Graduate Application Requirements

Due to the high volume of email inquiries, applicants will not receive a personalized response. Over the last few years, we have found that for 99% of the responses to these inquiries can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. Most questions can be answered by simply reviewing or searching a topic, such as GRE, TOEFL, official transcripts, personal statement, letters of recommendation and document status on the above webpages.
 
In the rare instance when a question is not answered on one of the above webpages or in the general response below, a personalized email response may be provided. As a courtesy, please do not send the same question to multiple staff/faculty throughout the CS Department. Please send your question that is not listed on the Grad FAQ webpage to the CS Grad Student Affairs Office only. As noted in the above webpages, applicants are asked not to make email or phone inquiries about the receipt of documents. Doing so will delay our efforts to process application materials.

Criteria for Admission

Bachelor's Degree

The general requirement for admission for a U.S. student is a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California. Applicants should have the necessary academic preparation to complete graduate level courses in Computer Science.

Degrees which are not considered comparable include those granted on the basis of work completed at institutions which are not fully accredited and those granted on the basis of nonacademic prior learning, test scores, or other than organized supervised coursework in academic subjects.

An international student whose post-secondary education is completed outside of the U.S. is expected to hold a degree representing completion of at least four years of study with above average/very good scholarship from a university or university-level institution.

English Proficiency

International applicants must meet the university’s minimum requirement for the TOEFL or IELTS. Please visit this page for detailed information. Conditional admission is not offered and a transitional or pre-master’s program is not available.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The university requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for consideration. The department reviews all applicants who have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The most competitive applicants have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale),and at least a 3.50 in any graduate study. The average cumulative GPA of admitted applicants is 3.60.

Staff in the Computer Science Graduate Student Affairs Office review and convert, as necessary, the marks or grades of all applicants. The Graduate Division online application asks applicants to submit their grade point average on the scale used by their institutions.

The department does not provide “pre-application” reviews. Prospective applicants should review this page, frequently asked questions, and the department’s annual report to determine their admission competitiveness, and academic and research fit with the university.

Deciding Between the CS PhD and MS Programs

Students may apply for either the Ph.D. program or the M.S. program but not both. Admission to the Ph.D. program is more selective than for the M.S. program. In general, the admissions committee does not consider Ph.D. applicants for admission into the M.S. program and vice versa. While a Ph.D. degree prepares students not only for careers in research and academia, those who apply for a Ph.D. degree typically demonstrate significant achievement in and/or potential for advancing knowledge through independent research and teaching.

While a M.S. degree prepares students not only for careers in the industry, those who apply for an M.S degree typically demonstrate interest in developing and applying technical skills and translational knowledge. M.S. applicants should be aware that the selection process is rigorous for M.S. students who later apply for admission into the Ph.D. program.

Applicants who hold a master’s degree in computer science or a closely related discipline will not be considered for admission to the master’s program. Applicants who hold only a bachelor’s degree may apply to the Ph.D. program. In recent years, the majority of PhD admittees have completed only a bachelor’s degree.

Application Requirements

To apply for the Computer Science PhD or MS program, submit the UCLA application for graduate admission and select Computer Science MS or Computer Science PhD as your intended program of study.
 
The deadline to submit an application for admission is DECEMBER 15, 23:59, Pacific Time. Students are admitted only once a year to start in the Fall quarter only. Applications should be submitted only between mid-September and December 15.
 
For more information about applying for graduate admission to UCLA, visit the Division of Graduate Education’s webpage.
(1) Letters of Recommendation

At least THREE (3) letters of recommendation must be submitted using the graduate application link above. You will be asked to enter the names and emails of your recommenders in the application. They will then receive a link to submit their recommendations.

For M.S. applicants: We recommend that you provide letters of reference from professors who have taught you in your junior and senior years.

If you are an ESAP applicant to the CS MS program, you will need two letters of rec from CS faculty/instructors or instructors from outside the department that have a joint appointment with the UCLA CS Dept (i.e. Professors Achuta Kadambi and Mani Srivastava are ECE faculty with joint appointments with the CS Dept). If the faculty member does not have a joint appointment with the UCLA CS Dept they cannot serve as one of your two letters of rec for the CS M program as an ESAP applicant.

