FAQs

Yes, students admitted to CU Boulder's CS graduate programs may request to defer enrollment for up to one academic year. A formal deferral request is required for the MS‑PMP and MS‑CS programs. For details, please contact the graduate admissions office: gradadms@colorado.edu

The Institute Code for TOEFL is 4841.

Applicants with a 3-year bachelor's degree from countries where it is the standard format may be considered if the degree is deemed equivalent to a U.S. 4-year degree. Please contact the graduate admissions office for evaluation at gradadms@colorado.edu.

Yes, for detailed guidance on writing your SOP, please visit the How to Apply page, where our faculty have provided helpful tips. For a Professional Master’s application, focus on how your work experience adds value, why you're interested in Computer Science, why CU Boulder, and how the program aligns with your career goals. For a Research-based application, emphasize your research interests and past experience, and explain how they align with the work of specific faculty members. It is encouraged to mention specific faculty, including those currently on leave, as long as you go beyond simply naming them. Clearly articulate why their research interests align with yours and how you can contribute to their work. This shows thoughtful engagement and demonstrates that you've done your homework.

Yes. In your SOP, you should include any form of meaningful research experience, even if it didn’t result in publications. This can include coursework-based research projects, capstone or thesis work, independent studies, or industry roles where you engaged in tasks like experimentation, data analysis, prototyping, or technical writing. 

The application deadline is December 15, and all materials, including letters of recommendation, must be submitted by this date. You cannot update materials after submission. Late or incomplete applications will be withdrawn. Admissions are not rolling; applications are evaluated after the deadline, so submitting early does not provide any advantage. The review process for MS applications begins in February, after the PhD admissions are completed. Decisions are typically released by the end of March or early April.

Refer to the Admissions Requirements page for a list of required prerequisite courses. Review your transcripts to identify coursework that aligns with these areas: Computer Systems, Data Structures & Algorithms, Mathematics, and Software Development.

Yes, TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test are all considered equally for admissions, there is no preference among them. You may upload an unofficial score report (PDF) when submitting your application; this is sufficient for initial review. However, all materials, including your unofficial score, must be submitted by the December 15 deadline, no exceptions. Official test scores are only required if you are admitted to the program. Please check the How to Apply section to see if you qualify for an English proficiency waiver (e.g., based on country of education).

A minimum of 83 with 100 preferred in TOEFL,  or 120 in Duolingo test or an IELTS score of 7.0 is required for international students unless you meet the graduate admissions English Proficiency Requirements. Regardless of the conditions mentioned at English Proficiency Requirements, if you want to be considered for funding, TOEFL or IELTS is mandatory.

No, you do not need a WES or any external evaluation as long as your transcript is in English. If it is not, an official English translation is required. You are not required to convert your grades to a 4.0 GPA, your international grading scale (including percentage or 10-point CGPA) is accepted as is. The Office of International Admissions is experienced in evaluating a wide range of grading systems and will assess your academic record accordingly.

Personal Statement is same as Statement of Purpose where you talk about your goals and objectives of doing a PhD, why CU and CS etc. more at https://www.colorado.edu/cs/admissions/graduate-admissions/how-apply 
The Diversity Statement is completely different. We are looking for your understanding of diversity and inclusion and what you bring to the table in this regard.

We no longer require official transcripts for the review process. Official transcripts are only required once an applicant confirms the intent to enroll.

You may submit your mark sheets and an unofficial transcript for now. Official transcripts are only required once an applicant confirms the intent to enroll.

Application fees are non-refundable, regardless of the admission outcome. There is no special application fee waiver for CU Boulder alumni, international students, or webinar attendees. However, domestic applicants with a 3.5 or higher undergraduate GPA who apply by November 15 will receive an automatic fee waiver. In addition, the Graduate School offers fee waivers for applicants affiliated with certain U.S.-based programs (e.g., McNair Scholars, Peace Corps, Teach for America, U.S. military service, and others). To see the full list and instructions for requesting a waiver, please visit the How to Apply page. If you request a fee waiver, please note that decisions on those requests will be made after the deadline.

If you filled out the prospect affiliate application, you will be contacted soon. 

Yes, your application will still be accepted if all three Letters of Recommendation (LORs) are from professional references. However, for research-based MS and PhD programs, academic and research-focused LORs are generally given more weight, as they better reflect your academic readiness and research potential. Industry LORs can still be valuable, especially for professional MS applicants, but it's ideal to include at least one academic reference if possible to provide a more well-rounded perspective on your qualifications. We highly recommend that these letters be obtained from members of the academic community.

