How to Apply to the ATLAS PhD Program

PhD student working on a project in the unstable design lab

The ATLAS Institute offers a radically interdisciplinary doctoral program in Creative Technology & Design.

We're here to help! After reviewing this page, please email us your questions: atlas.admissions@colorado.edu

General Information

Refer to University of Colorado Boulder graduate admissions page for university-wide program info, news, events and deadlines. 
 

Application Deadline

The deadline to submit applications is December 1.
 

Fee Waiver

The College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU Boulder offers a Fee Waiver program allowing qualifying PhD applicants to waive their application fees until Nov. 15, 2024. 

Grad Program Info Request

ATLAS PhD Program Application Instructions

How do I apply to the ATLAS Creative Technology and Design PhD program?

After reviewing the information below and gathering your materials, please complete the Official University of Colorado Boulder Graduate School application.

Your application will include:

1. Résumé or curriculum vitae.

2. Responses to the following questions:

  • What attracts you to the ATLAS Graduate program?
  • What do you hope to learn in the ATLAS Graduate program?
  • What is one accomplishment that you're proud of?
  • What do you plan to do after completing graduate study?
  • What is one 'fun fact' about yourself?

3. 3-5 page statement of purpose.

Students accepted to the program will be mature, self-directed, highly motivated and have demonstrated outstanding achievement. A statement of purpose for this program should include:

  • How does your background prepare you to study your proposed research topic in a technology-rich, interdisciplinary PhD program?
  • A statement of longer-term goals: How would an ATLAS PhD support your career plans?
  • A tentative program of study including specific faculty members with whom you want to work. (We may ask these faculty members to review your application.)
  • A statement specifically describing research interests. What would you study and why does it demand interdisciplinary work?

4. Personal website or online portfolio of your work.

  • This might comprise software, hardware, design or multimedia production or performance, or research papers.
  • Clearly credit all authors and collaborators on each work. Include a URL on your résumé and/or in your statement of purpose (add password information if your site is restricted).

5. Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to judge your potential for success in graduate school.

  • Recommenders will submit letters directly online.

6. Unofficial transcripts from each institution of higher learning that you have attended.

7. Test Scores:

  • ATLAS accepts but does NOT require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

International Students

For complete requirements and application needs, please review the CU Boulder's official international graduate admissions page.

STEM-OPT: All ATLAS degree programs have been assigned the US State Department's CIP code 15.0000 [Engineering Technology, General]. The ATLAS PhD program is classified as a STEM-OPT eligible degree. 

English Proficiency: If your native language is not English, you must submit a documented TOEFL iBT score, Duolingo proficiency test score or IELTS score.

  • TOEFL:
    • Minimum iBT score: 100
    • The CU Boulder TOEFL institution code is 4841. (CU Boulder Admissions does not use department codes.) 
  • Duolingo:
    • Proficiency test scores of 125 or higher
  • IELTS:
    • Minimum score: 7.0
    • Please request your IELTS test center report your score to our school using the following information:

University of Colorado Boulder - Masters & PhD
3100 Marine Street
Suite A122, UCB 65
Boulder, CO 80303
USA

Application Review Process

  1. Do you have a clearly defined area of interest? 
    We understand that over the course of PhD study, interests may shift. We won't hold you to your initial expressions of area of interest and we don't expect that you know the topic of your dissertation when you apply to the program. Still, having a clear idea of the topics to be explored in PhD study is a good indicator of future success.
     
  2. Do you have the background and skills to work in that area? 
    We look at whether you are prepared to begin working on the topics you identify as your area of interest. For example, if you have a background in nuclear engineering and you plan to work on computer music, we'd like to know more about what skills you'll bring to bear on your new direction.  
     
  3. Do we have the capacity to supervise work in that area?
    We look at whether we have faculty members who can supervise research in your area of interest. No matter how interesting the area of research and how capable you are to work in that area, we can only take students for whom we have the faculty to advise and supervise. We require a commitment from at least one faculty member to advise and fund any applicant we admit to the ATLAS PhD program.