For Ph.D. applicants: We urge that all your letters be from academic or professional references as recent as possible and from people who can comment on your recent professional accomplishments and your qualifications for graduate study in Computer Science. If you have an M.S. degree, letters from professors who have served on your M.S. committee are particularly helpful.

Letters are due December 15. We will make every effort to review late letters received by December 15, but we cannot guarantee that they will be included in the review.

(2) Transcripts

All applicants are required to upload ONE (1) official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. Official transcripts should be uploaded to your online application only. Only if you are officially offered admissions into our program will you send us your final official transcript/degree certificate/diplomas.

Applicants who are attending or have graduated from a U.S. institution that transmits transcripts electronically may request to have official transcripts emailed to: gradadm@cs.ucla.edu but can also upload the official transcript in their online application.

Official transcripts are defined as original documents issued by the institution that bear the actual signature of the Registrar — not a photocopy — and the seal of the issuing institution. Do not, however, send the original of an academic record that cannot be replaced; upload a properly certified copy instead.

International applicants should refer to the “Requirements for International Students section of the Graduate Division webpage for information about submission of foreign academic records. We do not request or review WES evaluations.

Most applicants are in the process of completing a degree. If offered admission, the final transcript indicating the date of the degree conferral may be submitted during the summer. Applicants from India and China who have graduated must submit official copies of their degree certificates along with their final official transcripts and diploma: 

If you are receiving your bachelor’s degree from a university in China

 

If your bachelor’s degree has been awarded, please upload your final official transcripts both in English and Chinese (make sure the GPA scale is included when you upload these documents), the official degree certificate both in English and Chinese and the official diploma in both English and Chinese in your online application.

If you are still enrolled and have not been awarded your degree from your university in China, please be sure to upload your latest official transcripts both in English and Chinese in your online admissions application (make sure your university’s GPA scale is included when you upload these documents).

If you are receiving your bachelor’s degree from a university in India

 

If you have received your bachelor’s degree from a university in India, please be sure to upload a copy of your final official transcripts along with a copy of your official diploma that shows when your degree was officially conferred and awarded.

Please note the conferral certificate is NOT the same as the official diploma.

If you have not been awarded your degree and are still enrolled in a university in India, please be sure to upload a copy of your official transcripts in your online admissions application (make sure your university’s GPA scale is included when you upload these documents).

 

 

 

If you are receiving your bachelor’s Degree from a University outside the U.S. (and not from India and China)

If you have been awarded your degree, please be sure to upload your official transcript both in English and the native language from the country the university is located in, and a copy of your official diploma both in English and the native official language from the country the university you attended in your online application.

If you are currently enrolled and have not been awarded your degree from your university, please be sure to upload your official transcripts in both English and the native official language from the country the university you are attending in your online application (make sure your university’s GPA scale is included when you upload these documents).

Official transcripts are due December 15 along with the application (officially transcripts should be uploaded in your graduate application before you submit the application). We will make every effort to review materials received after December 15, but we cannot guarantee that they will be included in the review (please do not email nor call).

UCLA students and alumni please note: You do not have to submit an official UCLA transcript. You may upload your MyUCLA record in the online application.

(3) GRE (optional)

**GRE Requirement for Fall 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle Only**
Students who wish to apply for admission to our graduate program for the 2025-2026 academic year (applications for this cycle are due December 15, 2024) are not required to take the GRE or submit a GRE score report as part of their application package. However, students may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as part of the holistic application consideration. The applications with GRE scores will not be given greater weight than those that do not include scores.

All students applying for fall who wish to take the GRE test early in the fall before the application deadline (Dec. 15). The test must have been taken within five (5) years of the submission date of the UCLA Graduate Division online application. Check the testing schedule and registration information on the GRE homepageThe UCLA institution code is 4837. The Computer Science department code is 0402. Official scores should be sent to UCLA as soon as possible. Meanwhile, applicants are encouraged to submit unofficial student score reports on the Supporting Documents Upload section of the UCLA Graduate Division online application.

In order to ensure your scores synch up with your online application make sure your last name, first name, middle name (if any) and email address match exactly on your ETS registration and on your online graduate admissions applications. If you leave out your middle name or use a different email address the scores might not synch up to your graduate admissions application and we cannot guarantee your scores will be received by the deadline.