Please do not have recommenders mail letters. Please request your referees to submit letters of recommendation via the online application system.  

You must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for admission. Applications with a GPA below this threshold do not meet the Graduate School’s minimum requirement and are typically not considered. You can apply, but please note that admission is more competitive at this level. Meeting the 3.0 minimum does not guarantee admission, as the process is competitive and holistic. Successful applicants to the PhD and CSEN-MS (research-based MS) programs typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, while competitive applicants to the CSEN-MSCPS (course-based MS) program usually have a GPA of 3.3 or higher. If your GPA is on the lower side, use your Statement of Purpose to explain your academic background, highlight upward trends, relevant projects, and professional experience to strengthen your application.

For a complete list of all required application materials, please refer to the How to Apply section.

Yes, you can take prerequisite courses at a junior college or through accredited online platforms such as Coursera, as long as they are from a recognized institution. These courses are not weighed differently based on where they were completed. If you are missing a prerequisite at the time of application but plan to complete it before you start, that is acceptable. Applicants from non-programming backgrounds with a strong foundation in a related field are welcome to apply. Your Statement of Purpose (SOP) and resume are important components of your application, and all applications are reviewed holistically, taking into account your academic background, relevant experience, and plans to complete prerequisites.

Credit limits for converting non-credit Coursera courses to for-credit can vary based on your individual student profile, so it’s best to consult your Coursera advisor for guidance. If you wish to take more credits than allowed in a term, waiver or overload requests may be available. Note: If you're referring to transferring Coursera credits into a residential (on-campus) degree program, this is not permitted.

Yes. CU Boulder offers SOP review services through a program called the Prospect Affiliate match program for applicants who start their application by November 1st.

Yes, you should still include the publication. All research contributions are valuable, regardless of the publication venue.

If you no longer have academic contacts, consider asking industry or research supervisors who can speak to your skills, projects, and experience, especially those relevant to your research or academic interests. 

No, you must be enrolled as a full time student.

You may still apply, but missing prerequisites may delay your progress in the program. During the admissions review, the "Additional Coursework" section is used to assess whether your past coursework or experience aligns with required areas such as algorithms, systems, and discrete mathematics. If you haven’t met all prerequisites, you can complete them before or during the application process through accredited institutions, including online platforms, community colleges, or CU Boulder’s ACCESS program, which offers pre-master’s coursework. While CU does not offer a formal standalone pathway program for the residential MS track, these refresher or prerequisite courses must be completed before you graduate. For guidance on meeting these requirements, please visit the Admissions Requirements page or email csgradinfo@colorado.edu.

No, the GRE is not required. We are GRE blind. You can learn more about admissions requirements here.  

Please DO NOT contact faculty before applying. We have many opportunities for you to connect once you are here.

Yes. This includes community colleges, summer sessions and extension programs. While credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of a second institution, unofficial transcripts must be submitted from each institution, regardless of the length of attendance, and whether or not courses were completed.  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.

Please refer this site: https://www.colorado.edu/cs/research

Yes, you can often find lab websites linked from faculty profiles or research centers. These sites typically list current PhD students or researchers, who may be open to sharing their experiences. Reaching out to them can offer valuable insight. However, having a well-defined research interest or statement will help guide those conversations and make your outreach more meaningful.

The faculty hiring list is not exhaustive and reflects only current openings or active recruitment. If you're interested in other research areas, we recommend exploring lab or research group websites to learn more about faculty interests and ongoing work. Instead of reaching out to faculty directly, consider connecting with current PhD students or visiting research group pages, which often provide helpful information. A strong, focused research statement in your application is the best way to express your interests.

For research-based programs, particularly PhD, it’s important to show that you've done your homework and have a clear primary research focus. If you’re interested in multiple areas, you can mention them, just ensure your Statement of Purpose still reflects a coherent direction and explains how your interests intersect. Highlighting more than one potential advisor is fine, but be clear about why each aligns with your goals. The application asks for months of research experience. 

Yes, CU Boulder offers numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across departments. MS students are allowed to take up to 6 credit hours of approved graduate-level courses from non-CS departments, enabling them to explore and integrate knowledge from related fields. The Computer Science department encourages interdisciplinary research, and research-based MS and PhD students often collaborate with other departments or research institutes across campus. While the Professional MS in CS (MSCPS) is course-focused, students in this program may still engage in research opportunities, such as working as a Hourly Research Assistant (HRA) or as a volunteer with faculty in other departments.

