of their standing. The letters may also make specific recommendations to the student as to what will be expected of them in the following year. A copy of each student’s letter will be placed in the student’s file.

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Computer Science, PhD

Computer science phd degree.

In the Computer Science program, you will learn both the fundamentals of computation and computation’s interaction with the world. Your work will involve a wide range of areas including theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, economics and computer science, privacy and security, data-management systems, intelligent interfaces, operating systems, computer graphics, computational linguistics, robotics, networks, architectures, program languages, and visualization.

You will be involved with researchers in several interdisciplinary initiatives across the University, such as the Center for Research on Computation and Society , the Data Science Initiative , and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society .

Examples of projects current and past students have worked on include leveraging machine learning to solve real-world sequential decision-making problems and using artificial intelligence to help conservation and anti-poaching efforts around the world.

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Computer Science Degree

Harvard School of Engineering offers a  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Computer Science , conferred through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Prospective students apply through Harvard Griffin GSAS; in the online application, select “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select "PhD Computer Science" in the Area of Study menu.

In addition to the Ph.D. in Computer Science, the Harvard School of Engineering also offers master’s degrees in  Computational Science and Engineering as well as in Data Science which may be of interest to applicants who wish to apply directly to a master’s program.

Computer Science Career Paths

Graduates of the program have gone on to a range of careers in industry in companies like Riot Games as game director and Lead Scientist at Raytheon. Others have positions in academia at University of Pittsburgh, Columbia, and Stony Brook. More generally, common career paths for individuals with a PhD in computer science include: academic researcher/professor, industry leadership roles, industry research scientist, data scientist, entrepreneur/startup founder, product developer, and more.

Admissions & Academic Requirements

Prospective students apply through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). In the online application, select  “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select "PhD Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering​." Please review the  admissions requirements and other information  before applying. Our website also provides  admissions guidance ,  program-specific requirements , and a  PhD program academic timeline . In the application for admission, select “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your degree program choice and your degree and area of interest from the “Area of Study“ drop-down. PhD applicants must complete the Supplemental SEAS Application Form as part of the online application process.

Academic Background

Applicants typically have bachelor’s degrees in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or engineering.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Not Accepted

Computer Science Faculty & Research Areas

View a list of our computer science faculty  and  computer science affiliated research areas . Please note that faculty members listed as “Affiliates" or "Lecturers" cannot serve as the primary research advisor.

Computer Science Centers & Initiatives

View a list of the research centers & initiatives  at SEAS and the computer science faculty engagement with these entities .

Graduate Student Clubs

Graduate student clubs and organizations bring students together to share topics of mutual interest. These clubs often serve as an important adjunct to course work by sponsoring social events and lectures. Graduate student clubs are supported by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin School of Arts and Sciences. Explore the list of active clubs and organizations .

Funding and Scholarship

Learn more about financial support for PhD students.

• How to Apply

Learn more about how to apply  or review frequently asked questions for prospective graduate students.

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Computer Science, PhD

• Program description
• At a glance
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Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Technology, approved for STEM-OPT extension, computing, database, enggradcs, systems

Take the next step in your journey to become an effective leader, innovator, entrepreneur or educator in your community and the world.

The PhD program in computer science prepares students to undertake fundamental and applied research in computer science. The program is available for those of high ability who seek to develop and implement their own research studies.

Students pursuing the doctorate in computer science learn to analyze, understand and apply key theories and algorithms used in the field and to generate and evaluate new theories, algorithms and software modules that can advance the field of computer science.

The program provides students with research opportunities in a wide variety of areas, including:

• artificial intelligence, machine learning and statistical modeling
• big data and data mining
• computational biology
• computer design and architecture, including nonvolatile memory computing
• computer system security, cybersecurity and cryptography
• cyber-physical systems and Internet of Things (commonly abbreviated as IoT), and robotics
• distributed computing and consensus protocols
• networking and computer systems
• novel computing paradigms (e.g., biocomputing, quantum computation)
• social computing
• theory, algorithms and optimization
• visualization and graphics

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 36 months. This OPT work authorization term may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.

The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing the degree through ASU Online.

• College/school: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
• Location: Tempe

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core Areas (9 credit hours) foundations (3) systems (3) applications (3)

Depth (3 credit hours) three additional credit hours in one core area (3)

Research (18 credit hours) CSE 792 Research (18)

Electives and Additional Research (42 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) CSE 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information Courses that are used to satisfy the core area requirement cannot be used to satisfy electives or other requirements. A grade of "B" or better is required for core courses.

Eighteen credit hours of CSE 792 Research are required, and up to 54 credit hours are allowed on the plan of study. Students with research credit hours in excess of 18 add these credit hours to their electives and additional research.

Electives include:

• additional CSE 792 Research credit hours (up to 36 credit hours allowed beyond the required 18)
• computer science courses, of which up to 18 credit hours of CSE 590 and CSE 790: Reading and Conference are allowed
• up to six credit hours of interdisciplinary electives in other academic units that are subject to program chair approval

When approved by the academic unit and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.

A maximum of three credit hours of 400-level coursework may be applied to the plan of study.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related area. Most applicants should have earned a master's degree, but exceptional undergraduate applicants may be admitted directly into the doctoral program.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts from every university attended
• three letters of recommendation
• a statement of purpose
• curriculum vitae or resume
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Submission of GRE scores is optional.

Students assigned any deficiency coursework upon admission must complete those classes with a grade of "C" or higher (scale is 4.00 = "A") within two semesters of admission to the program. Deficiency courses commonly taken include:

CSE 230 Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming CSE 310 Data Structures and Algorithms CSE 330 Operating Systems CSE 340 Principles of Programming Languages or CSE 355 Introduction to Theoretical Computer Science

The applicant's undergraduate GPA and depth of preparation in computer science and engineering are the primary factors affecting admission.

Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in research and education, including academia, government and industry.

Career examples include:

• computer science professor or researcher
• data scientist or engineer
• machine learning, AI or computer vision scientist or engineer

Computer Science and Engineering Program | CTRPT 105 [email protected] 480-965-3199

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Computer Science Ph.D. Program

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The Cornell Ph.D. program in computer science is consistently ranked among the top six departments in the country, with world-class research covering all of computer science. Our computer science program is distinguished by the excellence of the faculty, by a long tradition of pioneering research, and by the breadth of its Ph.D. program. Faculty and Ph.D. students are located both in Ithaca and in New York City at the Cornell Tech campus . The Field of Computer Science also includes faculty members from other departments (Electrical Engineering, Information Science, Applied Math, Mathematics, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computational Biology, and Architecture) who can supervise a student's Ph.D. thesis research in computer science.

Over the past years we've increased our strength in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, systems, security, machine learning, and digital libraries, while maintaining our depth in traditional areas such as theory, programming languages and scientific computing.  You can find out more about our research here . 

The department provides an exceptionally open and friendly atmosphere that encourages the sharing of ideas across all areas. 

Cornell is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. This beautiful area provides many opportunities for recreational activities such as sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, both downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, rock climbing, hiking, camping, and brewery/cider/wine-tasting. In fact, Cornell offers courses in all of these activities.

The Cornell Tech campus in New York City is located on Roosevelt Island.  Cornell Tech  is a graduate school conceived and implemented expressly to integrate the study of technology with business, law, and design. There are now over a half-dozen masters programs on offer as well as doctoral studies.

FAQ with more information about the two campuses .

Ph.D. Program Structure

Each year, about 30-40 new Ph.D. students join the department. During the first two semesters, students become familiar with the faculty members and their areas of research by taking graduate courses, attending research seminars, and participating in research projects. By the end of the first year, each student selects a specific area and forms a committee based on the student's research interests. This “Special Committee” of three or more faculty members will guide the student through to a Ph.D. dissertation. Ph.D. students that decide to work with a faculty member based at Cornell Tech typically move to New York City after a year in Ithaca.

