Graduate Application Instructions

Send application materials directly to the Graduate Admissions Office only.

For answers to frequently asked questions regarding the graduate admission process, see the Graduate Admissions website. 

Deadline Information

The full-time graduate program admission deadlines are:

• October 1 for spring enrollment (MS only)
• December 15 for fall enrollment (MS, PhD)

Note: We do not offer an online graduate program at this time.

Application Materials

All students are required to submit the following:

• Online Application (if you get an error page, try closing all browser tabs and try again)
• 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 if your degree equates to a U.S. four-year degree, please use this tool prior to submitting your application: https://applications.wes.org/degree-equivalency-tool/
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • References will be requested through the online application
• TOEFL Scores (exemption information)
• For MS applicants only, official GRE Scores (ETS University Code is 3917, there is no Dept. Code)

NEW for FALL 2020 - No GRE required for PhD applicants 

• If an applicant who is not accepted to the MS/PhD program wishes to be considered for admission to the MS program, the application must include GRE scores by the original deadline.

We strongly recommend that all students submit all required materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions before the deadline to ensure appropriate consideration.

Although application files are created when credentials are received, you can expedite the processing of your graduate application by making sure that your application is submitted to the  Office of Graduate Admissions before requesting that transcripts, GRE scores (MS), and two letters of recommendation are sent.

Applications which are missing transcripts will not be evaluated until the unofficial transcripts are uploaded to the application.

Standardized Test Scores

Although the University of Massachusetts Graduate school requires official paper GRE and TOEFL score reports upon acceptance to our programs, the Graduate School accepts an upload of official score reports such as certified or notarized reports when foreign exchange creates a financial burden on the applicant.

GRE

• The GRE test is required for the MS program only.
• Although standardized tests are by no means the only criteria considered, historically successful applicants average 600+/4.0 in each of the three areas (verbal, quantitative, written). Based on the new scale we expect the average would be 158+ (verbal), 160+ (Quantitative), 4.0 (Written).
• GRE's can be retaken. Both scores will be included in your application.
• If your GRE General Test scores are older than five years from your anticipated date of entrance, you must retake the examination. Your test score must be valid upon the start of the CICS program. Waivers of this policy will not be granted.

TOEFL/IELTS/PTE

• The TOEFL is required for foreign students. This is a University Graduate School requirement. Applicants who do not score an 95 or above in the iBT are not encouraged to apply.
• 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 2 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 mailed 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 (or a copy of the results) sent to the Graduate Admissions Office as soon as possible. The ETS University code is 3917, there is no Dept. code.

Application Fee

The Graduate Admissions Office cannot consider any application for admission to the University of Massachusetts Amherst unless that application is accompanied by the required fee.

United States Citizens: A waiver of this fee is available only 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.

Foreign applicants: Submission of the application processing fee is required. Neither the College of Information and Computer Sciences nor the Graduate Admissions Office has any authority to waive or defer this fee under any circumstance.

Please make sure that your application fee check is securely attached to your application. Remember, your application will not be processed if the fee is not enclosed.

Admissions decisions

Fall admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis starting February 1 and ending April 1. Students who are accepted to one of our programs must confirm acceptance by April 15.

Spring (MS only) decisions are made on a rolling basis and will be completed by November 1. Students who are accepted to the MS program for the spring semester must confirm acceptance by December 15.