Yes, summer courses are available and can be used to accelerate degree completion, depending on course offerings and availability.

Currently, there are a few certificate programs offered through our online master's program. However, on the residential (on-campus) side, we do not offer formal graduate certificate programs at this time.

Yes. Prior professional experience can be an asset, particularly for applicants to the course-based MS program (MSCPS). It helps demonstrate practical skills and alignment with the program’s applied focus.

Yes, you can take up to 9 credit hours of graduate-level CS courses through CU Boulder's ACCESS program, and those credits may be applied toward your degree if you’re later admitted. Seats are subject to availability, so registration is not guaranteed, especially for high-demand courses. ACCESS students must obtain instructor and departmental approval to enroll in graduate-level classes.

We have CS MS online for students looking for remote options. The residential degree is not available in remote modality.

This varies by the year. For a research based degree, it depends on the availability of research opportunities and student graduation rates. This also depends on the competitiveness of the pool of applications in any given year. This is similar for the course-based program. In the past we have admitted around 60-80 research students and 150 to 180 course based students. You can find the statistics here: Link.

Yes. During the application process, you’ll be asked whether you’d like to be considered for the Professional MS (course-based) program if not admitted to the research-based MS. If you select “Yes”, your application will be reviewed for the professional track as well.

The main difference between the professional and traditional options is the research component. All students receive the same degree in their diploma and these are two different paths to get there. If you are interested in research, the traditional degree is the better option and if not the PMP would be good option.

Students get FOUR years to complete the MS degree but typically students take 2 years. Each student has their own plan of study so you have the freedom to design based on your interests.

This depends on the class you are enrolled in. Your advisor and peer mentor can help you figure this out before enrollment begins. You can also check out csgrads here.

If you're applying to the Professional Master's track, you’ll usually indicate your subplan during the application. The Traditional Master’s track does not include subplans. Yes, it is possible to change your subplan after enrolling, you may add, remove, or swap your subplan once during your time in the program. Note: In special cases, additional changes may be reviewed individually and are subject to approval.

No, you generally cannot count graduate-level courses taken during your undergraduate studies toward your MS degree—unless you are enrolled in the BAM (Bachelor’s–Accelerated Master’s) program. BAM students may apply up to 6 credit hours toward both degrees. It's best to consult with your undergraduate advisor for details about the BAM program and eligibility.

CU Boulder does offer dual degree MBA + CS programs. Note that dual programs may add time to completion or have unique policies regarding admissions, eligibility etc. Here is a link to the MBA dual degree programs available. CS is not an eligible major but exploring a certificate may be an option.

You may transfer up to 9 graduate-level credits, provided they were not used to fulfill the requirements of a previously awarded degree. 

Yes. On the PhD application, you can indicate whether you’d like to be considered for the MS program if not admitted to the PhD. If selected as yes, your application will then be reviewed for MS admission. PhD students who enter the program with a bachelor’s degree typically earn an MS along the way as part of their progress toward the PhD. If a faculty member formally takes you on for PhD advising, you can receive the MS as a milestone.

While research experience and publications are valuable, they are not required. A strong application can still stand out by clearly articulating your motivation for pursuing a PhD, your research interests, and how they align with CU Boulder’s faculty and labs. Use your Statement of Purpose to demonstrate curiosity, critical thinking, and alignment with the department. Recommendation letters from industry professionals or non-PhDs are acceptable if they can meaningfully speak to your research potential, analytical skills, or academic ability.

Yes, check out the application count and filter for CS.

Yes, interdisciplinary research is supported. For example, students interested in psychology, neuroscience, or cognition may explore opportunities through the Institute of Cognitive Science in collaboration with Computer Science.

PhD students are typically matched with an advisor at the time of admission. While you’re encouraged to list faculty whose work aligns with your interests in your SOP, a match is not guaranteed. Even if you haven’t contacted faculty in advance, your application will still be reviewed and considered for appropriate advisor matches.

Yes. A master’s degree is not required to apply for the PhD program. Applicants from non-CS backgrounds (e.g., biological sciences) are welcome to apply. While coursework in mathematics and core computer science is recommended, it is not a strict requirement. Use your SOP to address any gaps and highlight interdisciplinary potential. 