The Field believes that certain areas are so fundamental to Computer Science that all students should be competent in them. Ph.D. candidates are expected to demonstrate competency in four areas of computer science at the high undergraduate level: theory, programming languages, systems, and artificial intelligence.

Each student then focuses on a specific topic of research and begins a preliminary investigation of that topic. The initial results are presented during a comprehensive oral evaluation, which is administered by the members of the student's Special Committee. The objective of this examination, usually taken in the third year, is to evaluate a student's ability to undertake original research at the Ph.D. level.

The final oral examination, a public defense of the dissertation, is taken before the Special Committee.

To encourage students to explore areas other than Computer Science, the department requires that students complete an outside minor. Cornell offers almost 90 fields from which a minor can be chosen. Some students elect to minor in related fields such as Applied Mathematics, Information Science, Electrical Engineering, or Operations Research. Others use this opportunity to pursue interests as diverse as Music, Theater, Psychology, Women's Studies, Philosophy, and Finance.

The computer science Ph.D. program complies with the requirements of the Cornell Graduate School , which include requirements on residency, minimum grades, examinations, and dissertation.

The Department also administers a very small 2-year Master of Science program (with thesis). Students in this program serve as teaching assistants and receive full tuition plus a stipend for their services.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
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Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

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PhD students in the Department of Computer Science may focus their research in the following areas:

• Artificial Intelligence:  computer vision, decision theory/game theory, knowledge representation and reasoning, intelligent user interfaces, machine learning, natural language understanding and generation, robotics and haptics.
• Computer Graphics:  animation, imaging, modeling, rendering, visualization.
• Data Management and Mining:  business intelligence, data integration, genomic analysis, text mining, web databases.
• Formal Verification and Analysis of Systems:  analog, digital and hybrid systems, VLSI, protocols, software.
• Human Centered Technologies:  human computer interaction (HCI), visual, haptic and multimodal interfaces, computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), visual analytics.
• Networks, Systems, and Security:  high performance computing/parallel processing, networking, operating systems and virtualization, security.
• Scientific Computing:  numerical methods and software, differential equations, linear algebra, optimization.
• Software Engineering and Programming Languages:  development tools, foundations of computation, middleware, programming languages, software engineering.
• Theory: algorithm design and analysis (including empirical), algorithmic game theory, discrete optimization, graph theory, computational geometry

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The UBC Department of Computer Science has many contacts in the computing industry. A strong rapport between the industry and research communities is beneficial to both, especially in cases where the department focuses its research to developing real-world applications.

UBC offers a very rich environment for interdisciplinary research and has an excellent reputation for producing world class results in numerical methods, computer graphics and computational mechanics.

Egor Larionov

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

All full-time PhD students will be provided with a funding package of at least $31,920 for each of the first four years of their PhD program. The funding package consists of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. This support is contingent on full-time registration as a UBC Graduate student, satisfactory performance in assigned teaching and research assistantship duties, and good standing with satisfactory progress in your academic performance. CS students are expected to apply for fellowships or scholarship to which they are eligible.

Average Funding

• 40 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 40 students was $6,950.
• 77 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 77 students was $20,513.
• 18 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 18 students was $6,167.
• 81 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 81 students was $11,015.
• 8 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 8 students was $19,625.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

111 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 106 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

Our faculty and students actively interact with industry in numerous fields. Via internships, consulting and the launching of new companies, they contribute to the state-of-the-art in environmental monitoring, energy prediction, software, cloud computing, search engines, social networks, advertising, e-commerce, electronic trading, entertainment games, special effects in movies, robotics, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, and more.

Alumni on Success

Job Title Senior Director, Product & Business Development

Employer NGRAIN

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Beschastnikh, Ivan (Computer and information sciences; software engineering; distributed systems; cloud computing; software analysis; Machine Learning)
• Bowman, William (Computer and information sciences; Programming languages and software engineering; Programming languages; Compilers; programming languages)
• Carenini, Giuseppe (Artificial intelligence, user modeling, decision theory, machine learning, social issues in computing, computational linguistics, information visualization)
• Clune, Jeff
• Conati, Cristina (artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, affective computing, personalized interfaces, intelligent user interfaces, intelligent interface agents, virtual agent, user-adapted interaction, computer-assisted education, educational computer games, computers in education, user-adaptive interaction, Artificial intelligence, adaptive interfaces, cognitive systems, user modelling)
• Condon, Anne (Algorithms; Molecular Programming)
• Ding, Jiarui (Bioinformatics; Basic medicine and life sciences; Computational Biology; Machine Learning; Probabilistic Deep Learning; single-cell genomics; visualization; Cancer biology; Computational Immunology; Food Allergy; neuroscience)
• Evans, William (Computer and information sciences; Algorithms; theoretical computer science; Computer Sciences and Mathematical Tools; computational geometry; graph drawing; program compression)
• Feeley, Michael (Distributed systems, operating systems, workstation and pc clusters)
• Friedlander, Michael (numerical optimization, numerical linear algebra, scientific computing, Scientific computing)
• Friedman, Joel (Computer and information sciences; Algebraic Graph Theory; Combinatorics; Computer Science Theory)
• Garcia, Ronald (Programming languages; programming languages)
• Greenstreet, Mark (Dynamic systems, formal methods, hybrid systems, differential equations)
• Greif, Chen (Numerical computation; Numerical analysis; scientific computing; numerical linear algebra; numerical solution of elliptic partial differential equations)
• Gujarati, Arpan (Computer and information sciences; Systems)
• Harvey, Nicholas (randomized algorithms, combinatorial optimization, graph sparsification, discrepancy theory and learning theory; algorithmic problems arising in computer networking, including cache analysis, load balancing, data replication, peer-to-peer networks, and network coding.)
• Holmes, Reid (Computer and information sciences; computer science; open source software; software comprehension; software development tools; software engineering; software quality; software testing; static analysis)
• Hu, Alan (Computer and information sciences; formal methods; formal verification; model checking; nonce to detect automated mining of profiles; post-silicon validation; security; software analysis)
• Hutchinson, Norman (Computer and information sciences; Computer Systems; distributed systems; File Systems; Virtualization)
• Kiczales, Gregor (MOOCs, Blended Learning, Flexible Learning, University Strategy for Flexible and Blended Learning, Computer Science Education, Programming Languages, Programming languages, aspect-oriented programming, foundations, reflections and meta programming, software design)
• Lakshmanan, Laks (data management and data cleaning; data warehousing and OLAP; data and text mining; analytics on big graphs and news; social networks and media; recommender systems)
• Lecuyer, Mathias (Machine learning systems; Guarantees of robustness, privacy, and security)
• Lemieux, Caroline (Programming languages and software engineering; help developers improve the correctness, security, and performance of software systems; test-input generation; specification mining; program synthesis)
• Leyton-Brown, Kevin (Computer and information sciences; Artificial Intelligence; Algorithms; theoretical computer science; Resource Allocation; Computer Science and Statistics; Auction theory; game theory; Machine Learning)
• MacLean, Karon (Computer and information sciences; Information Systems; design of user interfaces; haptic interfaces; human-computer interaction; human-robot interaction)

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Discrete optimization problems in geometric mesh processing
• On effective learning for multimodal data
• From devices to data and back again : a tale of computationally modelling affective touch
• Towards alleviating human supervision for document-level relation extraction
• Methods for design of efficient on-device natural language processing architectures
• A formal framework for understanding run-time checking errors in gradually typed languages
• Understanding semantics and geometry of scenes
• Computational tools for complex electronic auctions
• From videos to animatable 3d neural characters
• Structured representation learning by controlling generative models
• Versatile neural approaches to more accurate and robust topic segmentation
• Machine learning for spectroscopic data analysis : challenges of limited labelled data
• Enriching block-based end-user programming with visual features
• Accelerating Bayesian inference in probabilistic programming
• Computationally efficient geometric methods for optimization and inference in machine learning

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Science in Computer Science (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Master of Data Science (MDS)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

Further information, specialization.

