To apply for admission to our master's and/or doctoral programs, read the following instructions carefully and make certain that you have met all requirements when you submit your application. You can apply to up to three doctoral programs and any of the master's programs.

• Application Fee
  • The application fee is $100 per program. If you apply before the early deadline of Nov. 29, 2023 (3 p.m. EST), then the application fee is $80 per program.
    • If you submit your application early, your recommenders still have until Dec. 13, 2023, to submit recommendations.
  • Application Fee Waivers: We expect all applicants to submit payment with their online application. However, note that we do waive the required fee under certain circumstances. For information about how to apply for an application fee waiver, visit the SCS Graduate Application Fee Waiver Page.
• Test Scores
  • If you need to take/retake your TOEFL, IELTS and/or GRE for this application, we highly recommend you take the exam no later than Nov. 29, 2023. Reportable scores can take two weeks to process and we may not be able to review any scores that arrive after our Dec. 13, 2023, deadline.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
    
    • Each program sets its policy on whether GRE scores are required and which test type is accepted. You can read short descriptions of each program's GRE policy below.
    • Send scores via ETS using our SCS/CMU codes:
      • GRE Institution Code: 2074
      • GRE Department Code: 0402
    • GRE scores will not be accepted if they are more than five years old.
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency (if applicable) 
    • If your native language (language spoken from birth) is not English, an official copy of an English proficiency score report is required. The English proficiency requirement cannot be waived for any reason. 
    • We strongly encourage applicants to take either the TOEFL or IELTS. In cases where these are not available it is acceptable to take the Duolingo test. We discourage the use of the "TOEFL ITP Plus for China," since speaking is not scored. 
    • Additional details are provided on the FAQ page.
    •  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
      •  Send scores via ETS using our SCS/CMU codes:
        • TOEFL Institution Code: 4256
        • TOEFL Department Code: 78
      • If you have not received a bachelor’s degree in the U.S., you will need to submit a TOEFL no older than two years. (TOEFL scores taken before Sept. 1, 2021, will not be accepted.)
      • If you are currently working on or have received a bachelor's and/or a master's degree in the U.S. and your native language is not English, you may submit an expired test score up to five years old. (TOEFL scores taken before Sept. 1, 2018, will not be accepted.)
        • Important: Applicants applying to MCDS and MHCI are required to submit a TOEFL score taken within the last two years. TOEFL scores taken before Sept. 1, 2021, will not be accepted. For more information about their TOEFL policies, visit the MCDS or MHCI admissions websites.
      • A successful applicant will normally have a total iBT score of at least 100.
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 
      • We prefer that you take the TOEFL, but we will accept the IELTS.
      • The same restrictions of expiration dates apply with an IELTS.
      • A TOEFL Score of 100 is equivalent to an IELTS score of 7.
      • We accept IELTS scores through E-delivery, please use the information below when setting up your IELTS scores for delivery to our institution.
        
        Account Name: Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science
        Address: School of Computer Science
        5000 Forbes Avenue
        Pittsburgh, PA 15213   
        United States 
• Unofficial Transcripts 
  • All transcripts must be uploaded by the final deadline.
  • Since fall grades are not required, upload your transcripts as early as possible.
  • We do not require hard copies of your transcripts at the time of application. If you are accepted to a program, you will be given instructions to mail your transcripts at that time. 
• Resume/CV 
  • Submit your current resume. It should outline your education, research experience, work experience, publications, scholarships awarded, prizes and honors received, society memberships, and any other extracurricular activities. 
  • You must upload your resume in PDF format. 
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) 
  • Submit a Statement of Purpose. Prepare a concise one- or two-page essay that describes your primary areas of interest in research, your related experiences and your objective in pursuing a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon.
  • Your essay should be specific in describing your interests and motivations. When describing your research interests, you should explain why you think they are important areas of study and why you are particularly well-suited to pursuing them.
  • You should describe any relevant education, research, commercial, government or teaching experience.
  • Note: The following programs have specific SOP instructions, please see below for more information:
    • Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction
    • Ph.D. in Social Computing
    • Ph.D. and Master's in Computational Biology
    • Master's in Computer Science
    • Master's in Software Engineering
    • Master's in Robotic Systems Development
• Letters of Recommendation (LOR) 
  • Submit three letters of recommendation. Recommenders should know you relatively well and be able to evaluate the quality of your previous work. At least two should be from faculty or recent employers.
  • Letters or recommendation will be requested and submitted electronically. 
  • If you submit your application early your recommenders still have until the final deadline to submit recommendations.
• Supplemental Information (If applicable)