Yes. If you begin your application by a specified early date (e.g., November 1st), you may be invited to participate in support initiatives such as SOP review or prospect affiliate match programs, often led by current graduate students. These are open to both domestic and international applicants. International students need to be full time students due to visa requirements as well.

Yes, the PhD program is a full-time, residential program. Part-time enrollment is not permitted.

Yes, CU Boulder hosts a virtual recruitment week where faculty present their research and interact with prospective applicants. This is a great time to ask questions and explore potential research fits.

Yes.

The average time to complete the PhD is approximately 5.5 years, but this can vary depending on the research area and availability of publication venues.

You must follow the standard PhD application deadlines and procedures, regardless of your current enrollment in the online master’s program. Transitions are not automatic and require a separate application submitted by the appropriate deadline.

Unfortunately, we do not have any fee waiver programs for MS applications. Here’s a link to the Graduate Application Fee waiver : Fee waiver , you can check your eligibility and application procedure here. As for financial aid, here’s a link you can refer to: https://www.colorado.edu/engineering/admissions/financial-resources 

For international students, we would highly recommend reaching out to the US Embassy, US Library, or the consulate office to check on opportunities like Fulbright, East West, Herbert Humphrey etc. Once you are here, there are less opportunities. Also check out https://www.colorado.edu/cs/admissions/graduate-admissions/funding-opportunities/external-funding-opportunities-graduate

We do not have funding for MS. There is a full funding commitment for FIVE years for PhD.

If you get hired, then these appointments cover tuition, fees, benefits and provide a fixed stipend per month during the semester.

For information on tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar's Office website.

Yes, the PhD funding package is designed to cover tuition and provide a monthly stipend that is generally sufficient to meet basic living expenses in Boulder.

Please refer to the following link.

Yes. To schedule an individual advising appointment, please email csgradinfo@colorado.edu 

CU Boulder is committed to supporting students with disabilities. For detailed information and available accommodations, please visit the Disability Services Office.

Yes. CU Boulder offers a Writing Center that supports graduate students with writing projects, including papers, theses, and applications. You can learn more and book appointments by visiting the Writing Center website.

Yes, part-time enrollment is allowed for master’s students. However, PhD students are expected to engage in full-time research and coursework as part of their program.

Graduate outcomes vary by individual goals and degree track. For detailed data on alumni career paths, including those who enter academia, please refer here.

We receive about 1,900 to 2,000 applications for our MS degree program and we admit around 300 - 350 every year with a yield expectation of 120-130 PMP students and 60-80 research students. Last year CS received the highest number of PhD applications in the College, which was 728. We admit around 80-85 and this varies by the year based on grants and who all are recruiting. This varies by the year. 

You can find details here.

CU Boulder does not offer financial or housing support for MS students. However, there is Graduate and Family Housing available on campus, where students can apply to rent an apartment. If approved, your spouse and child may live with you in this housing. Please note that this housing is not funded by the university, you would need to make arrangements and cover all related costs on your own. For more details on estimated tuition and living expenses, please refer to the tuition and fee rates page.

While CU Boulder does not offer a formal co-op program, international students can pursue internships through CPT (Curricular Practical Training), typically after completing 2 semesters. The Career Services office and the department, specifically the CS Graduate Professional Development Club, can help connect students with relevant opportunities.

TA and RA positions are primarily reserved for PhD students. However, once PhD TA needs are met, the department may hire research-based MS students. On average, 20–25 research-based MS students are hired as TAs each semester. RA positions are rare and not guaranteed.

No. TA/RA positions are not available during your first semester. You must be on campus for at least one semester to be eligible for consideration.

Every student gets access to Handshake once you join, where all campus job opportunities are listed. There are plenty of opportunities outside of the department. Within the department, we have a few  positions like graders, student assistants, etc. available to MS students. Students work in libraries, dining, tech support, research labs, and academic departments. 

Yes, but the rules depend on your status:
Domestic students can typically work without restriction.
International students must follow USCIS guidelines (e.g., CPT/OPT) and are subject to visa-based work limits.

Yes, CPT is available to eligible international students in both thesis-based and professional master’s programs, generally after two semesters of full-time study.

Yes, CU Boulder hosts multiple career fairs, including general university-wide fairs and computing-specific career fairs each semester. These events are a great way to connect with recruiters and learn about internships and job opportunities.