Computer Science covers Bayesian statistics and applications, bioinformatics, computational intelligence (computational vision, automated reasoning, multi-agent systems, intelligent interfaces, and machine learning), computer communications, databases, distributed and parallel systems, empirical analysis of algorithms, computer graphics, human-computer interaction, hybrid systems, integrated systems design, networks, network security, networking and multimedia, numerical methods and geometry in computer graphics, operating systems, programming languages, robotics, scientific computation, software engineering, visualization, and theoretical aspects of computer science (computational complexity, computational geometry, analysis of complex graphs, and parallel processing).

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Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

My experience as a non-degree student was really positive. I loved the way lectures, tutorials, labs, assignments and projects all complemented each other. I found the lectures stimulating and the professors and TAs encouraging. I also loved just being on the UBC campus. I'm surrounded by nature (...

Geoffrey Woollard

I applied to UBC in 2020, during the pandemic. It was a close call between working with Marcus Brubaker, who co-founded my former employer Structura Biotechnology, before becoming an Assistant Professor at York University, and working with Khanh Dao Duc at UBC. Khanh introduced me to his...

Michael Yin

I love Vancouver! It's the greatest city in the world. I love the integration of nature into the city; it has all of the mountains, forests, and oceans. In addition, the city is a melting pot of cultures, and that's definitely reflected at UBC. It feels like there's a place for everyone at UBC....

Baraa Orabi

I think three factors had a differentiating effect on this decision: UBC's unique multidisciplinary environment which is key to my research as a computer scientist and bioinformatician. UBC being on the West Coast generally and Vancouver specifically and the amazing weather and nature that comes...

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Find out how Vancouver enhances your graduate student experience—from the beautiful mountains and city landscapes, to the arts and culture scene, we have it all. Study-life balance at its best!

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Academics | PhD Program

Main navigation.

The PhD degree is intended primarily for students who desire a career in research, advanced development, or teaching. A broad Computer Science, Engineering, Science background, intensive study, and research experience in a specialized area are the necessary requisites.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is conferred on candidates who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of our Department in the following areas:

• high attainment in a particular field of knowledge, and
• the ability to do independent investigation and present the results of such research.

They must satisfy the general requirements for advanced degrees, and the program requirements specified by our Department.

Program Requirements

On average, the program is completed in five to six years, depending on the student’s research and progress.

Progress Guidelines

Students should consider the progress guidelines to ensure that they are making reasonable progress.

Monitoring Progress

Annual reviews only apply to PhD students in their second year or later; yearly meetings are held for all PhD students.

Doctoral Program

The primary focus of the doctoral program is research, with the philosophy that students learn best by doing—beginning as apprentices and becoming junior colleagues working with faculty on scholarly research projects. The faculty in the department conduct research in all areas of computer science. The doctoral degree requires a dissertation based on the candidate’s original research, which is supervised by a faculty member, and all students in the doctioral program are actively engaged in research throughout the program.

The PhD is the Computer Science Department’s primary doctoral program.  PhD students are expected to be full-time on-campus during every fall and spring academic semester from initial enrollment until the dissertation has been distributed to their defense committee, except during leaves of absence approved by the university.  PhD students spend at least half of their time on research under the direction of their faculty adviser from their first day in the program and devote themselves full time to research after coursework and other preliminaries have been completed. PhD students are also expected to participate in departmental and laboratory activities full time throughout the program, except possibly for summer internships elsewhere, and the department does not consider admission of part-time PhD students. The policy on outside activities by PhD students is here .

DEPARTMENTAL INFORMATION FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS

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SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY INFORMATION FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS

• Registration
• SEAS Doctoral Fieldwork (CPT) Policy
• Time-Off Policy for Doctoral Students on Appointment in the Sciences and Related Research Fields

GENERAL DOCTORAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE

• CAREER Club
• Computer Science Open Data
• Computer Science Graduate Job and Interview Guide
• Background in case you ever need to teach online with two days notice
• The Definitive ‘what do I ask/look for’ in a PhD Advisor Guide
• The Thesis Whisperer
• Prem Devanbu’s Review Anti-Patterns
• Computer Science Rankings
• Michael Ernst’s Compilation of Great Advice
• Productivity Tips for PhD Students
• Getting Admitted to a Top PhD Program
• Tips on the Interview Process
• Networking on the network
• Advice on research and writing
• More advice on writing
• Corporate Lab or Academic Department, Which Fits?
• How To Survive A Thesis Defense
• 10 easy ways to fail a PhD
• Dealing with plagiarism
• Academic job site
• Computing Research Association
• IEEE Computer Society

(link suggestions appreciated; send email to [email protected] )

Last updated on June 5, 2024.

Find open faculty positions here .

Computer Science at Columbia University

Upcoming events, in the news, press mentions, dean boyce's statement on amicus brief filed by president bollinger.

President Bollinger announced that Columbia University along with many other academic institutions (sixteen, including all Ivy League universities) filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York challenging the Executive Order regarding immigrants from seven designated countries and refugees. Among other things, the brief asserts that “safety and security concerns can be addressed in a manner that is consistent with the values America has always stood for, including the free flow of ideas and people across borders and the welcoming of immigrants to our universities.”

This recent action provides a moment for us to collectively reflect on our community within Columbia Engineering and the importance of our commitment to maintaining an open and welcoming community for all students, faculty, researchers and administrative staff. As a School of Engineering and Applied Science, we are fortunate to attract students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, from across the country, and from around the world. It is a great benefit to be able to gather engineers and scientists of so many different perspectives and talents – all with a commitment to learning, a focus on pushing the frontiers of knowledge and discovery, and with a passion for translating our work to impact humanity.

I am proud of our community, and wish to take this opportunity to reinforce our collective commitment to maintaining an open and collegial environment. We are fortunate to have the privilege to learn from one another, and to study, work, and live together in such a dynamic and vibrant place as Columbia.

Mary C. Boyce Dean of Engineering Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor

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Doctoral Degree in Computer Science

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 .

Financial Information:

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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Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

Program description.

The graduate programs in computer science offer intensive preparation in design, programming, theory and applications. Training is provided for both academically oriented students and students with professional goals in the many business, industrial and governmental occupations requiring advanced knowledge of computing theory and technology.

Courses and research opportunities are offered in a variety of subfields of computer science, including operating systems, computer architecture, computer graphics, pattern recognition, automata theory, combinatorics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, database design, computer networks, programming languages, software systems, analysis of algorithms, computational complexity, parallel processing, VLSI, virtual reality, internet of things, embedded and real-time systems, computational geometry, computer vision, design automation, cyber security, information assurance and data science.

The University maintains a large network of computer facilities including specialized computers for research within the program. In addition to computer science faculty, many other individuals at the University are involved in computer-related work in the physical and social sciences and in various areas of business and management. Computer science students with an interest in these important application areas may have opportunities to consult and work with talented faculty from a wide range of disciplines.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program seek academic positions at universities, as well as positions as researchers, senior software engineers, data scientists. Graduates often become industry experts in fields like cyber security, artificial intelligence, machine learning or natural language processing.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Application Requirements

Test score required:  Yes

Deadlines:  University  deadlines  apply.

OTHER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Admission Option One

• Master’s degree in computer science or its equivalent
• GPA of at least 3.5
• GRE revised scores of at least 308, 153, 155 and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable.

Admission Option Two

• A BS degree in related area that includes two semesters of calculus and linear algebra
• GPA of at least 3.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours
• GRE revised scores of at least 315, 156, 159 and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable.

Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis.

Contact Information

Shyam Karrah  Email: [email protected]

Dr. Ovidiu Daescu Interim Head Department of Computer Science Email: [email protected] Office: ECSS 3.904

Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science The University of Texas at Dallas, ECW41 800 W. Campbell Road Richardson, TX 75080-3021 [email protected]

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PhD Program Admissions

Applying to our PhD Program

We’re thrilled that you are interested in our PhD program in computer science! This page provides an overview of the application process, some guidelines, and answers to specific questions. Please check our FAQ before emailing [email protected] with any questions not answered here.

