How to Apply

Application Deadline

Applicants for fall 2026 admission to the master’s and PhD programs in computer science must complete the following steps no later than 10 p.m. MST on Dec. 15, 2025. All documents, including Letters of Recommendation, must be submitted by this deadline. No extensions are provided and incomplete applications will not be considered.

The department does not offer spring admissions.

 

If you have any questions about your application, please contact csgradinfo@colorado.edu.

You can also fill out the graduate school application help form.

General Application Steps

Please see the FAQs page for common questions about these steps.

GRE scores are not required for admission to our graduate programs. Submitting these scores does not have any added benefit as these scores are not part of the review process. 

1. Complete the Online Application. 

2. Pay the $60 application fee ($80 for international applicants).  

In addition, the Graduate School offers application fee waivers for participants in the following programs.

  • AmeriCorps (currently serving)
  • Black in AI (domestic/permanent resident applicants only)
  • Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity Initiative (BUILD)
  • Científico Latino Graduate School Mentorship Initiative (GSMI)
  • Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)
  • Gates Millennium Scholars
  • GEM Fellows
  • Leadership Alliance
  • Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)
  • Louis-Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
  • Math Alliance Scholars
  • McNair Scholars Program
  • Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
  • Minority Access to Research Careers Scholar Program (MARC)
  • Peace Corps (currently serving)
  • Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
  • SMART
  • Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
  • Teach for America (currently serving)
  • Women+ of Color Project (W+OCP)
  • If you are in the U.S. military you will receive an automatic fee waiver as a thank you for your service (active duty, veteran, previously served, and active reserve are all eligible for this automatic fee waiver).

If you are affiliated with one of these programs, you will be able to indicate your involvement within the online application under ‘Additional Information.’ We ask that you describe your involvement with the program, and upload supporting documentation there. If you are undocumented and/or a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiary, please contact gradadm@colorado.edu to inquire about possible fee waivers.

3. Submit your IETLS/TOEFL or Duoloingo scores

You need to submit English Proficiency Test scores, if you are an international student. (This is NOT required if you are from Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe). To hold Teaching Assistant position in the department students need at least 25 score in spoken section of the TOEFL exam OR 7.5 score in spoken section of IELTS OR 120 in the spoken DUOLINGO scores or its equivalent score in other language tests. For more information please check out the Graduate School's English Proficiency Requirements.

4. Submit three letters of recommendation

Requests will be sent to your recommenders when you enter them in the Online Application.​ Please DO NOT request more than THREE letters. These letters are also due to the Dec. 15th deadline.

We have the following suggestions for letters of recommendation:

  • A good letter-writer is someone who has worked with you closely or evaluated your work. They should be able to comment on your potential to pursue research in your chosen area(s) of interest.
  • Please ask your letter writers at least one to two months in advance, not at the last minute.
  • If they agree, provide them with a resume and brief description of your goals, e.g. area(s) of interest.
  • Clearly communicate the due dates for your letters and how to submit them.
  • If you are asking someone to write you letters for more than one application, remember that they are very busy and keeping track of multiple deadlines is difficult. You can offer to help by asking if they would like you to send reminder emails or if they'd like to use a spreadsheet. Feel free to copy and use this spreadsheet to track applications and letters.

Not all letter writers are familiar with the U.S. Computer Science Ph.D. process, so we have prepared the following paragraph of guidance for you to share with your letter writers if you choose: 

"Thank you for writing a letter of recommendation. We respectfully suggest that the letter will be most helpful if it can include the following information.

  1. How you know the applicant and for what length of time.
  2. Evaluation of the applicant's potential to contribute to a Ph.D. program in Computer Science or a related discipline, in terms of research aptitude and personal qualities.
  3. Comparison to their peers, whether quantitative (e.g. class rank) or qualitative. Comparison to previous students with success in Ph.D. research is especially appreciated.
  4. Any additional information, e.g. details of research projects and the applicants' role, or so on."

