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How do I apply?
For directions on how to apply to our graduate program, please visit the web page for graduate admission Application Procedures.
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When is the graduate application deadline?
The application deadline for Fall 2008 admission is December 15, 2007. Completed applications submitted by this deadline will be reviewed. However, applicants are discouraged from waiting until the last moment to apply. The application review process begins almost immediately after the deadline and any delays in receiving an application and/or accompanying application materials can be detrimental to an applicant's chances of admission.
This is a hard deadline and exceptions will not be made for late applications.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the GRE or TOEFL no later than November so that their score reports can be received by the application deadline.
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How do I choose whether to apply to the MS or the PhD program?
The answer to this question depends upon your individual career goals.
Our PhD program is designed for students interested in research in computer science and computer engineering. The program prepares individuals for a career in academia as a professor at a research university or liberal arts college, or as a researcher in an industry or government research laboratory. The program typically takes 4-6 years to complete.
Our MS program is designed for individuals who are interested in further developing their knowledge and skill base in a rigorous academic program in preparation for either a PhD program or a professional position. With the diverse interests and goals of our students in mind, the program offers a flexible curriculum with either a research (thesis) track or a comprehensive exam. Our average MS student completes the program within 2 years.
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Can I apply for both the MS and the PhD program?
You must choose to apply to one program or another within the Computer Science and Engineering department.
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Can I complete my graduate degree part-time?
Many of our MS students complete their degrees part-time, but working on the degree part-time can double or triple the time required to complete it.
Students do not petition for half-time attendance (6 units or fewer per quarter) until they have been accepted into the CSE program.
The Ph.D. program is full-time only.
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What criteria do you use for acceptance into your programs?
The evaluation process for applications is extremely complex, taking into account all the materials submitted with the application. Grade point average (GPA), GRE scores, GRE subject test (optional, but recommended), TOEFL (for international students), letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose all play a role. First, the UCSD Graduate Admissions Office evaluates each application to determine whether or not their minimum standards for admission have been met. Then the CSE Department does a more thorough evaluation in a committee consisting of several faculty members. Sometimes the committee must draw on the experience of the faculty at-large to make an informed decision.
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What are my chances for being admitted?
It is not possible to evaluate an individual's chances of admission without reviewing his or her file within the context of the peer applicant pool. Over the last several years, slightly less than 10% of the applicant pool has been admitted.
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My GPA is not on the 4.0 scale, so how will it be evaluated?
Many institutions, particularly those outside of the US educational system, do not grade students on a 4.0 GPA scale. Our faculty is familiar with the higher educational systems of countries all over the world and evaluates an applicant's academic performance within that individual's local context.
When applying, you do not have to convert your grades to a 4.0 scale. Instead, please indicate your overall standing and the grading scale used in the fields provided in the online application.
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What is your department's minimum GRE score required for admission?
Our department does not have a minimum GRE score required for admission to our program.
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I am an international student and my English skills are not yet up to your institution's minimum standards. May I be admitted into your program on a provisional basis, provided that I complete English courses before taking classes in the graduate program?
Our department does not admit students who fail to meet the university's minimum requirements for competency in English. International students should have already mastered competency in English by the time of application.
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My bachelors degree isn't in CS. What kind of background should I have before applying to the program?
To be considered for admission to any of our graduate programs, students usually have a bachelors degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related discipline like electrical engineering. Occasionally applicants with degrees in fields such as mathematics or physics are considered for admission to the program, especially if they have some computer science background, such as a CS minor. In special circumstances, alternative undergraduate preparation will be considered (e.g., a biology major may be appropriate for a student interested in the application of information and computer science to biological problems, such as bioinformatics).
Below are some general guidelines that can be gleaned from our undergraduate program. Before applying to our program, you should definitely have mastered the equivalent of the following courses:
- Basic programming: CSE 8A-B or 11; CSE 12 and preferably CSE 30
- Discrete math: CSE 20 and probably CSE 21
- Data structures and algorithms: CSE 100 and preferably 101
Background in some or all of the following is also recommended:
- Hardware and architecture: 140 and 141, preferably with labs
- Systems and Software: CSE 120, 130, 131A-B
- Theory: CSE 105
Descriptions of these classes and their prerequisites can be found in CSE Undergraduate Course Descriptions.
Normally, these courses could be taken through the UCSD Concurrent Enrollment Program
, which permits enrollment in CSE courses to non-matriculated students (with permission of the instructor).
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Can I take CSE graduate courses without being a matriculated student?