Our program accepts a large number of applicants each year from a diverse range of backgrounds. Our applicants come directly from undergraduate or master’s programs, as well as industry positions, and from within United States and numerous countries around the world.

Visit the interactive PhD program statistics page   to view historical program data pertaining to admissions, enrollment, retention/attrition/completion, and time to degree conferral. (Select “ Computer Science” from the “Choose Program” drop-down menu.)

Ready to start your PhD application?

We’re ready for you. Click on the link below to start your application to become a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University

The Application: General Advice

The most important question we ask when reviewing applications is "Will this individual excel at research?" Every part of your application is helpful insofar as it answers this question. The three major components of an application are the statement, letters of recommendation, and grades.

This is one of the most important parts of your application; it lets us get to know you and creates a narrative of your academic career and future plans. Before you write your statement, start by thinking about what you want us to learn about you. Make a list of important achievements, perspectives, and goals. Build your statement around this list. We are looking for students who have made the most of the opportunities they have been presented with and who are smart, creative, and motivated. Keep in mind that we also have your CV and letters of recommendation, so we don’t necessarily need a list of all your accomplishments. However, your statement can fill in the narrative around what you did and, more specifically, why you did it. What motivates you? What are your research interests and why? These details aren’t found elsewhere in your application, so focus on them in your statement.

There are a few things we suggest not including in your statement. While it’s tempting to give a rationale for why you are applying to our program, don’t include it if it’s uninformed. Consider: “I want to apply to Johns Hopkins because it’s one of the premiere academic programs.” We know that already! If you do have specific reasons to be interested in our program (e.g. location, a specific project, a faculty member, etc.), be sure to mention them.

In terms of your motivation, be specific! Don’t write: “I’ve wanted to do a PhD in CS since I was six years old.” We don’t trust that six-year-olds make good career decisions. If you write “I have always found AREA X fascinating,” explain why.

Letters of Recommendation

The two most important factors of a recommendation letter are: 1) select someone who knows you well, and 2) select someone who knows how to write a letter.

First, it’s tempting to ask Professor X. to write a letter for you because they are a well-known person in the field. While we can better contextualize letters from people we know, it’s only helpful if the letter contains meaningful information. If Professor X. writes, “I’ve met the applicant a few times and they seem sharp,” that’s not useful information. It’s more important to select someone who knows you well and can discuss your achievements in detail.

Second, your letter writer should know how to write a letter. Academic research programs look for different things than a company. We often read letters from work supervisors that say nice things, but don’t speak to the qualities we find most important.

Of course, it’s a balance. You want someone who knows you well, but they still need to know how to write a good letter of recommendation.

We understand that three letters are a lot, especially for an undergraduate applying directly to a PhD program. We don’t expect each candidate to have three amazing letters. Your choices should be about balance: you want people who know you well, can write good academic letters, and know the research field. Use your choice of your three letter-writers to create this balance.

There isn’t much you can do about your grades—you have the grades you have. However, we do not use any grade cutoffs or thresholds in admissions. We want to see that you did well and excelled in whatever program you were in. Did you push yourself to take upper-level classes? Did you do well in the classes most directly related to your research area? If you have special circumstances that explain some of your grades, please include a description of them in your statement.

The Whiting School of Engineering does not require GRE General Test scores for applications to our PhD programs.

TOEFL or IELTS

Non-native English speakers must take the TOEFL or IELTS exams. Details on accepted exams, scores, and exceptions to this requirement can be found here .

Application Tips

There are many helpful guides for PhD applications. Here are a few we recommend:

• How to be a Successful PhD Student (co-authored by our own Mark Dredze )
• What Readers Look for in a Statement of Purpose
• Student Perspectives on Applying to NLP PhD Programs
• A Survival Guide to a PhD

Application Deadlines

Application Deadline:

The deadline for fall is December 15th. (No recruiting for spring admissions.)

The application will be available for submission on or around August 15.

Vivien Thomas Scholars

The Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended a historically black college and university or other minority serving institution for undergraduate study are eligible to apply. To be considered for the VTSI, all application and supplementary materials must be received by December 1, 2021.

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Academics   /   Graduate PhD in Computer Science

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.

Joining a Track

Doctor of philosophy in computer science students follow the course requirements, qualifying exam structure, and thesis process specific to one of five tracks :

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Computer Engineering

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

Curriculum and Requirements

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

Request More Information

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

Opportunities for PhD Students

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.

The Crown Family Graduate Internship Program

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.

Management for Scientists and Engineers Certificate Program

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.

Career Paths

Recent graduates of the computer science PhD program are pursuing careers in industry & research labs, academia, and startups.

• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Northeastern
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Rochester
• University of Washington
• Naval Research Laboratory
• Northwestern University

Industry & Research Labs

• Adobe Research
• Narrative Science
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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What Students Are Saying

"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

What Alumni Are Saying

"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

PhD in Computer Science

The PhD in Computer Science program provides students with the advanced coursework and groundbreaking research opportunities they need to contribute at the forefront of the world’s fastest-growing fields. Forging knowledge in 15 core areas like artificial intelligence, data science, programming languages, and human-centered computing, you’ll gain significant expertise in conducting and presenting the results of your research. Ultimately, you’ll produce and defend original work that contributes to critical discourse in your chosen area.

• Explore plan of study
• View program requirements
• How to apply
• Request info

Khoury College doctorate students gain deep knowledge and invaluable experience—preparing you for a research career in academia or industry.

Khoury Computer Science PhD graduates have found prestigious positions across industry and academia.

Tenure-track faculty:

• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• University of British Columbia (UBC)
• Indiana University
• University of Maryland
• University College London
• NC State University
• UMass Boston
• City University of Hong Kong

Postdoc research scientists:

• University of Paris
• Virginia Tech
• Microsoft Research
• GE Global Research

Senior software engineers and industry leaders:

Students graduating with a PhD in Computer Science will:

• Gain a broad understanding of computer science fundamentals, spanning a substantial portion of the following core areas: artificial intelligence and data science, human-centered computing, software, systems, and theory
• Gain significant expertise in at least one research area in computer science
• Produce and defend original research in an area of computer science
• Be able to communicate research results effectively in both oral and written forms

Our flagship campus in Boston is just minutes away from esteemed universities, exciting start-ups, and leaders in tech, finance, health care, and more.

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MIT Doctoral Programs in Computational Science and Engineering

The Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) offers two doctoral programs in computational science and engineering (CSE) – one leading to a standalone PhD degree in CSE offered entirely by CCSE (CSE PhD) and the other leading to an interdisciplinary PhD degree offered jointly with participating departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science (Dept-CSE PhD).

While both programs enable students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field via focused coursework and a thesis, they differ in essential ways. The standalone CSE PhD program is intended for students who intend to pursue research in cross-cutting methodological aspects of computational science. The resulting doctoral degree in Computational Science and Engineering is awarded by CCSE via the the Schwarzman College of Computing. In contrast, the interdisciplinary CSE PhD program is intended for students who are interested in computation in the context of a specific engineering or science discipline. For this reason, this degree is offered jointly with participating departments across the Institute; the interdisciplinary degree is awarded in a specially crafted thesis field that recognizes the student’s specialization in computation within the chosen engineering or science discipline.

For more information about CCSE’s doctoral programs, please explore the links on the left. Information about our application and admission process is available via the ‘ Admissions ‘ tab in our menu. MIT Registrar’s Office provides graduate tuition and fee rates as set by the MIT Corporation and the Graduate Admissions section of MIT’s Office of Graduate Education (OGE) website contains additional information about costs of attendance and funding .

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PhD in Computer Science

Our doctoral program is a full-time program: Admitted doctoral students have only the Ph.D. as their degree objective, and they have guaranteed funding for up to five years.