5. Upload unofficial copies of your transcripts

Upload unofficial copies of your transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution that you attended, regardless of length of attendance and whether you completed the courses. Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university.

You must submit your original/official transcripts once you have been accepted to the program. Once you’ve been accepted, your transcripts, supporting credentials and correspondence in reference to your application should be sent directly to:

Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine Street, Suite A122
65 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0553

For overnight or express mail send to:

Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine Street Building RL3
Suite A122
Boulder, CO 80309-1058
303-492-6301

You must submit your original/official transcripts once you have been accepted to the program. Once you’ve been accepted, your transcripts, supporting credentials and correspondence in reference to your application should be sent directly to:

For standard international mail or mail within the US, including USPS Priority and Express:

Office of Admissions/International
University of Colorado Boulder 
3100 Marine St Suite A122 
65 UCB 
Boulder, CO 80309-0065 USA

Overnight/Express Mailing Address (DHL, UPS, FedEx)          

Office of Admissions/International                
University of Colorado Boulder                      
3100 Marine Street - 65 UCB
Bldg RL3 Suite A122
Boulder, CO 80309-1058 USA

Questions should be directed to CS Graduate Admissions.

6. Upload your Statement of Purpose

Upload your Statement of Purpose also known as Personal Statement, in the Online Application. Statement should include why you want to pursue graduate work in Computer Science and what you would like to do after you have received your degree. Treat this as your personal and research statement. There are no word or page limits or any format for this SOP. However, keeping it concise to a page or two will be appreciated. 

Our faculty have compiled the following suggestions for the Statement of Purpose. A good Statement of Purpose generally includes these components:

  • What research area(s) you are interested in and, specifically, which professors at CU Boulder would be a good potential fit. Consult the faculty's research to find specific overlaps of your interests with ours.
  • Relevant past experience, particularly in the above research area(s). Be specific about your role and what you found exciting. Consider including some technical details.
    • In addition to or instead of research projects, this could include challenging courses, industry experience, etc. How did the experience prepare or motivate you to do research?
    • We recognize that not all students were able to access such opportunities. We welcome other work or personal experiences that, even if not directly relevant, demonstrate your experience in overcoming challenges or working with others.
  • You may choose to include your motivation and goals for pursuing a PhD. Why do you want to study these area(s) and what do you hope to do with your PhD? However, this section may be kept brief if included.

Some additional suggested material that may be included at your discretion:

  • You may choose to include any unique background or experience that would help you bring an unusual perspective to CU.
  • You may also choose to explain any unusual circumstances and how they have affected you, such as gaps in your resume or challenges you have faced.
  • Apart from the above, an overly-lengthy personal background is generally not helpful.

Finally, some suggestions for style and format of the Statement of Purpose:

  • Consider using small section headers to signpost the important parts of your statement, such as area(s) of interest and research experience.
  • Ability to communicate clearly through writing is important. However, otherwise, we suggest focusing more on the content than the exact wording and style of the statement.
  • Between one and two pages is generally sufficient to communicate the above points. Remember that faculty will be looking through many applications, so help them find the information they need in your application easily.

A statement of purpose should describe the unique pathway to your career choices, why CU, why the program of choice in CS in particular, how our program will help you achieve your professional goals, what unique perspective you bring to the program. Please do not include information from your resume. For research MS, include non-course education experience, teaching or other relevant research experiences, publications, theses, research in progress and other scholarly activities.

The Department of Computer Science consists of faculty, staff and students dedicated to antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion. We value the innovation that multiple perspectives and backgrounds bring to our community, and we are building a culture where everyone’s diversity—race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, identity, experience and more—is valued.

In this culture, everyone feels a sense of belonging and is able to participate in the department’s research and teaching missions, as well as its initiatives and decision making. We support each other so that all may succeed in achieving their professional and academic goals and positively impact our communities. We are committed to cultivating an environment that integrates antiracism and equity in all that we do.