How to Apply — PhD Program

Our student-led PhD Applicant Support Program provides individual support for applicants who are underrepresented in the field of computer science. Qualified candidates will have the opportunity to receive feedback and guidance from a current CICS PhD student. For more information, visit the PhD Applicant Support Program web page. Additionally, the program will also provide general help via a live panel webinar to all applicants. Upcoming webinars are posted on the web page.

• Online Application 
• Personal Statement (suggestions below)
  • Share your research and/or industry experiences.
  • Share situations in which you have contributed to computing for the common good or how you plan to in the future.
  • Share situations in which you have contributed or had a positive impact on increasing diversity in a STEM field.
• Transcripts — unofficial for the application 
  • If you are not sure whether your degree equates to a four-year U.S. degree, please use this tool prior to submitting your application.
  • Official transcripts are required by the Graduate School once admitted
• Two Letters of Recommendation
  • References will be requested through the online Graduate School application once an applicant submits the application.
  • Applicants should choose letter writers who are able to provide information about a research project, a community service experience, or work experience. 
• English Exam scores for international students 
• No GRE required for PhD (and MS/PhD) applicants 

Our applicants come from varied backgrounds; we have students from engineering, math, computer science, electrical engineering, psychology, and social sciences, but all have a solid undergraduate background in computer science. With such a diverse group, an emphasis is placed on letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and GPA.

We strongly recommend that all students submit all required materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions before the deadline to ensure timely notification to recommenders.

• The TOEFL or other English Proficiency Exam is required for many foreign students. This is a University Graduate School requirement. 
• TOEFL may be waived if the applicant has attended on a full-time basis an American college or university for a period of at least two academic years immediately preceding anticipated entrance date.
• TOEFL scores are valid for two years from expected entrance date.
• The University of Massachusetts Amherst also accepts the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English). The official test scores must be sent to the Graduate Student Service Center. The minimum combined IELTS score needed is 6.5, minimum score for PTE is 75.
• Be sure to have your TOEFL score sent to the Graduate Admissions Office as soon as possible. The ETS University code is 3917, there is no Dept. code.
• Your test score must be valid upon the start of the CICS program. Waivers of this policy will not be granted.

United States citizens: A waiver of this fee is available to those U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled as full-time undergraduate students and who have qualified for a waiver of the GRE fee through their undergraduate financial aid office. A statement from a college or university financial aid officer attesting to receipt of, or eligibility for, the GRE fee waiver must accompany the application. U.S. citizens and residents are also eligible to apply for the CICS PhD Admissions Program Fee Waiver as described below.
The Graduate School is pleased to offer application fee waivers to eligible domestic students from underrepresented groups who are participants of the programs listed here.

Current UMass Amherst students: A waiver of this fee is provided to UMass Amherst graduate students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program. 

Foreign applicants: In general, submission of the application processing fee is required. However, PhD applicants dealing with severe financial hardship may apply for the CICS PhD Admissions Program Fee Waiver as described below. (The number of waivers is limited, so there is no guarantee of receiving a waiver.).

CICS PhD Admissions Program Fee Waiver: CICS is offering a limited number of fee waivers to PhD applicants who have a financial need. To apply for the waiver, applicants must complete the CICS Application for PhD Admissions Program Fee Waiver form.

• Applicants must select "pay by check" in the graduate school admissions application. No refunds will be given if you apply for a fee waiver after paying the application fee. Delay submitting your check until you have heard whether you will be receiving a fee waiver
• Please only apply if you are sure you will be applying this application season.
• A limited number of application fee waivers are available and applications will be reviewed on a first-come basis.
• We will do our best to review and respond to your application within 10 days of receiving it.  
• Acceptance or denial of your application for a fee waiver will not impact your admission status. 
• Applicants who are granted a fee waiver will be notified and the college will notify the graduate school to waive the fee in order to mark your application complete.
• If we deny your request for a waiver, we will notify you to pay the fee in order to submit your application.
• The application will open on October 15, 2024 and close on Dec. 1, 2024.

After you have submitted your application through the graduate school, you are able to check its status in SPIRE.

• Application review may take up to three or four months. 
• You will be receive an email from the graduate school with our decision. Applicants who are admitted will also receive an admissions letter from the college by email. 
• If you are offered admission, you will either accept or decline your offer of admission in SPIRE.
• If you accept the offer of admission, you will be added to the new student Moodle, where you will be provided with resources and next steps. International students will receive an email from our International Programs Office with visa instructions.

Congratulations on your acceptance to the CICS PhD program! You will be asked to submit a decision in SPIRE within two weeks of receiving your University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School letter of acceptance. In order to explore all of your opportunities as well as our research labs and faculty, we encourage you to select "defer decision" in SPIRE. This will give you up until April 15 to make a formal commitment to our doctoral program. We look forward to hearing from you!