GRE Required for the Fall 2025 cycle

Please note: students applying to graduate programs in Fall 2025 are required to take the GRE. However, students applying for the 4+1 programs do not need to take the GRE.

Applying to the PhD Program

2025 admission requirements.

Questions about our PhD program should be directed by email to [email protected] .

The required components of your application are:

• The online application form
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• All applicants should upload a scanned copy of their transcripts.  Applicants should not send an official transcript to the Graduate Office unless they are admitted and accept our offer of Admission.
• All applicants may self report GRE and TOEFL scores. Official test scores are not required unless you are offered admission into the program, and you accept our offer of admission.
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (required for non-native English speakers, photocopy accepted, original required upon admission)
• The $40 application fee

These items must reach us by December 15, 2024  in order for your application to receive full consideration.

If English is not your native language, we require that you take the TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System exam). An IELTS band score of 7.0 or above is required for Dartmouth Programs, but we have no specific test score requirements for the TOEFL or GRE. If you are transferring from a U.S. university, we may waive the language test. As with the GRE, we will accept a photocopy until the official report is available, but the photocopy must reach us by  December  15, 2024 .

We prefer that your recommenders provide their recommendations online. Once you have listed their names on the application, an email will be sent to them with a link to the application site. If necessary, we will also accept recommendations in sealed envelopes through the mail.

We require a $40.00 application fee, to be paid by credit card online. The fee helps to cover the cost of processing your application and is non-refundable. The application fee will not be waived.

Like many graduate programs, we base our admissions decisions primarily on the information requested above. We have no minimum test scores. We recognize that you may have talents and experience that do not shine through the forms and test scores.

Use the Application Essay section of the online application to give additional information. Do you have a specific reason for coming to Dartmouth? Specific goals for your study? Significant work experience? Why do you want to do advanced training in computer science? Include any publications you have authored.

In the Computer Science Supplement section of the online application, attach examples of your work. This is also the place where you can attach a resume.

At the discretion of the admissions committee, we award stipends as well as tuition grants without stipend. The stipend awards cover tuition waiver and a payment for living expenses for nine months of each year for five years, as long as satisfactory progress is made toward the Ph.D. The stipend for 2023-2024 is $3,333.33 per month, and it generally increases every year. Health insurance cost for the academic year is covered by the college for full-time students. Graduate students who receive support contribute to the program by teaching or grading undergraduate courses, assisting with advanced courses, and participating in research projects. Additional stipend is provided for the summer months if the student performs research or teaching assistance during that period.

There is no separate application for financial aid. Every applicant is considered for financial aid, unless you say that you do not need financial support. If you do not need support, please indicate this on the application form, and tell us how you expect to be supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to additional FAQs about grad admissions, including how to obtain a fee waiver, update an application, and waive TOEFL based on a degree from an English institution, are available at the grad school site .

Q. What are the institution and department codes for the GRE? A. The GRE institution code is 3351, and the GRE department code is 0402.

Q. What are the institution and department codes for the TOEFL? A. The TOEFL institution code is 3351, and the TOEFL department code is 78.

Q. If my GRE scores are low, but I have good grades, can I still get admission? A. Our decision takes into account all components of your application. Therefore, it is usually impossible to predict the outcome until you apply and the admissions committee goes over your entire application.

Q. Can I be admitted for the Winter term? A. No. We only admit one class each year, matriculating in the Fall term.

Q. Where should I have the transcripts and scores sent? A. Send to:      Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies      Dartmouth College      Attn: Computer Science Graduate Admissions      Anonymous Hall      64 College St, Suite 6062, Room 102      Hanover NH 03755      Phone: (603) 646-8193

Academic Degrees , Computer Science News

Why Get a PhD in Computer Science? Your Questions Answered

Updated: July 19, 2022

Published: August 24, 2019

Computer Science is an ever evolving and massively expanding field of study as technology continues to innovate and data grows exponentially. For those highly interested in research, earning your PhD in Computer Science can offer you top level accessibility to become an expert in the field and pursue either a high-level career within the industry or work in academia.

Most people who have completed the doctorate degree advise doing so only if you really love the subject and research. Earning your PhD in Computer Science has many benefits, although there is no doubt that it’s challenging.

Although a doctorate degree is not required to work in the field, it offers other benefits like allowing you to research cutting-edge technology with adequate funding. As with any graduate degree, it takes both time and money to complete, so before deciding to enroll, let’s go more in depth and answer some questions about why you would want to get a PhD in Computer Science.

Source: Unsplash

What is a phd in computer science.

A PhD in Computer Science is the highest level doctorate degree you can earn. Once you finish your undergraduate degree in Computer Science or a related field like Engineering or Applied Mathematics, you can apply for your doctorate degree .

If you didn’t major in Computer Science, then earning your Master’s degree in the subject will help you on your journey for your doctorate degree. Although it is not required to apply for a PhD, having your Master’s degree first is generally preferable.

Most programs require the following, along with a degree, to apply for a PhD:

• Previous research experience
• Letters of recommendation
• A high GPA (about 3.5-4.0)

Program Length

Earning your PhD in Computer Science is not for the faint of heart as it requires a lot of time, energy and perseverance. Although the length of completion depends on your enrollment status of full or part-time, it typically takes 5-6 years to finish.

Opportunities and Challenges

As the top academic achievement within the field, a PhD exposes students to high-level information, as well as some of the hardest challenges facing the world and technology. A PhD grants students the opportunity to perform the research of their choice and explore the topic that interest them the most.

Upon graduation, a PhD student can continue with academia or enter the industry. However, if you want to enter the field as a Computer Programmer, Software Developer or the like, you don’t have to earn a degree at this level as a Bachelor’s degree will suffice. In fact, some jobs may consider a PhD candidate to be too highly qualified, so you’ll want to assess your future goals before enrolling in a PhD program.

One of the benefits of earning this doctorate degree is the freedom you have. Most programs are quite unstructured, meaning that you get to choose what you want to research. Therefore, you can be a leading expert in the field and help to shape policies around artificial intelligence, automation and technologies that are changing the way the world functions.

The deep and rich education can expand your horizons and help you understand ideas and topics that you would never have otherwise considered.

Potential Jobs

Although it is possible to enter the field of Computer Science without a PhD, having the knowledge will expand possibilities and increase your pay.

Some of the job titles that PhD candidates seek include:

Computer and Information Research Scientist:

People in this position help to invent new programming languages that enhance business practices. With the high amount of data, information and research, these scientists can create changes and also assess their impact through analysis.

Database Administrator:

Database administrators organize and secure data against attacks. Those with a PhD can be trusted to understand the complex nature of various systems and be able to better protect them.

Software Developer:

Software developers create systems and software for various uses. Although a PhD is not required to be a software developer, it further enhances one’s understanding.

Computer Science salaries vary based on position type, location and education. However, the overall field of Computer Science is growing. In fact, Computer and Information Research Scientists are expecting much higher than average growth with the discipline expected to increase its demand by 19% between 2016 and 2026. Those with a PhD will increase their salary potential based on their educational accomplishment.

Furthermore, with a PhD in Computer Science, you can go on to be a professor since you’re a leading expert in the field. The demand for jobs within the field is growing, especially regarding cloud computing, data storage, artificial intelligence and information security.

Online Versus Traditional Programs

The reason you choose to earn your PhD in Computer Science is personal, and how you choose to do it is also a subjective choice. It’s hard to say if an online university or traditional onsite program is better or worse because the reasons for choosing to do one or the other are different.

The benefits of an online program include relatively lower costs, more flexibility and greater accessibility. However, an onsite program offers you more opportunity to perform research and work with those in person who are already advancing the field.

For example, some students who earn their Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science online from University of the People may enjoy the online experience and therefore want to continue their studies remotely by earning their PhD online as well.