Students who want to take courses for personal enrichment or to prepare for applying to a CSE graduate program can enroll in graduate classes (with permission of the instructor) through the UCSD Concurrent Enrollment Program
. Up to six of these courses may be transferred to your M.S. or Ph.D. degree if you are later accepted to the CSE graduate program.
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Can I apply course credit from UCSD Extension or from another institution toward my degree requirements if I am admitted?
A limited number of units may be transferred if the courses in question are approved by the Graduate Committee. As a general guideline, a maximum of 6 courses can be transferred from an institution in the University of California (UC) system, and up to 2 courses may be transferred from a non-UC institution.
Here is the official text from the UCSD General Catalogue:
Transferring credits from another UC campus or Extension:
With the approval of the department and Dean of Graduate Studies, a maximum of 24 qtr units (6 courses) of upper-division and graduate course work completed with a grade of B- or better while in graduate standing at another UC campus may be transferred towards the Master's degree at UCSD. The same rule also applies to courses completed through UCSD Extension's Concurrent Enrollment program.
Transferring credits from other Institutions (Non-UC):
On the recommendation of the Dept and with approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies, a maximum of 8 qtr units (2 courses) of course work completed with a grade of B- or better while in graduate standing at an institution other than a UC campus may be applied toward a Master's degree at UCSD.
In any case, no more than a total of one-half (24 qtr units) of the units required for a Master's degree may be transferred in from any UC or other institutions. Courses used for a previous degree may not be transferred. A letter from the institution from which the courses are being transferred will be required stating the courses were not used toward another degree. Course work approved for transfer credit will NOT be included in calculating a student's GPA, regardless of the source.
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I have an MS degree in CS. If I get accepted to your PhD program, do I have to take all those classes over again?
If accepted to our program, you can petition to have class requirements waived, although you will still be required to complete the required number of credits and to pass any examinations. In some rare instances we have partially waived exam requirements in lieu of a similar exam completed at a peer institution.
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I don't have enough money to pay the application fee. Can you help?
U.S. citizens and permanent residents with demonstrated financial need may request a waiver of the application fee. Please refer to the Eligibility Guidelines as set by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research to see if you qualify for a waiver.
The University of California, San Diego does NOT waive or defer the required $80.00 (U.S.) graduate admissions application fee for any foreign applicants. If a foreign applicant attempts to submit an application without the required fee it will not be processed or considered until the fee is paid. There is no appeal mechanism.
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I am currently enrolled in a graduate program at another institution. How do I transfer to UCSD?
Students who wish to transfer from another graduate program into the CSE department at UCSD follow the same procedures as all other applicants.
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Do you offer graduate courses online?
Our department does not offer any courses online and has no plans to do so in the near future.
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Do you provide funding for your graduate students?
Generally, all of our PhD students are offered support for at least the first year, and can expect to have support through their degree if they continue to make adequate progress. Financial Support comes in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships (TA), or research assistantships (RA). Assistantships are 10- or 20-hour/week positions that pay a stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance. Typically, PhD students will have a fellowship or research assistantship the first year and then will be offered a research assistantship in subsequent years by their advisor.
Students should also look into applying for extramural fellowships (see our fellowship pages). These fellowships confer their own benefits and prestige, as well as giving their recipients more flexibility in choosing their advisors.
Masters students may apply for teaching assistantships after accepting admission into the program. Research assistantships may also be forthcoming once faculty members become more familiar with a student's work, but the individual student is responsible for pursuing these positions.
Many of our Masters students choose to work in local industry (or already do). San Diego is one of the fastest growing high technology areas in the country, and has been named the "Wireless Capital of the World," and the "#1 place to do business in America," by Forbes magazine.
Domestic Masters students may also apply for financial aid, which is administered through the university and is considered separately from department funding. Please visit the Financial Aid Office web site for more information. MS student applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the financial aid application timeline at the time of program application.
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Should I take the Computer Science GRE Subject Exam?
If you do not have a degree in computer science, doing well on the CS GRE Subject Exam can be a way to demonstrate independent mastery of the subject matter. Regardless of one's background, it is not counted against you if you do not take the exam, while scoring highly on the subject test can be an additional positive mark in your favor on your application.
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Is my application complete?
Our department will notify applicants with incomplete applications about which documents are missing from their files beginning in early January. Because of the high volume of other communications with our department, status checks made before January will go unanswered.
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How will I know if my application is complete?
You will receive an email notification sent to the address indicated on your application when you application has been completed and sent for review.
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I have already applied to the program and am waiting to hear back. When will I know if I have been admitted?
We will begin notifying applicants some time in February. However, applicants are accepted and rejected on a rolling basis until mid-April. Every applicant will receive notice of acceptance or rejection to our program by the end of this period.