The GRE computer science subject exam is not reviewed by the department. The GMAT may not be substituted for the GRE.

Applicants must take the exam well before the December 15 deadline. Reports on exams taken in November will be received in time for review. GRE reports may be sent to UCLA before online applications are submitted.

If you plan to take or have already taken an additional exam, please make sure that ETS has already sent your first exam report to UCLA before December 15.

(4) TOEFL or IELTS

Please review the Division of Graduate Education’s English requirements website for English language proficiency requirements for UCLA admission.

If your first language is not English, you must submit a TOEFL with a score of at least 87 (computer-based) or 560 (paper-based), or an IELTS with a score of at least 7.0. Exams must be taken within two (2) years of the date of the online application submission. The UCLA institution code is 4837. The Computer Science department code is 78. Official scores should be sent to UCLA as soon as possible. Meanwhile, applicants are encouraged to submit unofficial student score reports on the Supporting Documents Upload section of the online application. Additional TOEFL information is available at Frequently Asked Questions.

Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university within the United States or in another country in which English is both the primarily spoken language of daily life (for the country) AND the medium of instruction, or have completed two years of full-time study at such institutions (i.e. accredited US university or accredited university where English is the primary spoken language of  daily life (for the country) and the medium of instruction), are exempted from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement. Your eligibility for an exemption will be verified by the information you provide in the academic history section of your online application and the official transcripts that you upload in your graduate admissions application.
 
If your academic history does not fit this criteria then you are not exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement (no exceptions) and please do not email us asking for an exception/waiver.

Applicants must take the exam on or before the December 15 deadline. Reports on exams taken in November will be received in time for review. TOEFL reports may be sent to UCLA before online applications are submitted.

If you plan to take or have already taken an additional exam, please make sure that ETS has already sent your first exam report to UCLA before December 15.

In order to ensure your scores synch up with your online application make sure your last name, first name, middle name (if any) and email address match exactly on your ETS registration/IELTS and on your online graduate admissions application. If you leave out your middle name or use a different email address the scores might not synch up to your graduate admissions application and we cannot guarantee your scores will be received by the deadline.

Duolingo will not be accepted.

(5) Statement of Purpose

All CS applicants submit an SOP (500 word limit) in their online application. The SOP prompts may be found on the Division of Graduate Education website.

The SOP is considered to be the writing sample. No additional writing sample is requested. 

(6) Personal Statement

All CS applicants submit a personal statement (500 word limit) in their online application. The personal statement prompts can be found on the Division of Graduate Education website.

(7) Resume or Vitae (optional)

Applicants are not required to submit a resume or vitae. This information may be presented in the online application in the awards, distinctions, or publications and organizations sections.

(8) Supplemental Section: Fields of Study & CS Faculty

CS FIELDS OF STUDY

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computational Systems Biology
  • Computer Science Theory
  • Computer Systems Architecture
  • Data Science Computing
  • Graphics and Vision
  • Network Systems
  • Software Systems

The MS program does not have declared fields of study. While students are in the program, they are able to take courses within the following fields of study. The field that CS MS applicants select in the online application will be used to assign admitted students to an initial faculty advisor. The faculty preferences that students select are not guaranteed to be their assigned initial advisor. 

CS students in the PhD program will need to identify one major and two minors in the following fields of study and take courses within these fields. CS PhD applicants should select their anticipated major field from the list above. Please note that students may change their major and minor fields once they are in the program.

CS FACULTY
Applicants to the CS MS or PhD program are asked to identify which three CS faculty they are interested in working with. Your selections will be used to help the department identify potential faculty who may serve as a faculty advisor. The faculty preferences that students select are not guaranteed to be their assigned initial advisor. 

(9) Writing Sample (optional)

CS does not require a writing sample. The statement of purpose and personal statements serve are considered to be the writing sample

(10) Fee Waiver (if eligible)

If you do not meet the criteria for a Fee Waiver as specifically stated on the Fee Waiver requirement page then unfortunately you do not qualify for a fee waiver (no exceptions). If you do meet the criteria as stated on the Fee Waiver requirement page, it is the applicant’s responsibility to upload all the required documents (including redacting SSN) in their graduate admissions application. The graduate admissions application itself is due December 15th and you cannot modify/edit your application after you have submitted it.