Earning your undergraduate degree is the first step in moving towards earning your PhD in Computer Science. While the field is always growing and the opportunity for research multiplies, pursuing a PhD in the discipline is an important decision to make. The program generally offers freedom to select your area of interest, but it also takes time and a lot of dedication to complete.

Those who go on to get their PhD should really have an affinity for the subject matter and love to conduct research. It’s also useful to know that it’s typically easier to earn a PhD then enter the field as opposed to working in the field and then going back to earn your PhD.

Any form of higher education will never serve as a detriment as it helps expand your mind, create more networking opportunities and better hone your skills and knowledge regarding specific subject matter.

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The PhD is the primary research degree that can be taken in the Department of Computer Science and Technology. The Cambridge PhD is a three to four-year full-time (five to seven-year part-time) programme of individual research on a topic agreed by the student and the Department, under the guidance of a staff member as the student's supervisor. 

All research students are admitted to read for the PhD degree on a probationary basis and will be registered for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in the first instance. During this year students may do some additional coursework and will write a research report that is likely to form the foundation of the eventual PhD thesis. The CPGS will involve four components:

Research skills training

Practical work

Research report of no more than 10,000 words

Attendance at a research workshops and research seminars

At the end of the third term and on completion of the CPGS, students whose performance indicates that they would be able to complete a PhD in a reasonable time will be upgraded to PhD status. A student who is not upgraded to PhD status, and who has completed three terms of study, will normally be awarded the CPGS alone. They will not submit a thesis for the PhD degree.

There is an expectation that all research students will contribute to teaching in the department for which some training will be provided. Research students will submit a log - or tally-sheet - of teaching activities annually at the end of June. 

Students are expected to complete the substance of their research by the end of their third year, submitting their thesis then or within a few months.

Applicants wishing to apply to undertake a PhD on a part-time basis should refer to the Department's admissions advice for potential part-time students.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of computer science and technology, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024 (Closed)

Funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Advanced Computer Science MPhil
• Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence MPhil
• Linguistics: Theoretical and Applied Linguistics PhD
• Biological Science (EBI) PhD
• Medical Science (Oncology) MPhil

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CSCareerQuestions is a community for those who are in the process of entering or are already part of the computer science field. Our goal is to help navigate and share challenges of the industry and strategies to be successful .

Is a PhD in computer science worth it?

I'm currently doing my Masters Degree in Computer Science (with focus on AI) and thinking about doing a PhD afterwards. I'm interested in research.

Do you have one? Do you think it's worth it? What are the pros and cons in industry vs. academia?

Edit: Thank you for all the answers and new perspectives!

Edit 2: I never considered doing a PhD until writing my Bachelors Thesis. I loved to write it, that's what made me interested in pursuing a PhD. So yes, I want to do it out of interest and passion, not because of money.

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PhD in Computer Science: Admission, Syllabus, Topics, Colleges, Salary in India 2024

Waqar Niyazi

Content Curator

PhD in Computer Science is a 3-year long doctorate level course in computer science and its related aspects. Ph.D. in computer science topics of study include Research Methodology, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Rough Set Theory, etc.

The minimum eligibility criteria for PhD in Computer Science Admissions is M.Phil in computer science or equivalent degree with 55% marks in aggregate. The fee for PhD in Computer Science across the course ranges from INR 10,000 to INR 2.75 Lacs across various PhD computer science colleges in India . The variation in the fee is based on the location and type of universities such as private, deemed, or government.

PhD in Computer Science Quick Facts

• All About PhD in Computer Science

2.1   Why Study?

2.2   Who Should Study?

• Types of PhD in Computer Science

3.1   Full Time

3.2   Part-Time

PhD in Computer Science Admission Process

4.1   Eligibility

4.2   Entrance Exams

PhD in Computer Science Syllabus

• PhD in Computer Science Colleges in India

6.1   Delhi

6.2   Chennai

6.3   Bangalore

6.4   Pune

PhD in Computer Science Abroad

Phd in computer science jobs.

8.1   Salary

8.2   Top Recruiters

• PhD in Computer Science FAQs

What is PhD in Computer Science?

PhD in Computer Science is a 3-year long doctorate level course in computer science and its related aspects. Ph.D. in computer science topics of study include Research Methodology, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Rough Set Theory, etc. 

Why Pursue a PhD in Computer Science?

• The area of application of computer science has seen exponential growth since the advent of the 21st century.
• The increasing growth and expansion of computer science have led to the growth of students opting for academic computer science courses in India to meet the employment demands.
• PhD in Computer Science provides a mechanism for the students to develop expertise in the subject by getting into the insight of the domain.

Who should pursue a PhD in Computer?

• Students who have done M.Phil/Masters in the domain of computer science.
• Individuals who have an interest in software development.
• Candidates who are looking for a career as a web developer.

Individuals looking for a career as a data miner.

Types of PhD in Computer Science Courses

Students can opt PhD in Computer Science as a regular course(Full time) or can go for Part-time depending upon their choice. Below we have discussed these two opportunities in a detailed manner.

PhD in Computer Science Courses Full-time

PhD in Computer Science is a 3-year long doctorate level course in computer science and its related aspects. PhD in computer science topics of study includes Research Methodology, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Rough Set Theory, etc. Individuals are required to take entrance exams to get admission into top colleges in India. In some colleges, admissions to Full-time PhD in computer science are also done based on a merit-list selection process, i.e., the percentage of marks obtained by the candidate at M.Phil or equivalent level.

PhD in Computer Science Course Part-time

PhD computer science is also offered as a part-time course by many institutes to students. This is very beneficial for those who want to pursue some work and want to get a degree. Indira Gandhi National Open University [IGNOU] is a popular university offering Ph.D. computer science as a part-time course. While pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science in distance learning mode, the course duration can go up to 5 years. Private universities like Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar also offer Ph.D. computer science in part-time mode.

Most Universities/Colleges offer admission based on the score of CET (like UGC NET) or conduct their entrance test like entrance exams held for JNU admission into Ph.D. courses hence students would have to make an application for such exams.

• Students have to qualify for these exams (for which they should be eligible to appear) to get admission to the course.
• After the conduct of the test, a merit list of finally qualified candidates is prepared and candidates are invited for the admission process by the respective university or college.

After preparation of the final merit list, the process of final allotment of seats to the candidate takes place and the candidate is asked to deposit the fee for Ph.D. in Computer Science course and register for the respective academic year.

PhD in Computer Science Eligibility

Candidates must have passed their M.Phil or equivalent level examination from a recognized state/private/deemed or central university with at least 55% marks (45% to 50% for reserved category candidates) in the respective domain of study.

• Students shall not be having any backlog or compartment in any of the subjects at M.Phil or equivalent level that is yet to be cleared at the time of taking admission.
• In the case of reserved category students, they would have to present their reservation certificates issued by the competent authorities to avail the benefits applicable to them.

Certain Institutes grant admissions through Common Entrance Test (CET) like CSIR NET etc.

PhD in Computer Science Entrance Exams

The time duration of the course is variable from 3 to 5 years and the syllabus is divided into various domain-related subjects and practical/research modules. A detailed description of the topics in Computer Science is tabled below for your reference.

PhD Computer Science Colleges in India

The top PhD Computer Science colleges across India have been discussed below along with their fee structure.

Studying a PhD in Computer Science abroad is probably the dream of the largest number of aspirants. But, most of the students fail to decide which would be the best college for them in a particular country. Here we have provided the names of the best colleges abroad to pursue PhD in Computer Science.

For those with a computer science major, career opportunities tend to be plentiful.

PhD in Computer Science Salary

Top Recruiters

PhD Computer Science FAQs

Ques. What can I do after PhD Computer Science?

Ans . You can get into various educational institutions to work as a professor or get into any Tech Company. If tech makes you curious you can continue your personal research on Computer Science.

Ques. How hard is a PhD in Computer Science?

Ans . While most PhDs are completed in four to five years, a few go on for a decade or more. Your dissertation work will most likely be in a very specific area, so you'll need the perseverance to keep going when things get boring and the endurance to complete a long and extraordinarily difficult task.

Ques. Why should I pursue a PhD in Computer Science?

Ans. A PhD will help you become an independent thinker in a niche topic first and then enable you to generalize that to almost all avenues, making you a very desirable employee.

Ques. Is Ph.D. Mandatory to be a Computer Programmer?

Ans. A PhD is not required if you wish to be a computer programmer. A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering is the requirement at most companies. Either of those degrees will give you the foundation necessary to understand programming at a deeper level and prepare you to start a career in the industry.

Ques. Is pursuing or practicing a PhD free in the US?

Ans. Most of the PhD programs are almost free in the US. The best part is that they pay you while you are there.

Ques. What to do after PhD?

Ans. PhD is the highest degree till now in Indian academia, so you can go for various types of research jobs.

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11 Reviews found

Ashoka University SONIPAT

Loan/ scholarship provisions :.

The fee for PhD is 50000 per month around it is 500000-600000 lakh for PHD in this University . The opportunity for scholarship in this University is not so good . The students have to go to schools near the university for some time by college

Course Curriculum Overview :

All the students are very familiar with each other .the teachers are also very great . The teachers are very helpful to students. I think that at someplace change should be needed for students . At the all this University is good

My dream university, IIT Bhubneshwar.

My PhD program helped me to develop my research capability. I was groomed to be a future leader in research and innovation. The professors were actively engaged in cutting-edge research areas that include communication, signal processing, Microelectronics and semiconductor devices, Power systems, Renewable energy systems, Computer Vision, and Human-Computer interfaces. I even managed to gain immediate, hands-on experience which helped me to overcome my challenges.

Placement Experience :

My alumni found full-time and internship positions with a wide range of international employers, including Adobe, Amazon, Infosys, HCL, Jindal Stainless Ltd, IOCL, Capgemini, KIIT, ISRO, Cognizant, DELL, Microsoft, Thermax, UHG, Flytxt Mobile Solutions, and TATA Steel. The packages offered were around Rs.1500,000 yearly.

Student's Review On Indira Gandhi National Open University - [IGNOU], New Delhi

All the teachers in our college are good and they help all the students.The fee structure of the college forCourses is quite feasible as per the needs and demand of the course. Hence, it will not be wrong to say that the fees is affordable as per the education and facilities provided by the institution.

College Events :

There some functions are organised by college management each year.College management give equal importance to sports and some other extra curricular activities.The college have a clean library where each book is available for students. Collectively,i want to tell that this college is the best.

Campus Life :

The gender ratio is 1:2 Boys and girls, the college is basically provides all lab, sports facilities and each division are good at their level as per their criteria and norms. The boys and girls equally participate in each activities and Indulge in various national, state, international level tournaments.

HCl, zoho, Tata consultancy, ashok Leyland, Bharath Benz, Bsnl, cognizant, metro rail etc are the regular placement companies visit the campus regularly. 95% ofthe students gets placed every year. Yea the college take special care for placement of students and gives training and lecture session.

Student's Review On Delhi University - [DU], New Delhi

Life is pretty good here. We conduct 4-5 events yearly for students interaction with both the seniors and the alumni. And these events vary, like technical events- Annual festival and hackathons to non tenchnical events like- skits, diwali party, fresher's, farewell, holi party, DJ nights. Recently we went on a trek also. Overall, life is happening here and the environment is good for overall personality development of an individual.

I think the syllabus is updated and up to the mark, professors are quite good and experts in their respective fields. In terms of practical knowledge and infrastructure- like machines, servers- I think we should do better, being computer science department. Prof. Neelima gupta is the chair person right now, I ma working under her. I think she is doing wonderful job and we will see department doing better in coming 1 or 2 year.

Amazing college

The college was beautifully constructed and had students coming from different backgrounds and cultures. They all were friendly to each other and had a good environment at the college. Activities like sports, music, dance, theatre were conducted by various student firms and we all could participate.

The jobs are available at the campus where well-known organisations and companies also came to interview. We could also apply to the college?s campus as a teacher, Dell, Intel came to interview. Almost all of the students got placed with an average package of Rs.15 lakhs Per annum.

My experiences in NITTTR

The course curriculum is pretty chilled out. The class is more student focused and works towards creating an environment that students use for knowledge rather than just knowing a lot of things. The curriculum also prepares students for anything in the industry.

Students are required to participate in various activities and workshops. On top of that students are allowed to work part-time as consultants to outside companies. There are many sports activities the students can participate in if they are interested.

National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research Review

The faculty of my course and others were brilliantly intelligent and considerate. They would know when to rush to complete the portion and when to keep us stress-free. They never put burden on us. They would always say that a clear mind could do better than a stressed one.

Job placements were pretty easy after this course was completed in any industry or educational institution for almost all of us, because we already had atleast one year experience of teaching/working in industry. This was a beneficial add-on training.

The Hub For Carreer

The institute is extremely great and is exceptionally strict with regard to teach. It is likewise agreeable with its understudies and causes them in each issue. It likewise directs different social exercises to include understudies in concentrates as well as in different viewpoints.

Fee Structure And Facilities :

I can say it’s worth it to pay each penny to the management with the facilities they provide. With all the lab facilities, job opportunities, training given here it’s really feasible when compared to others. They assure you that you will be benefited from each penny you pay.

Confronting smart people

Well we cannot openly comment on any faculty as far as I know. But still going vaguely over this matter, I can state that, the Good and Bad are everywhere. One can get to know people who are excellent in academics or research or both, while some are in none. It is up to an individual as to how he/she can use these resource (here Faculties) and to what extent. One thing I can say is that, especially in an IIT, every individual Faculty or Student wants to stand out, be that special one. It is only in the hands of each one as to how far you make the effort to work everything out.

Admission :

Getting into PhD in IIT Indore requires a written exam (after your name is on the eligible list), followed by 1-3 face-to-face interviews (depending on your luck I guess) on the same day most of the time. When they are satisfied by your credentials and previous work done, they let you know in a couple of weeks if you are selected. The same is listed on the college website, so you know if you have been rejected.

Shreyas J's Review On University Visvesvaraya College Of Engineering - [UVCE], Bangalore

Entrance preview :.

University entrance exam, Rank 21 Because of its popularity and good guide, it is 100 years old college, hence i have selected this college/university to purse my higher education.

College celebrated many fest like kagada fest , milagro fest, IEEE event and many more is celebrated in my college.

Ph.D. (Chemistry)

Ph.d. (physics), ph.d. (mathematics), ph.d. (biotechnology), ph.d. (zoology), bachelor of arts [ba], ph.d. (business management), master of science [ms], master of science [m.sc] (nursing), certificate course in stock market, bachelor of science [b.sc] (nautical science), ph.d. (computer science), master of laws [l.l.m.], diploma in web designing, master of technology [m.tech] (data analytics), ph.d. (computer science) colleges in india.

Jamia Millia Islamia University-[JMI]

Banaras Hindu University - [BHU]

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Panjab University - [PU]

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Jawaharlal Nehru University - [JNU]

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Ph.D. Milestones for Computer Science Students

The Qualifying Exam and Defense benchmark forms are here on VASE's website :   https://viterbigrad.usc.edu/academic-services/forms/ . All committee forms require the Chair and Dean's approval before the oral exams can proceed.   

Qualifying Exam

Students will initiate this particular form (DocuSign):

•         Appointment of Qualifying Exam Committee Form

Qualifying Exam Committee: The qualifying exam committee is composed of five members. The committee chair and at least two additional members must have an   appointment in the student's program. This includes tenured, tenure track, research, teaching, practitioner, and clinical faculty expertise.    At least one committee member must be tenured in the Computer Science Department.