Checking Application/Document Status

You will be contacted if any document or application material is missing or needed. Please do not email or call to inquire about receipt of documents as it will delay our efforts to process application material. Our office is able to match test reports and transcripts for nearly all applicants. An applicant is denied admission consideration due to an incomplete file only if he or she does not respond to our request to submit missing material. PhD and MS decisions will be announced via email by late April.
Mailing Address for Official Transcripts

Please do not mail official transcripts during the application process. Official transcripts are only required if you are accepted in the program and receive an admission letter. If you are offered admissions into our program, please arrange to have official transcripts sent to the following address:

Graduate Student Affairs Office
UCLA Computer Science Department
Engineering VI Room 291
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1596

If your university is able to send official, electronic transcripts, they can be emailed to gradadm@cs.ucla.edu (if you are offered admissions into our program).

Phone: (310) 825-0060

TOEFL/IELTS/GRE

The UCLA institution code is 4837.

In order to ensure your GRE/IELTS/TOEFL scores synch up with your online application make sure your last name, first name, middle name (if any) and email address match exactly on your ETS registration and on your online graduate application. If you leave out your middle name or use a different email address the scores might not synch up to your graduate admissions application, and we cannot guarantee your scores will be received by the deadline. As long as you ordered the scores to be sent to the correct school and department by the deadline you’re fine. You will be contacted if any document or application material is missing or needed. Please do not email or call to inquire about receipt of documents as it will delay our efforts to process application material. Our office is able to match test reports and transcripts for nearly all applicants however it takes time due to the volume of applicants. An applicant is denied admission consideration due to an incomplete file only if they do not respond to our request to submit missing material.

Financial Support

PhD Funding

Applicants to the Ph.D. program will automatically be considered for departmental funding, and awards will be given based on the applicant’s academic merit and potential. All Ph.D. applicants who are offered admission are provided financial support from either department resources or the research grants of individual faculty members. Ph.D. admittees are provided a funding offer shortly after being notified of their admission. Domestic Ph.D. applicants are strongly encouraged to explore university-wide fellowships, especially the Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship, detailed in the UCLA Division of Graduate Education financial support webpage.

MS Funding

M.S. applicants are not eligible for departmental financial support.

TAing/GSRs/Reader positions are not part of the Computer Science Masters Program/Curriculum and M.S. student (both incoming and continuing) are not guaranteed TAships/GSRs/Reader positions (i.e. Dept funding) for any year.

International M.S. applicants must demonstrate personal or agency financial support of at least $65,000 for the first year to qualify for a visa to study in the U.S. Prospective international M.S. applicants should apply for admission ONLY if they can provide such documentation, which will be requested if admission is offered, in early March. Information on the cost of attendance is available on the UCLA Division of Graduate Education’s webpage. Specific charges for tuition and fees and non-resident supplemental tuition are listed on the Registrar’s fee page.

Therefore prospective M.S. students are aware upon applying that if they are admitted they must demonstrate they have the financial support for our program. Proof of this financial support is also requested when an international student is admitted into our M.S program. International students must submit their Confidential Financial Statement (CFS) in order to verify evidence/proof of financial support and issuance of a UCLA I-20.

Domestic M.S. applicants are strongly encouraged to explore university-wide fellowships and grants and external fellowships, especially the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship Program (GOFP), detailed in the UCLA Division of Graduate Education’s financial support webpage.

Teaching Assistant (TA) or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) Positions

CS PhD students have priority consideration for TA and GSR positions. CS PhD applicants will automatically be considered for TA and GSR positions.

TA/GSR/Reader positions are not part of the CS MS program. CS MS students (both incoming and continuing) are not guaranteed TAships/GSRs/Reader positions (i.e. dept funding) for any year. CS MS applicants who are interested in applying are not able to apply during the graduate admissions cycle. CS MS applicants must acknowledge in the graduate application that they have the financial support to enroll in the program.

Questions?

Before emailing us at gradadm@cs.ucla.edu, please be sure to review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first. Most questions can be answered by simply reviewing or searching a topic, such as GRE, TOEFL, official transcripts, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and document status on the above webpages.