A USC faculty member outside the student's home program is called an "outside member." For outside Faculty, the Dean of the school decides the judgment of the qualification of the outside faculty member's primary appointment.   The "outside member" must be a full-time USC faculty member whose primary appointment is in a unit outside CS and who chairs PhD committees in that home unit.  The "external member," if included on the committee, must submit a CV and statement from the committee chair for consideration by the Dean to serve on the committee. 

Students must complete the written exam a few days before the oral exam.  The written exam and oral exam cannot occur on the same day.    Please also review our PHD requirements, particularly for qualifying exams, here:

https://www.cs.usc.edu/academic-programs/phd/

Once students initiate the form, students should inform the committee and encourage them to sign it. After the faculty signs, it will come to a PhD advisor, and then the form routes to the Chair, followed by the Dean's office. Signatures for the form take time, so please submit it at least 30 days before the qualifying exam.

Thesis Proposal Presentation

Information about the Thesis Proposal Presentation is in our CS PHD requirements (please review):

A new formal committee is NOT required just for the thesis proposal.   Students may use their qualifying exam members (guidance committee members).    At least one committee member must be tenured in the Computer Science Department. The faculty advisor must confirm the thesis proposal results and committee members for the department to record.

Please submit the thesis proposal information below to   [email protected]   so our staff   can post it online:

• Presentation Title and Abstract
• Date and Time
• Names of the Guidance Committee members

Information about the PHD defense is in our CS PHD requirements (please review):

The dissertation defense committee must have at least three (3) members, of which at least two must have an appointment in Computer Science. The student's dissertation advisor will chair the committee. At least one committee member must be tenured in the Computer Science Department. The committee must also include one tenured (or tenure-track) USC faculty member outside the department whose primary appointment is not in Computer Science.  The committee chair with a joint Computer Science appointment is ineligible to be an outside committee member.

Generally, students initiate the Defense Committee form at least 30 days in advance. The form must have Dean-level approval before the student can proceed with the Defense. In addition, the Defense must be announced at least one week in advance, so please contact the PhD office with (information below) once the date is set to post the Defense; two weeks is preferred.

Specifically, students will initiate this form (DocuSign):

•      Appointment of Dissertation Committee Form

The Defense must be held in person and attended by all committee members, students, and the Chair.  Finally, please submit the information below to   [email protected]   so our staff   can post it online (noted in our PHD requirements). The following defense announcement information at least one week in advance so we can post this online:

• Dissertation Title and Abstract
• Names of the Dissertation Defense Committee members

Published on June 17th, 2024

Last updated on June 17th, 2024

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2024 graduates prepare to turn the page

On June 16, as giddy, elated – and very accomplished – engineering students gather to celebrate Commencement and receive their hard-earned degrees, a number of very personal stories will reach the end of an important chapter. Each is unique, but all share the common experience of a Stanford engineering education.

Among them will be Khaled Khan, BS in computer science; Kayla Kemler, MS in chemical engineering; and Rachel Adenekan, PhD in mechanical engineering.

“I’m really excited and can’t wait to show my parents their first graduation,” says Khan. “If you’d told me just a few years ago in high school – when I was working two minimum wage jobs and trying to keep everything together – that I would ever be graduating from Stanford and have a job lined up, I would have said you were crazy. But here I am.”

Three students, three stories

Born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Khan, a first-generation college student, is the son of parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Bangladesh. The family didn’t have the resources to replace broken items, so he learned early to tinker with – and repair – everything from remote control cars to television remotes. That early interest in engineering, along with a QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship, brought him to Stanford, where he planned to study electrical engineering.

“But then I took CS 106A, the very introductory course everyone takes, and loved it. That became the first step in my computer science journey.”

Kemler, a senior scientist at Unilever who has a BS in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Cornell, saw a master’s degree as an opportunity to advance her career.

“I work in product engineering, and I wanted to be able to do more in-depth work,” she says. “I knew I wanted to get an advanced degree, but I needed something remote and flexible because I didn’t want to quit or take a sabbatical. I like my job and was advancing well.”

When the pandemic hit, Kemler decided to apply to Stanford Engineering’s Honors Cooperative Program (HCP), which allowed her to earn her master’s degree in chemical engineering remotely. She enrolled in fall 2021, and opted to spend her final quarter on campus while she simultaneously works remotely for Unilever.

“There were courses I wanted to try that were totally new to me, such as machine learning, and I preferred to do those in person,” she says. “It’s amazing being here.”

Adenekan has a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT and entered Stanford in 2017 as a master’s student in mechanical engineering, adding her PhD work in her third quarter. (The School of Engineering has now moved to direct PhD admission.) The daughter of parents from Nigeria and Trinidad, she was raised in Houston in the shadow of Texas Medical Center, where she dreamed of becoming a doctor until a high school engineering program introduced her to the intersection of engineering and medicine. Her current research centers on a project using smartphones as tools to monitor sensory function in people at risk of developing medical complications like diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

“I decided to pursue the PhD because I didn’t feel like my existing skill set would enable me to lead research in this field,” she says. “As an engineering PhD student here, I knew I’d be able to collaborate with other groups on campus to do the kind of work that doesn’t just sit in the lab but eventually translates to clinical care.”

Finding a path around obstacles

Like most students, Khan, Kemler, and Adenekan all faced significant obstacles enroute to graduation. For Adenekan, they included a pause to her lab work due to the pandemic, a series of health problems, and a courageous decision to switch labs and academic focus late into her PhD program, which required mastering a new set of skills. Kemler knew she would be juggling a master’s degree program with a full-time job, a balancing act she says was both mentally taxing and isolating at times. Khan had the universal challenge of learning the time management and living skills needed in college, along with the COVID-specific problem of trying to make important friendship connections during his frosh year amid social distancing. He attended fall classes remotely from his New Jersey home, then moved on campus, where he experienced most of his first year in his dorm room.

“I’d watched all these videos, and the college experience looked like so much fun – working late at the library, going to classes, hanging out with friends and doing dorm trips. That was all disrupted,” he says. “It wasn’t easy to meet people. As a freshman and sophomore there’s normally more time to hang out and do all that, but that gets harder in the last two years when everyone is busier, and you have to be more intentional. It was challenging for everyone.”

All three found help and support from a range of resources. Khan sought out the Stanford First Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center (FLI), where he met friends facing similar challenges, found information on programs and research opportunities, and eventually took a job working with FLI students. Kemler found support both from family and her supervisor at Unilever and was able to organize weekly study nights with a colleague also working on a remote master’s degree. Adenekan’s support circle included family, a chat group for Nigerian students, the Black Graduate Student Association, and Stanford’s Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education Doctoral Fellowship (EDGE) program.

Looking forward with new perspective

As Commencement approaches and all three prepare to leave Stanford, each spoke of the pride of accomplishment, increased confidence, and personal growth.

“I’ve learned to not be afraid of getting out of my safe place, to meet new people and do new things,” says Khan, whose parents and extended family will attend his graduation, and who will soon begin work as a security engineer at Reddit. “I’ve also learned that chasing success too much can be a problem, and that you sometimes learn more from failure.”

Kemler, who was promoted to senior scientist at Unilever during her master’s program, finds pride in seeing her long-range plan come to fruition. She’s looking forward to her parents attending her graduation.

“I stepped outside my comfort zone and broke into several new fields with this degree, which broadened and deepened my knowledge,” she says. “It used to be hard to correctly articulate my ideas at work and to figure out if they were good or not. Now I’m able to have better conversations with my colleagues and to really contribute to the innovation we do.”

Adenekan, who aims to continue leading research into the design and development of innovative health technologies, is looking forward to her parents and extended family joining her for graduation.

“I’m more confident now, and proud that I made courageous decisions and stuck to them,” she says. “When I came to Stanford, I thought the hardest part of the PhD would be the research, the actual work. For me, that was the easy part. The complicated part was managing my health, managing tough advising situations, and discovering so much about building relationships and finding support in different places. I learned the life part.”

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